Please refer to the Prologue for the Standard Disclaimer.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Hi there, minna-san. Thanks for the reviews. You really don't know how good it feels to know that some people actually appreciate my work. Also, it's good to know that I'm not the only Chocolate-Marron supporter around here. .:grins:.
This chapter is basically about their childhood and is based on my theories. I have never read the manga so gomen… And I didn't KNOW that Gateau's god was actually the Guardian of the North… I'm not psychic or anything. Like I said, I used the four animal gods from Fushigi Yuugi and assigned them to the Guardians based on their dominant characteristics…
Things typed both in bold and italics signify similar thoughts…
SHARDS
By: Ryuuen
Chapter One
They Meet…
"Hey, oneechan. Wake up. We'll be late for school," a seven-year-old girl with pink hair in pigtails said, shaking the older girl lying nonchalantly on a very disorderly bed, drooling all over her pillows.
"Five more minutes, Apricot-san…" her sister said sleepily, snuggling further into her pillows.
"Oneechan!" Her sister exclaimed in exasperation. Laughter was heard as a tall woman with straight raven-black hair and vivid black eyes stared at the frustrated girl. "Chocolate still doesn't seem to get used to waking up this early, doesn't she, Tira-chan?"
"Apricot-sama, please wake her up. We mustn't be late for school," the little girl pleaded as the thought of their sensei's face crossed her mind. Not that it would make any difference. He seemed to make it part of his routine get mad at his students at least twice a day.
Apricot Glace approached her and patted her little head, saying, "You go on ahead with Carrot, Tira-chan. I'll just bring your sister to school with Marron-chan when she wakes up."
Tira looked up at her guardian, puzzled, "Marron-chan?"
"Oh yes. He just arrived last night after I tucked you in for bed. He's our son, Carrot's younger brother. His uncle took him in for the summer. I'll introduce you to him later. Now, run along. I'll be the one to explain Chocolate's tardiness to your sensei."
"Hai, Apricot-sama!" Tira chirped, scampering down the stairs happily.
Apricot smiled at the child. She was so like her mother. Too bad Strawberry had died before they even had the chance to get to know her. Their father had brought them up until now. She sighed. She was yet to figure out why Zaha went and left his two daughters. Moving towards the sleeping figure, she sat on the bed and gently shook her. "Wake up, Choco-chan. You're going to be late."
Lazily, eyelids fluttered open to reveal clear sapphire eyes. "Apricot-san, what time is it?" she asked, rubbing her eyes and stretching as far as her eight-year-old limbs could manage.
Apricot playfully ruffled her short auburn tresses and smiled. "Ohayo, Choco-chan. It's about time you get ready for school."
"Nani? Oh… Where is Tira?" she said, picking herself up off the bed and proceeding to fold the sheets.
Apricot laughed yet again, amused by Chocolate's futile attempts to make the bed considering that the covers were twice her size. "She left for school with Carrot. She seemed anxious about getting scolded by your sensei."
"Who? Oogami-sensei? That old man would get mad at you even for acing an exam, saying that you just did it to show off," Chocolate remarked with venom.
Apricot sighed. In as much as Tira was very sweet and ladylike, the same could not be said for Chocolate. Boyish and short-tempered, she was as different from her sister as can be. She was getting into scrapes by the second and skirmishes by the hour. But, though her manners and language were in need of culturing, she still knew her limitations. She was a queer child, everyone had to accept that. She manifested a strength that was unusual for such a young child. Never had Apricot seen Chocolate cry, not even when her father left them in her custody.
Reaching for the sheet that, to Chocolate's frustration, still lay in a crumpled heap on the bed, she said in a motherly voice, "Well, then. Why don't you just go on ahead and wash yourself before breakfast. I'll be taking you to school."
Letting the sheet fall into an undecorative lump on the floor, the child rushed off to attend to her morning regiments. Upon reaching the kitchen, a mouth-watering smell filled the air as she sat herself on her usual seat.
"Ohayo gozaimasu, Onion-san," she greeted him cheerfully.
"Oh, good morning, Choco-chan," the older man acknowledged.
Swinging her feet and looking around while waiting for her breakfast, she couldn't help but notice that another chair has been added to the table.
"Onion-san?"
"Hmm?"
"Why is there an extra chair?"
"Oh? Well now…"
"That chair's Marron's, Choco-chan," came Apricot's crystal clear voice. Walking towards the table and placing the plate of pancakes before the confused girl, she explained further. "Marron is Carrot's imouto. He had been taken in by his uncle for the summer and he's quite shy and doesn't usually mingle with kids his age so you probably wouldn't have met him before."
"Oh… When do I get to meet him, Apricot-san?"
"Oh, Darling… Where IS Marron-chan?"
"He left with his brother and Tira a while ago. Seemed to be quite eager to go to school."
"Oh, I see," Apricot said. "You'd probably meet him at school, then."
"Oh, okay," the child said before saying a hurried "Ittekadimasu!" and pluging into her high stack of pancakes.
* * *
"Apricot-san, what is Marron like?"
Apricot looked at the restless figure that walked slowly by her side. Obviously, the child had been intrigued by the mention of his name.
"Well, Choco-chan. That is for me to know and for you to find out," she said, tapping the child solemnly on her nose and smiling. "Now run along. School doesn't seem to have started from the looks of it."
Truly, the playground was still in mayhem and the classroom empty.
Oogami-sensei must have gotten a sore back again. Serves him right for being such a grouch! Probably got it because of… huh?
Voices… familiar voices… Peanut and Butter? What are they up to this time? Whatever it was, Chocolate was sure it was trouble. For, you see, my dear readers, Peanut and Butter were your typical neighborhood bullies who did typical neighborhood bully things and said things typical neighborhood bullies say and… well, you get the picture.
Hastening towards the direction of the voices, she found the two towering over another boy and laughing derisively. Not again…
"Hey, you two! Haven't you learned anything?"
"Huh? Oh it's you, Choco-chan," Peanut said mockingly. He was a tall ten-year-old boy with cropped blonde locks and a sturdy built.
"Yes, it's me. And don't you dare 'Choco-chan' me, baka!" the little girl retorted, squelching the guilt that came over her when she realized she was about to break her promise to her beloved Apricot-san.
* * *
Flashback…
"Choco-chan, I'm very disappointed in you," Apricot said in a voice that made the girl in front of her cringe.
"Gomen nasai, Apricot-san," the child said, running the cold compress she had been holding against the bruises she sustained from her recent fight at school. Though she didn't seem to be disturbed about the teacher's comments, the same cannot be said when it came to her guardian. How she wished Apricot-san had shouted at her than looked at her with forlorn eyes! Surely it would've lessened the guilt she was feeling!
"Choco-chan, I want you to promise me something…"
"Apricot-san…"
"I want you to promise me never to get into a fight ever again."
"Never?"
"Yes, dear."
"Not even if the bullies get real bothersome and all?"
"There are other ways, Choco-chan…"
The child sighed. It was so different from what otousama had taught her.
"Well…"
"Hai, Apricot-san. I promise."
End Flashback…
* * *
"Oooh, Choco-chan's angry. We're scared!" Butter intoned sarcastically.
"I'm warning you…"
"What's the matter, Choco-chan? Don't want dear Apricot-san to know about this?"
"Shut up, bakas!" and losing all reason and calm, she launched an effortless attack and felled the two bullies in one blow.
That should show them… Chocolate smirked and she would have resulted to snide comments had she not felt a pair of eyes upon her. The boy… she almost forgot!
Turning towards the direction of the bullies' victim, she extended her hand.
"Are you…" she began but stopped in her tracks when her gaze caught his.
Gold… That was the color of his eyes… Strange… Eyes that spoke of gratefulness, relief… recognition? Surely this child wasn't from around here for she would have noticed him long ago. Shoulder length raven black hair, the aforesaid golden orbs… But there was something oddly familiar about this odd child that drew her to him.
The boy, on the other hand, held her gaze, looking into her cerulean eyes… Funny… he thought. Why do I have this feeling I've known her before… The morning breeze sent short soft brown tresses fluttering across her face and the girl dazedly tucked them behind her ear. The silence made the boy feel awkward so he broke it as he took the proffered hand and rose to his feet. The girl froze. The sensation of his touch was foreign yet comfortable. The boy felt her tense up and released her hand… There had been a feeling of… rightness… about the whole thing. Weird!
Brushing himself clean, it was the boy who extended his hand this time in a gesture of a handshake. "Thank you for saving me."
Recovering herself, Chocolate accepted the hand and said in her normal voice, "Don't mention it. I know how to give help when it is needed. By the way, are you new around here? I don't seem to have seen you before."
Though, oddly enough…
"Yeah, you could say that. By the way, what's your name?"
I do not know your name but somehow…… I feel as if I know you…
"Chocolate… Chocolate Misu."
"Nice to meet you, Chocolate. I'm…"
"MARRON!!!"
"Oniisan?" the black-haired boy questioned.
"Oniisan? Carrot?" Chocolate looked from the older kid running towards them to her companion.
Oh, so this was Marron… No wonder he looked familiar… and she convinced herself as much.
"Hey, Marron. You alright?" his brother asked him.
"Hai. It was a lucky thing Chocolate happened to be passing by."
"Yeah, well…"
"Marron! Carrot! Wait up!" came Tira's voice. "Oneechan?"
So my savior is actually my surrogate sister…surprise…
Caught up in their own thoughts, they didn't notice the queer looks their siblings were giving them.
"Oneechan? Why are you holding Marron's hand?"
"Huh… oh…" Chocolate dropped his hand and successfully hid a blush. Marron, for his part, looked unperturbed.
Somewhere, a bell rang.
"Hey, you guys! You're gonna be late," Gateau Mocha, a twelve year-old boy with blond hair called to them, and with that, they scampered off into their classroom.
* * *
Elsewhere…
Scarlet eyes regarded the group with foreboding…
"So, they have met…"
"Yes, your Highness… Their love, strong enough to transcend time, was what led them to each other…"
"Perhaps…"
"This could be fatal, your Highness…"
"Indeed…"
So you have found a way to each other yet again… I wouldn't allow you to commit the same mistake this time…
I shall dissever your soul from one another even if it is the last thing I do… for your sake… for my sake… and for the sake of the entire world…
It is not right to pursue something which is not meant to be…
Please understand…
My guardians…
* * *
Okay… that was harmless. Another product of insomnia and an exceptionally boring day. And please don't kill me if I do have a weird way with names. Anyway… please do tell me what you think about this…. Comments are to be appreciated as always.
Until the next chap!