A/N: A word of warning: This is extremely long and a little angsty and...dramatic?
And please don't kill me! (begging on my knees)
The THANK YOU CORNER:
A Big, Fat THANK YOU to all these amazingly beautiful people for the review last time! Sorry for the wait guys. XD
RockPrincess410 , Guest (do write your name next time so I can thank you personally! :D), thatgirlingrey, ThierryMyst , XxBloodandButterfliesxX, YreSu , Espeon14, Devil'sBlade, Tinavb , adgenelia, Dragonseatingme , AnImEbLuEpRiNcEsS13 , Ree, fluorene , uriel's tea time
To all readers, THANK YOU as well! XD You guys are the best!
Disclaimer: I do not own PoT. Just the OCs and this story.
Chapter 25: Before Everything Falls
Her father called her 'My Angel' in that deep, gruff voice of him, while his arms are around her, swaying her back to her slumber whenever those ugly monsters visit her at night.
Her mother would always smother her with kisses and calls her 'My Sweet Little Blossom' over and over again, until Kaede is choking up in laughter from the tickling feel of her mother's hair on her neck.
Her grandparents called her 'Princess', and they will shower her with gifts that a girl of her age wouldn't even have the slightest idea of what to do with them. But she likes it when they would pick that beautiful and rare flower from her grandmother's garden. It was the exact same shade of her eyes, and they will always say so when they put in her hair, cooing at how pretty she looks.
"But Zumi-nee-chan is also pretty ne?" she would ask with her innocently wide eyes, tilting her face so she can see the hiding figure of her older sister from behind the door. "We have the same eyes."
And they would laugh at her and say 'yes, she is also beautiful, Princess'. And then her grandfather would twirl her around, while her grandmother claps her hands together, urging her to dance for them.
And she would comply happily. She would do the pirouettes that her nee-chan has taught her, her eyes laughing, her dark hair following her every movement, without a care in the world.
Her older brother Kazuto- with his blonde hair (which he got from their father) and same violet- though much darker- eyes- adored her. And he would call her 'Hime-chan' whilst playing with her hair or pinching her red, round cheeks.
And she loved him so. So, so much.
She would shriek in glee whenever Kazuto would chase her around their house- in her hands, some of his things.
One time, it was his favorite pen.
The other time, it was his favorite book.
And then there was that another time when she sneaked into his room while he and her nee-chan are having their 'grown-up talk' with the old woman that wears beautiful clothes (but not as beautiful as her Kaa-chan's) and black, scary shoes.
When they were finished with their 'grown-up talk', Kazuto found out that his favorite racket, the one which is black and red, was missing.
He knew immediately who the culprit was.
"Hime-chan!" Kisuke hollers down the stairs, unafraid to do so since their parents aren't home, and nee-chan doesn't mind the noise. "Hime-chan! Where is our sweet Hime-chan?!"
She remembered it took him an hour before he finally found her almost nodding off behind a rose-bush at their grandmother's garden.
And then their Kaa-chan getting angry when she saw the scratches on her youngest's arms. She wasn't shouting, for their Kaa-chan doesn't shout. But Kaede remembered seeing her nee-chan tearing up when she walked out of their parent's room.
She said 'sorry', though she doesn't really know why. But Zumi-nee-chan just shook her head and smiled at her, telling her that it's okay; that it was nee-chan's fault why Hime-chan has scratches in her arms.
Zumi-nee-chan promised her then that she will not let anything hurt Hime-chan again.
And Kaede made a promise to her four-year-old-self that she will do everything to see her nee-chan smiling always, and that she will not hide under the rose-bush ever again.
...
On her first day at the kindergarten, her family accompanied her. Her nii-chan is sitting beside their father who was driving, while her nee-chan is sitting on her right, a smile on her lips and Kaede's hand in her soft ones. Both are wearing their school uniform.
Her Kaa-chan was smiling, but there were tears in her eyes as she brushes her hair down her back and re-arranged the silver band that was at the top of her head. She did that until the car pulled up in front of a tall gate; behind it were brightly painted rooms, a playground and several benches in animal-like forms.
"Kaori," Kisuke Furokawa says in voice filled with patience and smile, "Angel will only be staying here for four hours...it's not that long."
To which her mother just sniffed and said that "You're a father! What do you know about how I feel leaving my little baby alone in there with the other kids!"
The two older Furokawa children giggled when their father rolled his eyes at their mother.
Kaede gulped nervously when her mother finally lets go of her so she can enter the room, her teacher smiling at her, though her eyes- Kaede noticed- remained blank and cold- so unlike her Kaa-chan and Baa-chan...
She was introduced to the whole class: fourteen other girls stare at her with wide eyes- some friendly, some not so.
(She feels like crying already. She wanted to go home.)
She tripped when she walked towards her seat (which was beside a tall girl with big, black eyes and hair that is in a neat braid around her head).
She sat down silently, reminding herself of what her Kaa-chan told her this morning.
"Don't talk to other kids who are bigger or who looks scary, okay?"
This girl doesn't look scary to her, but she is a lot bigger and taller, so Kaede decided she is not going to talk to her. She turned to the girl on her right.
This one is a little bit bigger...but not like the other one. She is shorter, but a little...uh...fatter?
She has almost teary-green eyes and curly red and gold hair. Her cheeks are round and red, but there were dried tear tracks in them. Her lips are moving and her nose has something flowing out of them.
Kaede looks away. Her Kaa-chan told her not to be-friend girls who are icky and has cooties.
This one she is sure has them.
But...
She made friends with a girl who has beautiful hair and smiling eyes. And another with short and bright hair and teary-eyes, like the girl beside her.
They played together, eat together, share stories together and laugh together under the shade of a beautiful sakura tree found at the back of their room.
She enjoys being with her friends...but she couldn't help but look around her, trying to find a hint of that red-and-gold hair or that shiny and black braided one.
"Okay class," their teacher said one Friday morning in that sweet, overly-cheery voice of her,"today, we will be drawing our favorite places! The best one will receive a gift from sensei!"
The whole class cheered, and all the other girls scrambled in excitement at the thought of receiving a gift. But Kaede doesn't care about the gift. She has lots of gifts in her room, she doesn't need one.
But she wanted to make her Kaa-chan happy! Kaa-chan told her that Kaede has to do good at school, so she can be the very best girl!
(Her Kaa-chan also promised her that if she will become the best girl in her class, they are going to go visit their Baa-chan during the summer in Okinawa. She has always wanted to visit the island.)
And so she eagerly pulled out the white paper and colors from under her desk, in her mind she pictured her grandmother's rose garden.
There were so many colors to choose from! Which one should she use?! The red one? Pink? Yellow?
Her eyes blinked towards the blue crayon...maybe that one is better? Baa-chan always said the blue-rose is rare and beautiful. And blue is her favorite color too!
She smiled to herself. She will draw a blue-rose garden!
She picked up her pen and started drawing petals and leaves and...uh? What else?
She frowned. She has never done this before. What is she supposed to draw?!
She looks around her, hoping to see her classmates' papers. Her friends were frowning too...it seems they also don't know how to draw. That made her a little happy...because she isn't the only one who is having a problem.
And then she turned to her right...and her eyes widened at the sight of a beautiful place coming alive as the girl with dark hair carefully glided her colored pen across her paper. Her right hand is holding a gray pen, on her left is a blue crayon.
Biting her lips, Kaede turned to her left, wanting to avoid looking at what the other girl is drawing.
But then her eyes grew even wider. If the dark-haired girl's drawing is beautiful, the fat girl's is like a magical place coming alive.
How can she compete with these two?! They are better than her in drawing!
She jerked her head back to her front forcefully, not wanting to acknowledge the fact that two other girls are being better than her. She is the best! She has to be! Her Kaa-chan told her to be...!
Convinced that she can outdo their drawings, Kaede went back to her paper. All she has to do is draw her blue-rose garden. And then she will be the best girl and her Kaa-chan will be happy and proud!
...But first she has to find her blue crayon first.
In her haste to get back to her paper, she has knocked down the crayon. And now she has to go look for it.
She looked under her desk, and then under her chair, and when she couldn't find it, she finally looked at the floor around her.
She saw the blue crayon lying near the shoe of the taller girl (who is better at drawing than her). She frowned at the thought.
Because she has shorter legs, she couldn't reach the floor when she's sitting, unlike most of the other girls (but the fat girl is shorter than her). So she has to wiggle herself out of it, and it is making her a little bit angry, but she held her anger in until she was able to feel the floor under her feet.
She took two tiny steps (because her Kaa-chan told her that ladies should always walk in little steps, carefully), and then bending down on her waist, she picked the end of the crayon carefully.
But two long fingers picked the other end of the crayon, and when Kaede looks up, she found a pair of dark eyes staring at her without a blink.
She felt...scared all of a sudden.
She tugged her end of the crayon. The other girl tugged it back.
She tugged it again, this time, a little bit harder. But the girl wouldn't let go. And the girl is still looking at her with her big, scary eyes.
Kaede felt her eyes tearing up. That was her crayon! Why isn't she letting go?!
At the sound of her first sniffle, their teacher looked up from book she was reading. Pushing her glasses up, her eyes meet Kaede's teary ones, and then her lips thinned.
"Kanai-chan," she calls out in a hard voice, "Give Furokawa-chan her crayon. Now."
The other girl still didn't let go. Their teacher cleared her throat, and Kaede knew she is getting angry (her Kaa-chan would always do that so Kaede knows).
"Kanai-chan."
Kaede tugged, this time, a lot harder. But then she was falling on her butt, because the girl has let go just as she was tugging.
She landed with a thud, and the pain that she felt causes her tears to freely run down her cheeks, her lips pouted and trembled, and she sniffled some more.
And then her friends were all around her, helping her get up. And their teacher was looking angrily at the other girl, who just sat there and said nothing.
Later, when they all finished their drawings, their teacher gave Kaede the gift and declared her drawing as the 'best'.
She was smiling so widely when she presented her drawing to her proud parents that she forgot the pain she felt when she fell earlier, or that there were two other girls whose drawings are far better than hers.
Their classes continued, with her being driven to their school by her Tou-chan, and beside her were her Kaa-chan and nee-chan. And her nii-chan would always help her improve her kanji and reading, and her nee-chan taught her how to draw better.
She made even more friends, and they would always flock towards her every morning just as soon as she steps out of their car.
She has one, two, three...thirteen friends in her class, and the girls from the other rooms also wanted her to be their friend.
It made her so happy to have so many people like her. Love her even.
On her birthday party that year, she asked her kaa-chan to invite all of her classmates and friends.
It was the biggest party that their house has ever had.
(Though she kept on looking for two particular girls all day long.)
...
After finishing at the top of her primary class, Kaede's Kaa-chan decided to enroll her at the top elementary school in central Tokyo; the Tokyo Integrated Elementary School.
"Only the best for my children, specially for our Princess", Kaori Furokawa said.
Kaede doesn't really care; her only thought is that she is going to attend the same school as her older siblings.
She saw a lot of her friends from her former school, but none of them were in her class.
(Of course, she was put at the 'Special Class', were she also has some foreign classmates.)
She was expecting things to be as easy as they were last year; but she was shocked to find out that they are not. Their classes were much harder, and her classmates look really, really serious.
They studied English, Japanese, Kanji, Mathematics and Science...and Kaede found herself lost after just a day.
She isn't dumb, no. It's just that she was not ready.
She promised herself that she will do better the next day, because she wanted to be like her nii-chan and nee-chan, both are top of their class and year (although of course, they were sharing said spot).
She worked hard, studied even harder. She perfected her sloppy Kanji, she studied English even though it was really, really, hard. She loved Mathematics and Science though. They are fun.
She was very confident; she thought she did very well. And so, she waited with a big smile and glowing eyes at the end of their first month to see just how well she did.
And her heart plummeted down to her empty stomach (she was so nervous and excited that she wasn't able to hold anything down for a minute) when she saw her name...under another girl's name.
'Risa Shiraishi.'
And then her eyes traveled to the short, plump girl who is clutching a piece of candy in her chubby fingers, eyes so green and wide, her lips partly opened in what seems to be surprise.
And Kaede, for the first time that month, was reminded with the colors of red and gold and green.
Her family, surprisingly, weren't too disappointed.
"Your school is a very prestigious one, Princess." Her Tou-chan said when they were having dinner, "And besides, you're only in your first month. Give it time, neh?"
Her Kaa-chan nodded and smiled, but Kaede knew she wanted her to be the best girl in their class again.
That night, she listened as her parents sang praises to their older children.
Her Kazuto-nii-chan was chosen to represent their year school for an upcoming inter-school Mathematics competition.
Her Kazumi-nee-chan was chosen to perform a dance during the school festival- the most important day for their school, and there will be foreign visitors. Who else to choose but the most beautiful girl and the best dancer in the whole of school?
Kaede sat there and vowed to herself that she will be the best.
...
"...your answer in number four is wrong, Furokawa-san."
Kaede frowned as she raises her eyes to look at the owner of that soft voice. She was greeted by glowing green-eyes and red, round cheeks.
Risa Shiraishi- the girl who has beaten her in all of their classes last year.
Kaede smiles politely at the girl, and then returned to what she was doing earlier.
She watches from the corner of her eyes as the other girl's feet shuffled awkwardly before walking away from her desk. Only then that Kaede flipped back to the page where number four is and re-read the question, before looking at her answer.
She decided she will not change her answer.
(When their papers were returned, she got a 24 out of 25. Number four was wrong. She frowned and bit her lip as her eyes traveled to the other girl who was putting her paper carefully back to her bag, Kaede's eyes catching the bright red mark of 25 over 25.)
She was, once again, placed second at the year of their second grade.
But still, their family celebrated as if she was the first-as if she was the best. Like her older siblings.
"Next year, you'll definitely be the best, ne, Hime-chan?" her nii-chan said to her sweetly, a trinket (a hair pin in the form of a butterfly) in his hands. He slung an arm around his twin sister. "Me and Kazumi-chan bought this for you. Do you like it?"
Of course she does.
"Would you want me to braid your hair so we can put it, Hime-chan?" Kazumi asks beside Kazuto, her violet eyes shining with adoration for her younger sister. And Kaede nodded happily as she scrambles into her sister's lap.
That night, Kaede fell asleep on her nee-chan's bed, the twins on her either side.
...
On her third grade, things change.
They have a new classmate. A girl.
And the whole class thought she was foreign, because she was tall-taller than even the boys. And she looks- different. Her skin is pale, eyes too dark and too big, face too bony, forehead too high and hair too dark.
The whole class was convinced she was foreign, but Kaede was not.
She remembered her: the dark-eyed girl in her kindergarten class.
And Kaede knew that the girl remembered her as well, because her eyes blinked once when they landed on her, before she nodded politely and kept her eyes in front of them.
Kaede wanted to avoid the dark-eyed girl, like the way she avoided the green-eyed one. And she succeeded, at first.
But by their second week together, Kaede had her very first encounter with the two other girls.
She was only looking for her nii-chan and nee-chan so they can eat their lunch together, just like how they always do. She walked aimlessly around their school, convinced that she will eventually bump into the two.
She found herself at the back of the school, lured by the quiet lullaby of the wind that was blowing those beautiful sakura petals around. There was that sound of birds chirping and singing.
But the sweet sound was broken by a sob- sharp and full of pain.
Looking around her, Kaede walked towards the bend and turned. And her eyes widened at the sight of the two girls sitting in the ground, red droplets on the ground and wide-green eyes were filled with tears.
"What did you do?!" she hears herself shouting at the crouching dark-haired girl. "Why did you hurt her?!"
She shook her shoulders and tried pushing her, but the girl simply shrugged her hands off.
"I did not hurt her." was the quiet mumble Kaede heard.
"Then who did?" she looked around them, She saw nobody else aside from them. "There's no one here."
The two girls didn't answer her question, there was only the sound of sobs from the shaking girl. Kaede cringed at the sight of blood from a cut on the girl's upper shoulder. What happened? Who did this to her?
She didn't find out the answer to her question. Instead, the crying girl asked the two other girls not to tell anybody about it.
Kaede frowned but remained silent. And then she turned her frown to the other girl when she said 'okay'.
"It is Risa-chan's decision whether to let others know or not." The girl answers while calmly putting her things back to her bag.
"It will only get worse!" Kaede argued.
"I will not leave her alone then."
Kaede watches as the girl walks out of the room with the shyly smiling Risa Shiraishi.
Kaede thought to herself that she will not associate with the two ever again.
(The next morning, she couldn't find the will to not return the watery smile that Risa Shiraishi gave her when they met each other at the hallway.)
...
The three of them became somewhat 'friends', and Kaede realizes that she never really had a friend in her school aside from the two.
They started eating their lunches together, read together, and sit under the sakura tree at the back of their school- close to where she first talked to them.
"Can you teach me English, Chisa-chan?" Kaede heard Risa ask the other girl quietly one time. "Tou-san said I should learn the language before I finish elementary so I can enter Rikkai Dai."
"You're going to Rikkai Dai?" Kaede couldn't help but ask. Her nii-chan wanted to get into that school because of their tennis team.
Risa nodded eagerly, her green eyes shining. "Uhn! Tou-san said it's one of the best schools in Tokyo. And they have really good arts department!" Her eyes turned confused. "But Kaa-san said I should go to Hyotei instead."
"Zumi-nee-chan will go to Hyotei, because they have the best dance club." Kaede shares with pride.
Chisaki smiled between the two of them, and Kaede thought the girl will also share something about her family. But she turned to Risa to answer the girl's earlier request. "Of course I will teach you, Risa-chan."
And Risa beamed a bright smile at the other girl.
From then on, Chisaki taught Risa English. Kaede wanted to ask her to teach her as well, but her mother's words always stops her.
"Furokawa's don't ask other people for help, Princess. We are the best. You are the best. You don't ask for help."
She has always believed her Kaa-chan's words, but-
Everytime they have a test, she always gets the second or third place; while her two friends would always have the highest or second-best score (although Risa-chan would always get the best score; Chisa-chan would sometimes have the same score, or maybe get one or two mistakes.)
Even in things outside their academics, the two are still better than her.
Risa-chan is the best in arts and music; Chisa-chan is the best in sports.
And Kaede remained on the second spot.
...
"This is my nii-chan and nee-chan." Kaede introduces her siblings to her friends with a big smile. "They're twins!"
They were on their way to lunch when Kaede found her siblings outside of their classroom.
Her siblings beamed identical smiles to her friends, and Kaede noted that her brother's eyes stayed a little too long on Chisaki-chan's, while Risa-chan's already pink cheeks reddened and her eyes were widely staring at her older brother.
Kaede couldn't help but wonder why.
"You have very pretty friends, Hime-chan." Kazuto-nii-chan told her afterwards when they were on their way home.
She smiled at him from beside her nee-chan. And then she noticed that his smile was a little bit different, and that his blush is far too pink against his tanned skin.
Her nee-chan chuckled beside, and when Kaede turned her head to ask, Zumi-nee-chan just winked at her.
From then on, her nii-chan would always visit her in her classroom during lunchtime. He would sometimes be there waiting with a grinning Kazumi, or alone when his twin sister is in her dance practice.
"Nii-chan likes you."
Chisaki blinked at her. They are once again in their eating place. Though this time, Risa-chan isn't with them. She apparently is sick.
"I like him too." Her friend answered nonchalantly, eyes on her crepe.
"He likes you." She repeated, emphasizing the word 'like', before taking a bite off of her sandwich.
"Oh."
"We can be sisters in the future Chisaki-chan!" she declared cheerfully, already imagining how it's going to be if that would happen.
But Chisaki only shrugged her shoulders. "Risa-chan likes him."
And Kaede was choking on her sandwich. "What?"
"Risa-chan likes him." Chisaki repeated.
"Oh." Silence. "Don't you like him?"
Chisaki didn't answer her, and Kaede wasn't able to ask her again because the bell rung. And the next days, Risa-chan was there, cheeks and nose still red and eyes still a little bit swollen. And everytime her brother was there as well, she couldn't help but remember Chisaki-chan's words.
Risa-chan likes Kazuto-nii-chan.
And now, she can finally see it in her friend's eyes.
But she kept returning to the question that she asked Chisaki-chan. And the fact that her friend didn't give her an answer.
...
By the time they were nearing the end of their fourth grade, Kaede found herself slowly but surely falling behind her siblings and friends.
Her siblings will be sharing the top spot of their graduating class; while Risa took the top spot in theirs, and Chisaki will be awarded Student of the Year because of her achievements in the inter-school competitions that she has joined the whole year.
"Maybe we should have a party," their Kaa-chan gushed excitedly when it was announced. "We can invite all of your classmates, and their parents. And your associates as well dear-" she turns to their proudly smiling father. "And then we can introduce Kazuto to them. He will be taking your place in the future, so it's best they become aware of that."
And their Tou-chan agreed.
"We will do the same when you graduate, Kaede-chan." Her Kaa-chan told her almost in an afterthought. And Kaede smiled, at the back of her mind lies the question of whether she'll be able to achieve the same as her siblings.
She doesn't like the feeling that she gets whenever her Kaa-chan would fall silent upon learning that she once again fails to claim the top spot in their class.
Or when her papers don't have the perfect marks that her Kaa-chan is expecting to see.
During Kaede's earlier grades in elementary, it was okay- it was acceptable.
But since she started her fourth grade, her mother would sigh, or her lips would thin, and then her eyes would look at Kaede with something like disappointment.
Kaede hated that. She wanted her Kaa-chan to look at her like the way she did before- like Kaede is still the best girl in her eyes.
But it was almost impossible. Even though she studied so hard, read and re-read every book that their teacher has assigned them to, stay as late as twelve to review for her tests, and then wake-up at four to have another look at her notes.
She did everything. But it was still not enough. She still failed to take the top spot.
And Kaede is feeling that she is losing her mother's love because of that.
"Do you want to come with me to Osaka this spring break, Kaede-chan?" Risa asked her during her birthday that year.
She wanted to, but Kaede thought that if she wanted to get higher marks next year, she would have to study extra harder-and earlier. And so she said 'no'.
"Too bad," Risa-chan pouted."I want you to meet Kura-chin!"
"Chisaki-chan can come with you instead." She suggested.
"I have classes during the spring break." Chisaki said from her spot.
"Mou...advanced classes again, Chisaki-chan?" Risa-chan asks their friend. Chisaki nodded.
"Next year, I will compete for our school again. That is why I have to study all our classes in advance."
"Oh." Kaede exchanged a look with Risa-chan.
...
They started their fifth grade, and Kaede was feeling more confident this time. And happy. She felt happy.
Maybe because she grew a bit taller over the short break, or maybe because she easily got a perfect score on their very first test.
Or maybe because she was chosen as the class representative that year.
Nevertheless, she felt positive. She felt like this year is going to be her year.
Her brother entered Rikkai Dai after the break, and was the top student of the freshmen class. Same with her sister; though Zumi-nee-chan entered Hyotei.
And Kaede was still in the same class as Risa-chan and Chisaki-chan.
It was a good start for all of them, and Kaede was so sure that it will get even better.
But then things went downhill from that.
It started with seemingly simple things, like her Tou-chan coming home later than usual, her Kaa-chan frowning more and more, and her nii-chan growing more and more sullen.
He told her he never wanted to enter Rikkai Dai; that he wanted to enter another school. Maybe Seishun or another one, just not Rikkai Dai. But their Kaa-chan wanted him to, so he relented.
They were simple things, but they brought a change to their everyday lives. Her Tou-chan won't drive her to school anymore, and her Kaa-chan would often go somewhere in the mornings, and come back days after looking tired and worn out.
But her nee-chan stayed the same, and for that Kaede was thankful (although she did day that she also wanted to enter Rikkai, where her twin was, but their Kaa-chan...).
And then on her eleventh birthday, Kaede insisted that they go to an amusement park in Chiba, a two-hour drive from where they live.
Her Kaa-chan was a little apprehensive since the weather was not looking promising, and Zumi-nee-chan couldn't come because she has a dance rehearsal.
But Zumi-nee-chan insisted that it was okay, and apologized to Kaede for not being able to celebrate her birthday. She promised to give Kaede's gift when they get home.
And so they went to the park and had lots of fun. The four of them enjoyed it so much, that even her normally reserved mother was laughing so hard she has tears in her eyes.
They were supposed to stay at a hotel, but then her Tou-chan got a call, and her Kaa-chan was worried about her nee-chan being alone in their house. And so they drove on home.
It was drizzling when they left the hotel, and after five minutes, it was raining like crazy.
The wind was howling, lightning flashes every now and then and the clap of thunder were making Kaede scoot deeper and deeper into her nii-chan's arms.
"It's okay, Hime-chan. I will protect you ne?"
She nodded, her eyes catching her father's from the rear-view mirror. He gave her a crinkled smile, assuring her that everything is alright. That she is safe from any harm.
And Kaede felt instantly relieved. Her breathing calmed down, and her heart stopped racing in her chest. And then she was falling asleep.
But then there was the sound of tires screeching, and Kaede suddenly felt the car give a lurch. And her Kaa-chan shrieked, and thunder clapped so loud she felt like her head was splitting apart.
Her nii-chan ducked above her, shielding her body with his, murmuring soothing words to a crying Kaede.
"Nii-chan...nii-chan..."
"It's okay, Hime-chan. I will protect you. Don't cry."
Their car wasn't stopping; it went on and on, like Kaede's sobs and her Kaa-chan's shrieks. Her Tou-chan was grunting, and her nii-chan kept on repeating the same words to her ear over and over again.
And then their car hit something- hard. It was too dark outside, and their car's lights were smashed and broken into pieces.
Inside their car, everything is pitched black. They couldn't see anything. And Kaede is trying hard to breathe.
"It's okay, Kaori...Hime-chan." She heard her Tou-chan say, "We're safe."
"We're safe..." her Kaa-chan echoed, a sob in her voice. "Kazuto...Kaede..."
But the car moved once again.
And the next thing Kaede knew, they were tossed up and down and around as the car rolls down a hill.
It was all over too soon, but for Kaede it was the longest minute of her life.
When the car finally stopped for the last time, there was total silence. She can feel something wet and cold from above her. It was sticky.
And she feel something heavy is pressing down her. Too heavy that it is getting too difficult to breathe. She tried to wiggle out of the arms that were holding her.
"Are...you...s-safe, Hime-chan...?" she heard a grunt on her left ear.
"Hai...nii-chan?" her voice cracked. "I can't see you...where are you?"
But her nii-chan didn't answer.
"Kaa-chan...? Tou-chan...?"
Silence.
Kaede sobbed harder, her chest is getting painful by the second. "Nii-chan..?" she called again.
And again there was only silence.
"Tou-chan..?! Kaa-chan?! Where are you? I can't see you!" she was panicking already. It was so dark. So, so dark.
There were no answers. And Kaede wept as she feels the fear start creeping in her skin. And still, she calls them again and again and again...
Until there was nothing but silence.
...
When she opened her eyes once more, she was greeted by a blurry white ceiling.
Her eyes hurt, her body is aching, her throat feels dry.
And her heart feels empty.
'What happened?' she thought as she looks around her. 'Why is everything white and blurry?'
She was not alone in the room, she can tell. Someone is with her, and her lips curl in a smile and her eyes teared up when she finally recognize the familiar smell.
"Chisa..."
There was the sound of a chair being pushed back, and then her stiff hands were being held by a warmer one. She couldn't help but cry.
"Don't cry please, Kaede-chan."
It only made her sobs louder.
Chisaki stayed with her for the rest of the day- sitting beside her quietly. Her presence made Kaede feel a whole lot better, but she couldn't help but think of her family.
Where are they? Are they safe? Oh, please make them safe!- she begged in her mind.
She stayed in that room for more than two weeks with only Chisaki, Risa and the nurses and the doctors to keep her company.
The day that she got out, she wondered why the car that fetched her wasn't taking her home. She wanted to ask, but the driver didn't say anything, and so she just looked out of the window.
The streets were familiar...and her heart started beating frantically in her chest.
And then the car stopped...in front of their family's crypt.
And she felt the whole world stop along with her heart.
All of their relatives were present, all wearing white and black. All have white blooms in their hands, all have tears in their eyes.
She took a step...and then another...and another, until she can see the back of her grandmother's head. Until she can finally make out her Kaa-chan sitting on a wheelchair. Until she can finally see her nee-chan...
Who at that moment raised her face and turned it around, her eyes immediately locating Kaede's. And the look of anger and loneliness and emptiness and hatred mixing in those orbs was enough to stop Kaede in her tracks.
She has never felt that cold in all her years.
...
"Kaa-chan..."
"Not now Kaede. I am busy."
"If you don't have anything good to say, leave. I have work to do."
"If it's about your marks, you can leave your report card on my desk. I'll take a look at them when I have the time."
Her Kaa-chan became cold, distant- and Kaede knew that even though her mother wouldn't say it...Kaede knew her mother is blaming her for what happened.
And Zumi-nee-chan too.
"Don't you call me that anymore." Her sister hissed at her when she went to her room. "And don't talk to me. And don't show your face to me again!"
"Nee-chan..."
"I hate you. I hate you. I hate you!" her nee-chan was shouting, and tears were running down her face. "You took Kazuto away from me! You killed Tou-chan! I hate you!"
Kaede barely dodged the vase that was thrown at her head.
She cried herself to sleep every night. And whenever there is a storm or even just a loud sound, she would awaken sweating and whimpering for her nii-chan and Tou-chan.
But her nii-chan is too far away, and her Tou-chan is not coming back anymore. And these thoughts made her cry even harder.
...
Days and weeks and months passed by, and Kaede and her friends finally graduated from elementary. Risa slipped to second place, tied with Kaede.
Chisaki took the top spot. Kaede thought she deserved it.
But she held her tongue when her Kaa-chan ranted about Kaede being not able to beat the scrawny girl for the top spot.
And when she said that she wanted to enter Seishun Gakuen, her mother's eyes slanted and declared in a hard voice that no, Kaede will be entering the most exclusive school in all of Japan: the Tokyo Central Academy.
She cried and begged but to no avail.
"That is your Tou-chan's wish, are you going to deny him?"
And Kaede found herself signing the registration papers the next morning.
She apologized to Chisaki, but the other girl just said it was okay. She entered a different school anyway. And Risa is n't in Rikkai as she has planned. Instead, their friend was shipped off to a boarding school, one that is actually close to Kaede's school.
"We can visit her together, ne?" Chisaki smiled at her, and Kaede felt that everything is okay.
But they are not.
...
It happened on her second year in middle school. By that time, her Kaa-chan is slowly growing softer and fonder of Kaede once more. Maybe because all she hears from the school were praises and positive remarks.
Best in English. Best in Mathematics. Class representative two years running, being chosen to be the school council president next year...
Awarded Student of the Year. Top marks in all subjects. Kaede stood at the top.
And her Kaa-chan is now looking at her with those soft and loving eyes once again.
Something that is making her nee-chan unhappy and mad.
And so she did something that would shook Kaede's world once more. And this time, Kazumi Furokawa made sure that Kaede won't be able to recover anymore.
It happened on a Saturday, and Kaede was waiting for Chisaki to arrive.
They've been studying together on weekends like this, preparing for when they will take the entrance exam on Risa-chan's school. They wanted to help and save Risa-chan from the monsters in her school.
Kaede thought that if the three of them are together, the bullies would stop picking on Risa-chan.
"Let's have Math today?" Kaede asks Chisaki as soon as the girl stepped into the front door.
"Okay."
They passed by the living room, not seeing the way Kazumi's eyes glinted before she reached out for her cell phone...
The two of them stayed in Kaede's room for hours, with only sandwiches and chips and chocolates and juice to keep them from getting hungry.
By the three o'clock, Kaede's stomach made a sound of protest, and it was followed by Chisaki's.
Laughing, the two of them went to the kitchen to get some 'real food'. Their laughter stopped when they see two girls sitting at the table as well.
"Nee-chan..."
Smiling, Kazumi turned towards the two younger girls, her eyes latching on to Chisaki who was standing behind Kaede. "Kaede-chan!" her smile turned sweeter, "Chisaki-chan. How are you?"
"I am fine."
"So formal." Kazumi murmured, and then she flipped her hair behind her, throwing a charming smile towards her friend. "Isn't she pretty?"
"Hmmm."
Kaede frowned at the look that her sister's friend gave Chisaki. She doesn't feel comfortable. Tugging on Chisaki's hand, she walked towards the kitchen, eager to find food and return to her room.
"Tch. You're not a gracious host, do you know that Kaede-chan? Letting your guest get hungry like that." Her sister cooed from her seat, finger grazing the surface of the table. Kaede frowned at the sound. "I'll help you with the food. Just sit."
Her protest went unheard as her sister pinned her with a look. Chisaki nodded at her silently, urging her to just let the older girl do what she wanted to do.
Thirty minutes later, Kaede was presented with a perfectly cooked tempura (her favorite), steaming rice, stir-fried vegetables and miso soup.
"You haven't eaten lunch." Her sister said when Kaede refuses the foods.
She relented. Picking up the chopstick, she nodded at Chisaki. The two of them missed the conniving look that the two other girls gave each other.
When she come to, Kaede found herself in her bed. With only her underwear on. Beside her, is her sister's friend, sleeping.
And she was bare naked.
Kaede could've shouted, if not for the scream that filled her room and woke the girl lying beside her.
And Kaede once again felt cold when her mother's disbelieving and disgusted eyes met hers. Behind her, was the triumphantly grinning Kazumi, in her hand is a picture of a sleeping Chisaki- dark hair wild around her, a blanket covering her body. Kaede knew her friend is safe, but the look in her sister's eyes was enough to warn her that Chisaki wouldn't be if she ever say the wrong words.
She felt her hair being brushed aside behind her, and she stiffened when she felt lips on her shoulders.
"Sorry honey, but your sister said that she'll agree to be my girlfriend if I do this so..."
"Kaede Furokawa how dare you!" her mother's voice was trembling and Kaede shook her head, wanting to say something, anything, but her sister raised an eyebrow at her.
"Now I know why you are always hanging around that friend of yours..." then her mother's eyes narrowed. "Is she the same as you huh?!"
"...no." Kaede sobbed.
"Don't lie to me you filth."
"Kaa-chan..."
"You are no daughter of mine, Kaede Furokawa. I don't have an abnormal child. You disgust me."
And then her mother was walking away, and Kaede wanted to run after her and tell her everything is wrong.
That she got it all wrong. But then her sister walks inside the room, locking the door behind her.
"Nee-chan...please...!" she begged.
"Awww...poor Kaede-chan." Kazumi purred. "Poor Hime-chan...how does it feel having no-one here to love you, huh, Hime-chan?"
"Please..."
Kazumi tilted her head, looking at Kaede through thoughtful eyes, but then she smirked. "Only if you return Tou-chan, and if you get Kazuto back home, and if you tell Chisaki-chan that you hate her and that you don't like to be her friend anymore and if you agree that I can kiss her and take another picture of her-this time, without her clothes." Kaede's were wide. "Then, yes. I will tell Kaa-chan that she got it all wrong."
"But...but that is impossible!" Kaede shouted at her sister's face. "I can't bring Tou-chan back, and Nii-chan is being treated abroad with grandmother! And I can't lose Chisaki-chan and I won't let you do those sick things to her!"
Her sister only shrugged. "Then no. I won't help you."
"But this is your fault! You planned this! Why are you doing this to me?!"
And then Kazumi's hands were around her neck, choking her. "I...can't...breath...!" she gasped, hands prying her sister's grip in her neck.
"It was your fault that Tou-chan died. It was your fault Kazuto isn't here with me anymore. It was your fault that our family is suffering. It was your fault- all of it. From when you were a child, until now." Her sister gave one last squeeze before letting go. "It was your fault I was never loved by them. It was your fault Tou-chan and Kaa-chan never looked at me. It was your fault Kazuto never called me 'Hime-chan' anymore."
And then there were tears in her sister's eyes, and Kaede realizes that yes, those were all her fault. She didn't mean for those things to happen, but still, she was the reason why they are in this situation right now.
She can accept that. She can accept all of that.
But she will not let her friend be caught in this tragedy that is her life.
"Why Chisaki?" she asks her sister.
"Because Kazuto loved her, you know that." Kazumi was smiling. "I have loved and wanted everything that he did. And that includes your pretty friend."
Kaede gritted her teeth. She will never allow that! Never!
"I will not say anything, but don't you dare bring Chisaki-chan or Risa-chan into this."
"That's too bad." Kazumi did sound disappointed, but it only fueled her determination not to let her sister harm her friend.
"Promise me. Or Kaa-chan will know."
Her sister seemed to think about it for a while, and Kaede was wishing all the gods that she will let Chisaki out of her schemes.
"Fine." Kaede lets out a breath of relief. "But make sure that you will keep your end of the bargain, Kaede-chan. Or else..."
She runs a finger down Kaede's bare arms. "I will know just how creamy and smooth Chisa-chan's skin really is."
Kaede shot her sister a look of pure disgust. When did her sister became like this?! This is not her sister! How can she be so sick?!
But her sister just rolled her eyes on Kaede, and then proceeded on kissing the other girl that was still sitting behind Kaede.
Kaede felt her stomach turn at the sight and sound that the two were making.
"Don't do that here in my room! Get out! Get out!" she didn't care that the other girl was naked as she pulled on the blanket and pushed the two out of her bed. She felt so sick and disgusted by them.
"OUT!"
Kazumi just laughed at her, whilst the other girl just shrugged and yawned, not even bothering to cover herself.
"Your friend is sleeping at the guest room, the one close to Kazuto's." Kazumi told her as she pulls her 'friend' towards the door. "I say you go there and wake her up before Kaa-chan finds her. Kazuto-kun won't like it when he sees scars on his dear Chisaki-chan."
Kaede threw the very first thing that she got her hands on at the smirking face of her sister.
The sound of the expensive vase breaking was lost on Kaede's ears as she sprinted on her bathroom and threw on some clothes. Bare footed, she marched up into the guest room to find Chisaki sleeping soundly.
With trembling hands, she pulled on the thick blanket that is covering her friend from her neck to her toes. And Kaede cried out in relief when she saw Chisaki with all of her clothes on. No marks on her skin, and looking so peaceful as she clutches on the pillow beside her face.
The sound she made woke the girl up. And she immediately sat up upon hearing and seeing Kaede cry.
"What's wrong? Why am I sleeping here?"
Kaede wanted to tell her. She wanted to pour her heart out to Chisaki and let her know. But she couldn't. Her sister's words are echoing in her head.
She instead shook her head, willing the tears to stop from flowing.
"Was it your sister?" Chisaki asked softly.
Kaede nodded.
"I understand. It's okay." Chisaki hugged her, and Kaede stiffened.
"No. Don't. If Kaa-chan sees us..." Kaede's voice trailed off, fear evident. And that was enough for Chisaki to know.
"Can I call her a 'bitch' now?"
Her friend's words made Kaede choke on her sob. And then her tears just spilled even more, but when she raises her face to look at her friend's face and found it so serious...Kaede couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips.
"What?" Chisaki asks in a bewildered voice, wondering why her friend who was just crying earlier is now holding her stomach and laughing. But she just frowned and lets Kaede be.
"So...can I call her a bitch now or what?" she asks again, a tone of impatience in her voice.
And Kaede kept on laughing at the clueless look that Chisaki is giving her. She kept laughing until she was doubling over on her stomach, until her eyes were tearing up again- a mixture of both sadness at how her life is going to be, and happiness from the thought that she still has Chisaki-chan and Risa-chan with her, and that was more than enough for her.
She kept on laughing until she couldn't laugh anymore, because who knows when she'll have the chance to be happy again?
She kept on laughing until she was once again crying.
And during that time, Chisaki was there to hold her and rub her back and tell her funny things that Risa-chan has told them before.
And her mind flashed back to that one minute daydream she had about having Chisaki as her future sister-in-law.
And Kaede knew that she did the right thing of choosing Chisaki over her sister.
"We'll always be friends ne, Kaede-chan? And I will always be here for you. So don't cry anymore." Chisaki whispers softly in her ears. "I don't like seeing you and Risa-chan cry. I promise everything will be okay."
And Kaede nodded, even though in her heart of hearts, those words sounded empty and hollow.
Even though she knew nothing will ever be alright again.
Her whole world is shattered in pieces, her life broken-she will never, ever have them back again.
One word: LONG.
So..yeah. That's all. Thaks. Bye.
XD READ AND REVIEW! XD
YUNA
*BTW: Kaede's father is dead, but Kazuto is not. And in the last chapter, when Kazumi said about 'father', she wasn't talking about their 'real father'. :)