Remember the Golden Rule
By: Misty-Chan Ch. 2She crept downstairs after reading the clock as 11:46pm and after a little stargazing and moon watching from her window.
The light of the kitchen was left on though the room was empty. She let herself in. Dishes. She saw their dishes soaking in cold water with barely any soap. The faucet turned readily by her hand and she replaced the icy water with fresh, hot dish-water and bubbly soap, rolled up her sleeves and tightened her ponytail but left her bangs to dangle lazily over her left eye as she worked. It wasn't until she was almost done and those finished dishes were drip-drying that Shin stepped in and slightly squinted at the sight.
"When'd you get up?" He asked, dripping wet and barefoot.
"I never went to sleep, sir." She admitted.
"Please don't call me sir.." He smiled pleadingly.
"Oh! I'm sorry.." She turned back to scrubbing plates and not staring at the pale boy wearing absolutely nothing but swimming trunks and a towel to let him change upstairs.
When he returned in jeans and an old shirt he asked to help her since she obviously had to do something for them.
"Sure," She smiled and he stepped to the sink planning to wash the remaining pans. His hand made it about half an inch into the water before it shot out and was being cradled by the other.
"Gee that's hot! How do you work in this?!" He asked totally confused but overall scared that she was already trying to kill herself.
"I don't think it's hot, but it needs to be at least this warm to clean the dishes well…" She didn't want to seem odd to the person who had been such a gracious "host" to her. She took back her spot at the sink and let Shin put away the dry dishes.
All went quiet between the stranger and the boy until he spoke up to ease his mind. "Where are you from?" Shin said it so innocently and non-intently, who could criticize and reject his words?
"Nowhere," simple in essence, her words thoroughly re-confused Shin to a state where he wished her were back out in the lake where he knew it was cold and he knew when he got out again it would be yet colder.
"You must be from somewhere, a hospital perhaps?"
"No."
"A home?"
"Nowhere"
"May I ask who your parents are?" His eyes shone sadness now.
"I have none, anymore." She stopped scrubbing and watched the soap bubbles pop on the water's surface.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you.." Shin put away the plates in his hand and stood still.
"It's alright, you didn't," She scrubbed again.
The night went on; when she had finished she took her leave of Shin and headed for her room to rest.
Normal days came and went; eat, chat, work, smile, sleep. This went on for about 2 weeks and she began to find a place for herself among these people and their kindness. But life isn't steady and what she saw altered her view of them, forever.
"Would you like to go into town with us today?" Nasti asked smiling while Jun raced to the jeep.
"No.. if I may, I'd like to stay here." Nasti looked to Touma who stood in the doorway watching.
"Wouldn't you like to go? We could visit Makura's shop there…" *Makura's shop is a trinket shop run by a very social unmarried man* Nasti pleaded without trying to sound it but the girl saw through her friend but wanted to stay simply to explore the fields and forest.
"It's alright, I'd hate to burden you.. ya'll go on and I'll stay round here and be lazy." She giggled some and smiled.
"No, we'd love for you to come!" How else could she plead?!?
She turned to the doorway. "Touma, you'll let me stay won't you?" She really put on the puppy face for this one.
"Umm.. well, I guess we just thought you liked going into town and keeping Nasti and Jun company.." Ahh.. Counterattack.
"I'm sorry, but I just haven't gotten a chance to see the forest, or the lake.." She thought this would do it.
"You overwork yourself, when you get back you'll have plenty of time." Touma smiled to seal the words.
"No, I'm vacuuming the house.." stubborn ne? "Please may I stay?"
"Aww, let her stay.." Shu cut in from a balcony. Touma glared at him.
"Alright, stay if you like." Touma smiled again to hide any suspicions but they were already there. She smiled back and headed inside. Touma and Nasti shared a look almost of fear, almost of "what if?" before Jun called the girl into the jeep to head to town.
Almost fifteen minutes after the jeep left she was out on the dock and tracing the water. She went through her time watching fish, and oddly enough, exploring the vegetation of the field.
An hour or so passed and we'd find her in the forest, hugging trees and laughing to herself. Then, as fate would have it, she saw a lighted clearing and heard voices coming from it. Who could resist? She skipped towards the light and upon seeing what was there, jumped behind a tree and watched, eyes wide.