Title: My Angel, My Savior
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own nothing, it all belongs to the amazing Murkami Maki! All praise her like the goddess she is! *bows and grovels* However, the plot is mine and the two OOC girls belongs to me. ;)
Notes from Nori: I don't like this chapter so much. Ryuichi is pretty OOC right now, but I'm trying to bring out his more serious and adult side with this fic. Receiving Mio is just one step he takes in the process of- oh wait, that'd give it away! :P
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It was a dumpy little place exactly where Aya-chan had said it would be. There were children running around outside on the uncared for lawn, hiding behind spots where the grass was particularly high. They were all laughing happily, so content despite their uncleanness and raggedy clothes. Ryuichi smiled sadly and opened the only half there fence that surrounded the yard. As he walked up the concrete leading to the porch several kids stopped and began looking at him. A frenzy of whispers sounded and suddenly Ryuichi felt very self-conscious under their little eyes. Speeding up he quickly knocked on the door. Looking up from a very tattered looking novel a little boy with large glasses and messy cherry colored hair looked up at him.
"She won't hear you," he told the older man. "just go in and tell the little girl by the door you're looking for Lydia."
Ryuichi looked down at the little boy, noting his oddly pinkish hair and his large blue-violet eyes. He reminded the man very greatly of Shuichi and couldn't help, but smile.
"Uh, thank you....?"
"Migel," said the boy, removing his glasses and standing to bow at Ryuichi. "Are you planning to adopt one of the kids?"
"Well," Ryuichi said, shifting as he saw that all the kids in the yard were watching him and Migel. "I...I came here to find a specific little girl. My sister used to work here and she-"
"A girl working here? Aya-chan?" piped up a small blonde girl from the yard.
She stepped forward clutching a battered looking teddy in her tiny little hands and looked up at Ryuichi critically. She sized him up, glancing up and down, making her golden curls bounce madly. As if reaching a decision she locked eyes with Ryuichi and smiled.
"You guys have the same eyes.." she murmured gently.
Several things happened at once: every kid in the yard piled onto the porch near Ryuichi and Migel, the tiny little blonde began beating Ryuichi with her bear and ask about his sister and there were questions being shouted at the vocalist from every direction. Finally a thin woman with bright blue hair came to the door, shooing the kids to the stairs. They are fell silent and the woman put her hands on her hips.
"Now see here!" she croaked. "What is all this hullabaloo over?"
"It's him!" cried the blonde again, kids behind her nodding in agreement. "He's Aya-chan's brother!"
The woman looked over at Ryuichi in amazement and blinked. Feeling his cheeks grow hot under all this commotion Ryuichi bowed and handed the address and included letter Aya had written about Mio and the orphanage. The woman read over it quickly and covered her mouth.
"Mercy me!" she cried before looking out at the kids. "That's q-quite enough out of the lot of you! Get yourselves back to playing. Leave me and Mr. Sakuma to talk now, you hear?"
Groaning all the kids nodded and spilled back into the yard. Ryuichi turned to the woman, ready to apologize for causing the chaos, but the woman silenced him with a wave of her hand.
"Think nothin' of it, deary. Come along inside and we'll get to talkin' now." Said the woman as she bustled Ryuichi into the house.
Ryuichi entered without much complaint and looked around. The house was quite a bit nicer on the inside than it was on the outside, though it was still rather shabby. There didn't seem to be too many kids inside at the moment, most that Ryuichi saw were younger children and toddlers. He smiled at them all as he followed the woman through the house into a backroom where she finally shut the door behind them. Sighing she gestured for Ryuichi to take a seat at one of the chairs around a small circular table in the middle of the room.
"Sorry 'bout that." she said taking a seat across from him.
She smiled sadly and looked at Ryuich for a moment. Ryuichi decided he did not like to be stared at anymore tonight and cleared his throat. The woman blushed and fanned herself.
"My, my, my I'm quite sorry. You just--remind me so much of little Aya." she murmured. "She was very dear to us all."
Ryuichi looked down at the dented and scratch tabletop sadly. She was very dear and he missed her so much. Putting a hand of Ryuichi's the woman smiled.
"It was her time, young man. Though Aya is gone, she will never leave us."
"You're right," Ryuichi said with a sigh. Deciding he was no longer going to mope about Ryuichi smiled brightly and seeing his change the woman smiled as well.
"Alrighty then, dear, lets get down to business then." she said, bringing out a folder from a large portfolio beside her chair. "For reference, my name is Lydia Steiner. I'm the person who runs this circus."
With a small smile she slid the folder across the table for Ryuichi to see and he skimmed it's contents. It had nothing, but information about Mio. It had her approximate birth date, blood type, and other vital stats. The last page was an explanation of her being at the orphanage and it simply held one word: abandoned. Ryuichi's smiled faltered a bit and he closed the folder slowly. Looking up at Lydia he wished that he had brought Kumagoro in with him.
"I'm not sure if I...well, if I -can- adopt her quite yet. Nittle Grasper, my band, is really mellow at the time and we don't have anything too urgent to attend to, but..." he trailed off before starting again uncertainly. "We're talking about adopting a child. Me being responsible for the well- being of another life. I'm not sure if I can handle that."
The old woman smiled kindly at Ryuichi and brought out another piece of paper from the portfolio. She slid this one to Ryuichi as well and brought out a pen.
"I understand your situation and many people who are new parents feel this way. Here at the orphanage, we have a system that we go by. It's a bit like rentals almost, but it's all we can do. You get to take the child with you for a shortened period of time and try it out. See how they work into your schedule and cope with it for a while. After you "trial" you can decide: to adopt, or not to adopt. This is all I can offer you without having you adopt right now."
Ryuichi read of the paper, which entitled him to spend two weeks with Mio. Reading over all the requirements and technicalities he reached for the pen. He at least had to try for Aya's sake.
"Alright," she said, noting that he took up the pen. "Sign here, here and initials here please."
Signing what was needed, Ryuichi slid the paper back to the old woman across from him. Lydia looked it over and nodded curtly. Smiling up at Ryuichi she rose from her chair and put out her hand. Ryuichi stood and took her hand in a firm shake.
"The folder with information of Mio is yours. I thank you for giving this a chance--I'm sure Aya thanks you too."
"I hope so." he said softly.
Leading Ryuichi back out of the room Lydia went to the stairs and glanced back at Ryuichi. "I'll go get Mio. Just wait for one moment if you will."
Ryuichi nodded and watched as she ascended the stairs and disappeared. Feeling a tug on his coat sleeve, Ryuichi looked down to see Migel staring up at him intently. He smiled and kneeled down to be eye-level with the little boy.
"Hi Migel, do you want something?"
"Are you -the- Sakuma Ryuichi? Aya told us you were, but I'm not sure." he said, looking suspiciously at Ryuichi.
"Of course I'm -the- Ryuichi Sakuma, na no da! I thinks there's only one of me anyway!" Ryuichi laughed.
Migel smiled, his large violet eyes lighting up. He clapped his hands together and beamed up at Ryuichi.
"So you really are a famous rock star! Wow, Cherie will be so jealous when I tell her that I got to talk to you!"
"Well I'm glad I could talk to you too, Migel! Ryuichi always likes to make new friends, na no da!"
That simple phrase seemed to stun the little boy beside Ryuichi. His mouth hung open and his eyes wider than usual.
"We-we're friends?" he asked breathlessly.
"Only if Migel wants to be Ryuichi's friend. Do you, na no ka?"
The cherry haired boy said nothing, but nodded vigorously. Catching Ryuichi off guard he flung himself forward on to the older man in a hug. Ryuichi smiled and patted the boy on the back gently. When Migel finally pulled back he smiled brightly.
"Ryuichi is the most coolest person ever." he announced.
Ryuichi felt a clash of emotions as the boy spoke those words and smiled sadly. He was glad he could make the little boy so happy, but at the same time his heart broke that he would probably never see him again. Migel pulled back and bowed to Ryuichi deeply.
"Votre tout votre soeur a dit et plus.{1}"
Cocking his head to the side in confusion, Ryuichi was about to ask what Migel said when Lydia returned. She stood beside the boys and chuckled softly.
"I hope Migel didn't bother you, deary."
Ryuichi stood back up, brushing himself off and shook hid head fiercely. "Not at all! Migel and Ryuichi are friends now."
Lydia raised an eyebrow and looked down at Migel. The boy said nothing, but looked at Ryuichi adoringly. Finally Lydia shooed him off and turned back to Ryuichi.
"Mio should be down any-"
"I'm here." said a tiny voice form the stairs behind her.
Lydia turned around and Ryuichi peeked around the woman to see the little girl standing there. She was small and thin for her age with long, wavy sandy colored hair and sullen emerald eyes. She was carrying a small suitcase in her hands and as Lydia moved to the side so Ryuichi was visible, Mio blinked once before turning back into her emotionless shell. Descending the rest of the stairs and standing before Ryuichi, side turned towards him she sighed.
"Lets go I suppose." she sighed.
Patting the girls' head gently Lydia bent down and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"We'll be seeing you in a week or so perhaps. If not, I hope you're happy." she said quietly, hugging her.
The little girl in her arms hugged her back weakly and then glanced over at Ryuichi. Ryuichi smiled a bit and nodded to Lydia who returned the nod curtly. She led them back throught the house and to the door where several kids were crowded around Migel who's book lay disregarded and was talking animatedly. He waved up at Ryuichi and several other kids smiled and waved as well. Lacking the same gusto he carried a few minutes before he returned their enthusiasm half-heartedly. Lydia watched them go from the porch and Ryuichi then led the way to his car.
Helping Mio in and taking her bag he spotted the tiny blonde from earlier at the fence waving sadly and nodded in recognition. She smiled a bit and hugged her teddy as Ryuichi got into his car. Pulling out his keys and turning on the engine he turned to Mio and beamed brightly.
"Did Lydia tell you my name?" he asked politely.
Mio turned her emerald eyes towards the man and blinked. "No." she said very quietly.
"Well I'm Ryuichi Sakuma!" he said happily. "I heard your name was Mio. Is that what you'd like me to call you? Or not?"
Opening her mouth to speak she stopped and stared at the pink bunny on Ryuichi's dashboard. Noticing that she was staring at his beloved Kumagoro, Ryuichi picked him up and made him wave happily. Mio smiled just a bit and Ryuichi laughed.
"Kumagoro says that Mio has a very pretty smile and she should do it more often, na no da!"
At that Mio immediately frowned and looked out the window. "That's what Aya always said to me."
Smile faltering slightly, Ryuichi looked at Kumagoro and sighed.
"Ryuichi and Kumagoro are very sorry. Kumagoro says that we should get some ice cream on the way home to cheer Mio up!" he cheered.
Mio smiled just a bit once more and faced Ryuichi again. Ryuichi put Kumagoro in Mio's lap and pat his bunny friends' head cheerfully. Mio blinked and stared down at the bunny for a moment.
"Can Kumagoro sit with Mio?"
Mio smiled a bit brighter and her eyes lightened slightly. "Of course."
Turning his eyes to the road Ryuichi pulled away from the orphanage and began home. He was going to give this a chance. He'd do it for Aya.and for Mio.
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Review please! *Does the dance of review getting* - Nori
{1} "Votre tout votre soeur a dit et plus." means 'You're everything your sister said and more.' in French..I think..
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own nothing, it all belongs to the amazing Murkami Maki! All praise her like the goddess she is! *bows and grovels* However, the plot is mine and the two OOC girls belongs to me. ;)
Notes from Nori: I don't like this chapter so much. Ryuichi is pretty OOC right now, but I'm trying to bring out his more serious and adult side with this fic. Receiving Mio is just one step he takes in the process of- oh wait, that'd give it away! :P
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It was a dumpy little place exactly where Aya-chan had said it would be. There were children running around outside on the uncared for lawn, hiding behind spots where the grass was particularly high. They were all laughing happily, so content despite their uncleanness and raggedy clothes. Ryuichi smiled sadly and opened the only half there fence that surrounded the yard. As he walked up the concrete leading to the porch several kids stopped and began looking at him. A frenzy of whispers sounded and suddenly Ryuichi felt very self-conscious under their little eyes. Speeding up he quickly knocked on the door. Looking up from a very tattered looking novel a little boy with large glasses and messy cherry colored hair looked up at him.
"She won't hear you," he told the older man. "just go in and tell the little girl by the door you're looking for Lydia."
Ryuichi looked down at the little boy, noting his oddly pinkish hair and his large blue-violet eyes. He reminded the man very greatly of Shuichi and couldn't help, but smile.
"Uh, thank you....?"
"Migel," said the boy, removing his glasses and standing to bow at Ryuichi. "Are you planning to adopt one of the kids?"
"Well," Ryuichi said, shifting as he saw that all the kids in the yard were watching him and Migel. "I...I came here to find a specific little girl. My sister used to work here and she-"
"A girl working here? Aya-chan?" piped up a small blonde girl from the yard.
She stepped forward clutching a battered looking teddy in her tiny little hands and looked up at Ryuichi critically. She sized him up, glancing up and down, making her golden curls bounce madly. As if reaching a decision she locked eyes with Ryuichi and smiled.
"You guys have the same eyes.." she murmured gently.
Several things happened at once: every kid in the yard piled onto the porch near Ryuichi and Migel, the tiny little blonde began beating Ryuichi with her bear and ask about his sister and there were questions being shouted at the vocalist from every direction. Finally a thin woman with bright blue hair came to the door, shooing the kids to the stairs. They are fell silent and the woman put her hands on her hips.
"Now see here!" she croaked. "What is all this hullabaloo over?"
"It's him!" cried the blonde again, kids behind her nodding in agreement. "He's Aya-chan's brother!"
The woman looked over at Ryuichi in amazement and blinked. Feeling his cheeks grow hot under all this commotion Ryuichi bowed and handed the address and included letter Aya had written about Mio and the orphanage. The woman read over it quickly and covered her mouth.
"Mercy me!" she cried before looking out at the kids. "That's q-quite enough out of the lot of you! Get yourselves back to playing. Leave me and Mr. Sakuma to talk now, you hear?"
Groaning all the kids nodded and spilled back into the yard. Ryuichi turned to the woman, ready to apologize for causing the chaos, but the woman silenced him with a wave of her hand.
"Think nothin' of it, deary. Come along inside and we'll get to talkin' now." Said the woman as she bustled Ryuichi into the house.
Ryuichi entered without much complaint and looked around. The house was quite a bit nicer on the inside than it was on the outside, though it was still rather shabby. There didn't seem to be too many kids inside at the moment, most that Ryuichi saw were younger children and toddlers. He smiled at them all as he followed the woman through the house into a backroom where she finally shut the door behind them. Sighing she gestured for Ryuichi to take a seat at one of the chairs around a small circular table in the middle of the room.
"Sorry 'bout that." she said taking a seat across from him.
She smiled sadly and looked at Ryuich for a moment. Ryuichi decided he did not like to be stared at anymore tonight and cleared his throat. The woman blushed and fanned herself.
"My, my, my I'm quite sorry. You just--remind me so much of little Aya." she murmured. "She was very dear to us all."
Ryuichi looked down at the dented and scratch tabletop sadly. She was very dear and he missed her so much. Putting a hand of Ryuichi's the woman smiled.
"It was her time, young man. Though Aya is gone, she will never leave us."
"You're right," Ryuichi said with a sigh. Deciding he was no longer going to mope about Ryuichi smiled brightly and seeing his change the woman smiled as well.
"Alrighty then, dear, lets get down to business then." she said, bringing out a folder from a large portfolio beside her chair. "For reference, my name is Lydia Steiner. I'm the person who runs this circus."
With a small smile she slid the folder across the table for Ryuichi to see and he skimmed it's contents. It had nothing, but information about Mio. It had her approximate birth date, blood type, and other vital stats. The last page was an explanation of her being at the orphanage and it simply held one word: abandoned. Ryuichi's smiled faltered a bit and he closed the folder slowly. Looking up at Lydia he wished that he had brought Kumagoro in with him.
"I'm not sure if I...well, if I -can- adopt her quite yet. Nittle Grasper, my band, is really mellow at the time and we don't have anything too urgent to attend to, but..." he trailed off before starting again uncertainly. "We're talking about adopting a child. Me being responsible for the well- being of another life. I'm not sure if I can handle that."
The old woman smiled kindly at Ryuichi and brought out another piece of paper from the portfolio. She slid this one to Ryuichi as well and brought out a pen.
"I understand your situation and many people who are new parents feel this way. Here at the orphanage, we have a system that we go by. It's a bit like rentals almost, but it's all we can do. You get to take the child with you for a shortened period of time and try it out. See how they work into your schedule and cope with it for a while. After you "trial" you can decide: to adopt, or not to adopt. This is all I can offer you without having you adopt right now."
Ryuichi read of the paper, which entitled him to spend two weeks with Mio. Reading over all the requirements and technicalities he reached for the pen. He at least had to try for Aya's sake.
"Alright," she said, noting that he took up the pen. "Sign here, here and initials here please."
Signing what was needed, Ryuichi slid the paper back to the old woman across from him. Lydia looked it over and nodded curtly. Smiling up at Ryuichi she rose from her chair and put out her hand. Ryuichi stood and took her hand in a firm shake.
"The folder with information of Mio is yours. I thank you for giving this a chance--I'm sure Aya thanks you too."
"I hope so." he said softly.
Leading Ryuichi back out of the room Lydia went to the stairs and glanced back at Ryuichi. "I'll go get Mio. Just wait for one moment if you will."
Ryuichi nodded and watched as she ascended the stairs and disappeared. Feeling a tug on his coat sleeve, Ryuichi looked down to see Migel staring up at him intently. He smiled and kneeled down to be eye-level with the little boy.
"Hi Migel, do you want something?"
"Are you -the- Sakuma Ryuichi? Aya told us you were, but I'm not sure." he said, looking suspiciously at Ryuichi.
"Of course I'm -the- Ryuichi Sakuma, na no da! I thinks there's only one of me anyway!" Ryuichi laughed.
Migel smiled, his large violet eyes lighting up. He clapped his hands together and beamed up at Ryuichi.
"So you really are a famous rock star! Wow, Cherie will be so jealous when I tell her that I got to talk to you!"
"Well I'm glad I could talk to you too, Migel! Ryuichi always likes to make new friends, na no da!"
That simple phrase seemed to stun the little boy beside Ryuichi. His mouth hung open and his eyes wider than usual.
"We-we're friends?" he asked breathlessly.
"Only if Migel wants to be Ryuichi's friend. Do you, na no ka?"
The cherry haired boy said nothing, but nodded vigorously. Catching Ryuichi off guard he flung himself forward on to the older man in a hug. Ryuichi smiled and patted the boy on the back gently. When Migel finally pulled back he smiled brightly.
"Ryuichi is the most coolest person ever." he announced.
Ryuichi felt a clash of emotions as the boy spoke those words and smiled sadly. He was glad he could make the little boy so happy, but at the same time his heart broke that he would probably never see him again. Migel pulled back and bowed to Ryuichi deeply.
"Votre tout votre soeur a dit et plus.{1}"
Cocking his head to the side in confusion, Ryuichi was about to ask what Migel said when Lydia returned. She stood beside the boys and chuckled softly.
"I hope Migel didn't bother you, deary."
Ryuichi stood back up, brushing himself off and shook hid head fiercely. "Not at all! Migel and Ryuichi are friends now."
Lydia raised an eyebrow and looked down at Migel. The boy said nothing, but looked at Ryuichi adoringly. Finally Lydia shooed him off and turned back to Ryuichi.
"Mio should be down any-"
"I'm here." said a tiny voice form the stairs behind her.
Lydia turned around and Ryuichi peeked around the woman to see the little girl standing there. She was small and thin for her age with long, wavy sandy colored hair and sullen emerald eyes. She was carrying a small suitcase in her hands and as Lydia moved to the side so Ryuichi was visible, Mio blinked once before turning back into her emotionless shell. Descending the rest of the stairs and standing before Ryuichi, side turned towards him she sighed.
"Lets go I suppose." she sighed.
Patting the girls' head gently Lydia bent down and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"We'll be seeing you in a week or so perhaps. If not, I hope you're happy." she said quietly, hugging her.
The little girl in her arms hugged her back weakly and then glanced over at Ryuichi. Ryuichi smiled a bit and nodded to Lydia who returned the nod curtly. She led them back throught the house and to the door where several kids were crowded around Migel who's book lay disregarded and was talking animatedly. He waved up at Ryuichi and several other kids smiled and waved as well. Lacking the same gusto he carried a few minutes before he returned their enthusiasm half-heartedly. Lydia watched them go from the porch and Ryuichi then led the way to his car.
Helping Mio in and taking her bag he spotted the tiny blonde from earlier at the fence waving sadly and nodded in recognition. She smiled a bit and hugged her teddy as Ryuichi got into his car. Pulling out his keys and turning on the engine he turned to Mio and beamed brightly.
"Did Lydia tell you my name?" he asked politely.
Mio turned her emerald eyes towards the man and blinked. "No." she said very quietly.
"Well I'm Ryuichi Sakuma!" he said happily. "I heard your name was Mio. Is that what you'd like me to call you? Or not?"
Opening her mouth to speak she stopped and stared at the pink bunny on Ryuichi's dashboard. Noticing that she was staring at his beloved Kumagoro, Ryuichi picked him up and made him wave happily. Mio smiled just a bit and Ryuichi laughed.
"Kumagoro says that Mio has a very pretty smile and she should do it more often, na no da!"
At that Mio immediately frowned and looked out the window. "That's what Aya always said to me."
Smile faltering slightly, Ryuichi looked at Kumagoro and sighed.
"Ryuichi and Kumagoro are very sorry. Kumagoro says that we should get some ice cream on the way home to cheer Mio up!" he cheered.
Mio smiled just a bit once more and faced Ryuichi again. Ryuichi put Kumagoro in Mio's lap and pat his bunny friends' head cheerfully. Mio blinked and stared down at the bunny for a moment.
"Can Kumagoro sit with Mio?"
Mio smiled a bit brighter and her eyes lightened slightly. "Of course."
Turning his eyes to the road Ryuichi pulled away from the orphanage and began home. He was going to give this a chance. He'd do it for Aya.and for Mio.
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Review please! *Does the dance of review getting* - Nori
{1} "Votre tout votre soeur a dit et plus." means 'You're everything your sister said and more.' in French..I think..