It's a Secret

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By: Ryoko

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Track 00:09:00

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Cold. So . . . cold . . . and dark. Everything around her was black when she awoke.

Climbing, with much effort, to her hands and knees, she looked around, barely able to make out shadows and outlines with her blurry vision. The sight was completely gone from one eye.

Even though it hurt like hell, she shoved herself into the wall, using it to prop her little body up.

It was difficult to stand . . . very difficult.

That was it. Now that she had seen him, her mind would focus on nothing else: she was going to get out of this place . . . even if she DIED trying.

Gradually, she wobbled to the window, taking a close look at the glass. There were a few cracks . . . but not enough for her to break through it. Smears of blood decorating the broken shards.

Had she been bleeding?

I didn't matter now. Even if she HAD been, she couldn't feel it . . . her whole right arm was numb.

Sighing softly, she looked toward the door. It was closed, probably locked.

Quivering as she moved, Ashura pushed herself to the wooden door, testing the knob.

Her parents had carelessly left it unlocked, to her luck.

Peeking out into the dark and damp house, she found no shadow that posed a threat to her escape. The two were probably asleep or down at a bar somewhere.

Walking as fast and as silently as she could manage, she went to the only door in the establishment that led outside: the door in the kitchen.

Pulling it open, she was greeted with a swift, cold wind, full of rainwater, and possible freedom.

Just as the door shut, she bolted into the street, running as fast as she could to get away from that building. She had to get away, at any cost.

"ASHURA!"

She didn't stop running. If anything, she moved faster. She recognized that voice anywhere: her father.

She didn't even attempt to look back. Right now, her goal was to keep running as long and as far as she could.

But fate had other plans . . .

She slipped, falling face-first into the sidewalk.

It hurt like hell . . . and she was so close to freedom too . . .

Just before she felt like finally giving in to fate's whim, she heard footsteps running to her. Two sets of them.

'Please . . . let it be quick . . . ' she thought, easing into a trembling state of panic.

"Ashura!"

Wait . . . that wasn't her father's voice . . .

"You damn brat!"

THAT one was . . . what was going on?

The girl lifted her head weakly, feeling all pain and worry fade into nothing when she saw his face.

"You . . . " she whimpered.

"Ashura . . .!" He kneeled down, scooping the lifeless girl into his arms.

It was really him. She HAD to be dying. Only an angel would be with her . . . come to her like this.

"You LITTLE!" A man's voice shouted.

"Don't you TOUCH her!" Hatsuharu's voice snapped out. He wrapped her in his trench coat and placed her down on the sidewalk under an overhang behind him.

"How dare you tell me what to do?! You little punk!"

"I tell you what to do because I'm not as LOW as you are. I don't hurt children." He smirked. "And you've had this coming to you for a LONG time." He began cracking his knuckles and preparing to swing.

She could hear him okay . . . was he THAT again? Yuki called it 'Black' . . . didn't he? She couldn't remember.

The rustling of clothes, cracking of bones, contact between two walls of flesh and the sound of the thunder mixing with the yelling that both men were doing, ensued from there. She couldn't see them, but hearing wasn't an issue.

***

The teenager's tender embrace engulfed her small form again. She felt his panting, soft and quick, breaths hit her.

"God . . . look at those bruises . . . they beat you again . . . was it because of me? Because I showed you kindness? You don't deserve this little one . . . you don't . . . " his voice cracked noticeably. "I'm not letting you go back. Nope. You'll never be hurt again my little Ashura. Never."

"Ne . . . ver . . . " the words faded as she slipped into unconsciousness . . . the promising words calmed her.

She could finally rest without worrying if she would live through the night. Just being held like she was, it was soothing enough.

Hatsuharu offered enough protection and love to make up for everything she missed.

Ashura didn't need her parents.

She didn't need anybody . . . anybody but this angel.

***

It was already two . . . maybe three-ish in the morning, when someone began banging on the front door to Shigure's home.

Both Yuki and Kyou answered, completely freezing with shock when they saw Hatsuharu.

He was shaking furiously, trying to support the child in his arms and his own body at the same time.

"Take . . . her . . . please . . . " he begged. The second Kyou took her from him, the panting juunishi collapsed to his knees.

"Haru?!" Yuki knelt down, holding the boy's shoulders softly.

"I'm . . . alright. Can . . . can I come in?" when he looked up, his eyes told the story, of where his bruises and injuries came from.

"Sure. Come on." The nezumi whispered, helping him to his feet and following Kyou into the living room. He lay the teenager down by the heater and ran off to get some towels.

Kyou sat by his side, still holding Ashura tightly.

"I'm sorry. I didn't get a chance to tell you after the incident . . . but I really AM sorry now." The neko looked down, inspecting the child's bruises.

"They beat her." Hatsuharu interrupted his thoughts. "Though I have no idea why. Ashura sure as hell didn't deserve it. She's only a damn child."

"I think . . . when you say that . . . you're speaking for all of us." Yuki whispered, walking into the room with a stack of towels and clean clothes. "Here, let me take care of the girl. Kyou, can you bandage him up?"

"Sure." He didn't feel like fighting, not right now. It was too early in the morning.

"What happened? How in the world did you find her again?" Kyou asked, finishing drying off the juunishi's hair.

"Hatori wasn't took careful in hiding his research material. Momiji took advantage of it and told me where she was. From there . . . I found her on the street again . . . "

"And then what?"

"Her father was chasing her . . . and . . . she looked in so much pain . . . I guess I went black again . . . "

"Is he still alive?"

"That's not funny. Yeah, unfortunately, he is still alive. But he won't be walking for a little while . . . with the way I kicked him and all."

"Haru . . . "

"He had it coming to him. I just did the honors. That's all. And I enjoyed every minute of it. Nobody hurts a child and gets away with it." He smiled. "And nobody hurts MY Ashura."

***

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