CHAPTER 7

Everyone has a past. You can hate it, run from it, hide, but it always catches up. Some things keep on haunting us long after the tragedy has passed.

It was another day in the Walker household. The early sun shone in the veranda. The maids were doing their daily chores, the birds were chirping and our dear heroin was lost in thoughts. She would blush now and then feeling giddy inside. Yes, she was thinking of him.

Today was Thursday, her day off. Misaki felt energized, the day she had been waiting for so long has finally arrived.

She brushed her black locks and tied them in a bun as she opened her wardrobe and took out a black jumper she usually wore, taking the keys before she left.

She has been in England for so long but never really looked at the city; never got a chance to fully explore all the hidden wonders of the neighbourhood, the delicate designs of the buildings, the narrow alleys filled with graffiti, the romantic weather, the busy people, the scenery. Everything

People said Paris was the city of love but she found England to be no les

She passed the fancy tourist places she had seen in pictures, but paid no attention to them. She looked at the address again and again. Although she had been there before, she wanted to be sure. She took the bus taking a seat near the window not wanting to mingle with the crowd.

She got down on her stop and a booked a cab; from there it would take her at least 20 minutes to reach her destination, provided that there is no heavy traffic.

She finally reached the place she has been waiting for so long.

Staring at it after almost 6 months, Misaki got aware of the vast difference between this part of the town and London, it was so different from the developed city with the tall buildings and the fast pace of life. It was like she had come into a whole different world from where she had lived for 6 months.

The reason Misaki felt so ecstatic today was that she was going to see Suzuna today, after 6 long months; she was going to see her sister once again.

She had been trying to get out of the Walker Mansion every week, and every single week either Usui would be there waiting for her, asking her to go out with him or Mrs. Flighbert would find some random errands for her just so that she can make her life hell.

Usui would follow her on her day off and ask to come with him. She couldn't possibly tell him that she was going to see her sister as far as she knew; he does not even know she has had a family. He was the one person she hated lying to. She didn't know why, but she wanted to tell him everything about her, starting from the smallest details such as her favourite soup to why she was running away.

Thankfully, Usui had gone to a on a business trip and Mrs. Flighbert has found another prey, and so she was finally free to meet Suzuna.

She wondered what Suzuna must be doing. Ever since she came to England she never got a chance to see her sister, oh how she missed he.

Misaki had left Suzuna at Erika's place, enrolling her in a nearby school. It was a small neighbourhood, the houses were not well made, they had metal tins as rooftops, and the plaster of the wall had come down.

The neighbours were smokers, alcoholics, petty thieves and harlots. Summing it up, it was no place for a gentle lady.

And suddenly she felt guilty; she has been living in a royal mansion comfortably, while her sister was out here, living in slums. The place reeked of poverty, diseases and misery.

But Misaki had no other choice, she couldn't afford a decent place for her and Suzuna, the money they had stolen had run out within three days after their arrival to England. She didn't know why she chose England. Maybe because it was the place her mother was born in. Maybe it was because it was very far away from Japan, away from the clutches of their ruthless father.

Misaki was running away from her home, her father, her life.

The school wasn't what Suzuna was used to growing up in, but she never complained.

Misaki went back to when things were normal and they were a happy family. Well, no. Theirs was never a happy family, but at least she was with her mother and Suzuna and Patrick, her beloved dog. Although they had all the money anyone could ever dream of having, theirs was not a happy family. Riches and gold can't buy happiness. Things got only worse when their mother died until it became impossible to stay with their father. So they had to run.

Misaki brushed aside the negative thoughts and concentrated on her way ahead.

Her pace fastened, locating that small thatched roofed house, if you can call it that. She couldn't wait. She was finally here. She has been waiting for this day since the past six months. It was as if her feet had developed a brain of their own and they were directing her towards a small patched hut.

She had expected Suzuna to be outside so that she could immediately run and hug her little sister. But as she neared the house there was no one. She knocked on the door, and Erika's small figure appeared, shocked at first, obviously she had not expected Misaki.

"Misaki? What a pleasant surprise. Come on in". Erika's cheerful voice welcomed her; she seemed to have resumed her normal state.

The place was exactly as it had been when she left. The dark atmosphere still lingered, at first Misaki thought it was because the room didn't get proper lightening but later she realized that it was because of the people living in it. The people in the room contributed to its dark atmosphere. A hopeless atmosphere.

Misaki marched inside the room eagerly trying to find her sister but she was nowhere in sight.

"Where is Suzuna, Erika?" Misaki asked

Erika had a guilty expression on her face.

Erika? Misaki asked again, sensing something was wrong.

"She has gone to work?"

"What Work? And what about school?" Misaki exclaimed. "How does she manage both of them?"

A tight knot grew in Misaki's stomach; she couldn't possibly fathom why her sister had to go work when she was providing for her. Did things change so much since she was away? She felt rage. She was mad at herself. When they had left home, Misaki has promised that she'll never let her little sister realize how hopeless their situation was.

"I had forbidden her, I told her that there was no need, but your sister has taken after you, and when have any of you listened to me" Erika said with a sigh.

Misaki didn't blame Erika; she was just as helpless. Her circumstances have brought her so low. She had vowed that she will never let her sister work as long as she didn't finish her education. But here she was unable to stop the turn of events, feeling like crap.

Misaki and Erika waited another two hours before Suzuna finally arrived.

Suzuna stopped mid way, when she saw Misaki there. She was never the one to show emotions but she couldn't stop herself from throwing herself at Misaki.

"Misaki, why didn't you visit me earlier"? Suzuna said as she hugged her sister.

Misaki hugged her back and was completely overwhelmed at that moment. "I am sorry, it was so very hard to get away", Misaki closed her eyes savouring the moment.

The two sisters exchanged pleasantries; Suzuna told about her new job as tuition teacher, "I provide Maths tuition to the neighbourhood kids". It's so sad that these kids never got a chance t go to an actual school".

"I wish they would pay you though" Erika said.

"Sometimes they pay me sometimes they don't, I wish they would though; it would really help around here".

"Erika, are you in need of money?" Misaki asked.

"What do you think? There is barely food in the pantry, our water supply has been cut, we have to get water from a tap now and the worst of all is that the landlord is threatening to throw us out if we don't pay the rent, but there's barely any money here." Erika was on the verge of a breakdown, it has been too hard on her.

"But I sent you almost all the money I make there, surely that must be enough."

"Look around you and tell me, do you think it's enough?" Erika sat sown covering her face wither hands. "It's so hard, you don't know how we live here, we barely manage."

Misaki placed a hand on Erika's back, "don't worry, I'll think of something and you'll definitely not get kicked out of this house, you've lived here long enough how can they do such a thing?"
"I won't let this happen". Misaki clenched her fists.

She left soon after that resolving to earn more money somehow no matter what it took.

Author's Note: How are my supporters? I am sorry; I am almost a year late, I know. I haven't gotten any time to finish this, and there's always this writer's block hovering over my head.

So when will the next chapter release? I don't know.
Will I update my other FF'S? I don't know.
Why am I on Fanfiction? I don't know

But what I do know is that I won't die before completing these fanfics and your reviews always inspires me. I know I started this a very long time ago, and there are some people who are still waiting for me to finish it and they drop review's now and then and that means a lot to me.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, sorry if there was no Usui in here, but I promise I'll bring back Usui in the next one.

Love

Windy Mist