~*~ Chapter one, Six Years Old
Five year old Aina lay her bed, facing the ceiling, staring into blackness. That was all her eyesight would allow, dark air, not even the moon and stars were visible, for her window was closed and locked, even though it was the middle of summer. The door was locked as well, she was trapped in her own domain; the surprising thing was that's she was trapped by her own mother. Although Aina was smart, for a five-year-old that is, she was having a hard time understanding her mother's actions. Her young mother, Kagome, had always seemed so caring and kind; why had she locked Aina in her own room? And also, it was her birthday! Kagome hadn't even allowed her a party, and had seemed nervous all day. Aina looked at her clock. The neon green numbers flashed 9:41 PM; in three minutes she would be six years old. I wish mamma could be here to spend my birthday with me, Aina thought. Where was she? Only an hour ago, Kagome had practically thrown Aina into her room, saying no more than, "Be quiet and don't turn on the light!" Why was Kagome acting so strange? Aina was really getting scared now. What if Kagome had abandoned her? Should she scream? Aina was about to yell, "MAMMA WHERE ARE YOU?!?" When she remembered her mothers' words; 'Be quiet.' Aina loved Kagome and wanted to obey her but she was also very scared. Confusion and frustration rose within her small heart as she tried to comprehend her situation. Again she glanced at the clock, and this time the numbers flashed 9:43. Just one more minuet until Aina Higurashi turned six years old. Silent tears flowed down her checks, she didn't care though, she was alone, in the pitch black of night, and about to turn six with no one around. Aina held her breath as she waited for the clock to say 9:44. The seconds seemed like hours, and Aina felt stranger and stranger as her birthday crept nearer. It was odd. as if she was changing in some way; the top of her head and fingernails felt particularly uncomfortable. And inside her, she felt as if she was bursting with energy, her heart raced, her blood felt like it was on fire, and she had a sudden urge to run, let out some of her energy. When the clock finally stuck her time of birth, she felt like a completely different Aina. She was breathing hard, in short gasping sputters, Crying quite loudly by now, and was wondering what the heck was wrong with her. At that moment, Kagome burst into the room, becoming face to face with a confused crying girl. "Gather you things Aina. Where're leaving now." At this point, Aina was completely confused. Leave? Why? Where? Questions swarmed Aina's mind, she opened her mouth to speak, but was immediately cut off by her mother saying in a sad and bitter tone "Hurry. I want to leave as soon a possible." before scampering to gather her own things. "But wait mamma!" Aina cried desperately. "I. I." But Aina was talking to no one. Frustrated, angry tears started to fall down her hard yet delicate cheeks, making anger bubble within her, and rage towards her mother flowing though out her veins. But despite all this, Aina bit her lip, dried her tears, and gathered her clothes. Aina had always been like that, tough, and had always hated show lots of emotion, for to her, it was a sign of weakness.
When Aina was done packing, she left her room to find her mother, who was siting on the couch, absorbed in stuffing some clothes into a small blue duffel bag. Aina put of a bold face to hide her confusion and sadness, and said bluntly "I'm ready."
Kagome smiled weakly at her and said in a small tone "Good." Then added, walking over to her and knelling putting her shoulder on her daughters, "Someday this will all make sense." She bit her lip and managed to squeeze another weak smile "I promise."
Aina stood up a little bit straighter and lied "Ok Mama. I trust you." It's not that Aina didn't trust her mother, it's just that she wasn't ok with the situation. What was happening with her body? Her fingernails had become harder and longer, and on her head, were those. ears???
But Aina didn't have time to ponder these things; she would just have to trust her mother, who was putting some kind of big blackish brown cloak on that Aina had never seen before. It covered all of her mother's body, including her face and hands, with only two small eyeholes for her to see out of. Aina wondered what it was, but did not say anything, for, her mother looked concerned and nervous as she put on the tattered cloak. To Aina's surprise, Kagome also had a medium sized blanket of the same material, which she quickly laid on the floor. Kagome look sadly and Aina, and as if it hurt her deeply to say the words, Kagome sputtered "Get in it, hold still, and don't make a sound until I say to"
Aina raised her eyebrows. Get in the blanket? Her stubborn nature told her to refuse, but there was something about the look on her mothers face. it was as if there was a lonely fire in her eyes. she looked hurt and alone. maybe some what distant. so Aina simply did what she was told. And without a word, her mother covered her in the blanket and picked her up.
From then on, Aina was not exactly sure where she was going. She felt herself being carried though the apartment corridor, the ghostly dinging sound the elevator made when there was no one talking, and the slight whoosh of cold air she always felt when she entered the parking garage under her apartment. She heard the door- or was it the trunk? - of her station wagon open, and felt her and the blanket being lifted into it. The car started, rolling rickety along the bumpy concrete ground.
And Aina waited. There was nothing she could do now, she was locked away in the dark once again, and she finally had time to think about her mother. And she suddenly realized just how weird her situation was.. I mean really, a six year old girl, warped in a dirty blanket, stuffed in the trunk of a car, all alone, on her birthday.. Something was definitely strange. And then Aina was struck with a horrible thought. is mama abandoning me???
She cried.
And she remembered the only thing her Kagome had ever said about Aina's father.
"He was brave and at times a bit arrogant, but everyone knew he loved me dearly. He died in car crash before you were born."
"I wish" Aina whispered to herself "I wish my daddy were here. Maybe he could tell me what's going on."
S/N Ok then. HIT THE LITTLE BLUE BOTTON! You know you waaaaaaaaaant tooooooooo. ^_^
Five year old Aina lay her bed, facing the ceiling, staring into blackness. That was all her eyesight would allow, dark air, not even the moon and stars were visible, for her window was closed and locked, even though it was the middle of summer. The door was locked as well, she was trapped in her own domain; the surprising thing was that's she was trapped by her own mother. Although Aina was smart, for a five-year-old that is, she was having a hard time understanding her mother's actions. Her young mother, Kagome, had always seemed so caring and kind; why had she locked Aina in her own room? And also, it was her birthday! Kagome hadn't even allowed her a party, and had seemed nervous all day. Aina looked at her clock. The neon green numbers flashed 9:41 PM; in three minutes she would be six years old. I wish mamma could be here to spend my birthday with me, Aina thought. Where was she? Only an hour ago, Kagome had practically thrown Aina into her room, saying no more than, "Be quiet and don't turn on the light!" Why was Kagome acting so strange? Aina was really getting scared now. What if Kagome had abandoned her? Should she scream? Aina was about to yell, "MAMMA WHERE ARE YOU?!?" When she remembered her mothers' words; 'Be quiet.' Aina loved Kagome and wanted to obey her but she was also very scared. Confusion and frustration rose within her small heart as she tried to comprehend her situation. Again she glanced at the clock, and this time the numbers flashed 9:43. Just one more minuet until Aina Higurashi turned six years old. Silent tears flowed down her checks, she didn't care though, she was alone, in the pitch black of night, and about to turn six with no one around. Aina held her breath as she waited for the clock to say 9:44. The seconds seemed like hours, and Aina felt stranger and stranger as her birthday crept nearer. It was odd. as if she was changing in some way; the top of her head and fingernails felt particularly uncomfortable. And inside her, she felt as if she was bursting with energy, her heart raced, her blood felt like it was on fire, and she had a sudden urge to run, let out some of her energy. When the clock finally stuck her time of birth, she felt like a completely different Aina. She was breathing hard, in short gasping sputters, Crying quite loudly by now, and was wondering what the heck was wrong with her. At that moment, Kagome burst into the room, becoming face to face with a confused crying girl. "Gather you things Aina. Where're leaving now." At this point, Aina was completely confused. Leave? Why? Where? Questions swarmed Aina's mind, she opened her mouth to speak, but was immediately cut off by her mother saying in a sad and bitter tone "Hurry. I want to leave as soon a possible." before scampering to gather her own things. "But wait mamma!" Aina cried desperately. "I. I." But Aina was talking to no one. Frustrated, angry tears started to fall down her hard yet delicate cheeks, making anger bubble within her, and rage towards her mother flowing though out her veins. But despite all this, Aina bit her lip, dried her tears, and gathered her clothes. Aina had always been like that, tough, and had always hated show lots of emotion, for to her, it was a sign of weakness.
When Aina was done packing, she left her room to find her mother, who was siting on the couch, absorbed in stuffing some clothes into a small blue duffel bag. Aina put of a bold face to hide her confusion and sadness, and said bluntly "I'm ready."
Kagome smiled weakly at her and said in a small tone "Good." Then added, walking over to her and knelling putting her shoulder on her daughters, "Someday this will all make sense." She bit her lip and managed to squeeze another weak smile "I promise."
Aina stood up a little bit straighter and lied "Ok Mama. I trust you." It's not that Aina didn't trust her mother, it's just that she wasn't ok with the situation. What was happening with her body? Her fingernails had become harder and longer, and on her head, were those. ears???
But Aina didn't have time to ponder these things; she would just have to trust her mother, who was putting some kind of big blackish brown cloak on that Aina had never seen before. It covered all of her mother's body, including her face and hands, with only two small eyeholes for her to see out of. Aina wondered what it was, but did not say anything, for, her mother looked concerned and nervous as she put on the tattered cloak. To Aina's surprise, Kagome also had a medium sized blanket of the same material, which she quickly laid on the floor. Kagome look sadly and Aina, and as if it hurt her deeply to say the words, Kagome sputtered "Get in it, hold still, and don't make a sound until I say to"
Aina raised her eyebrows. Get in the blanket? Her stubborn nature told her to refuse, but there was something about the look on her mothers face. it was as if there was a lonely fire in her eyes. she looked hurt and alone. maybe some what distant. so Aina simply did what she was told. And without a word, her mother covered her in the blanket and picked her up.
From then on, Aina was not exactly sure where she was going. She felt herself being carried though the apartment corridor, the ghostly dinging sound the elevator made when there was no one talking, and the slight whoosh of cold air she always felt when she entered the parking garage under her apartment. She heard the door- or was it the trunk? - of her station wagon open, and felt her and the blanket being lifted into it. The car started, rolling rickety along the bumpy concrete ground.
And Aina waited. There was nothing she could do now, she was locked away in the dark once again, and she finally had time to think about her mother. And she suddenly realized just how weird her situation was.. I mean really, a six year old girl, warped in a dirty blanket, stuffed in the trunk of a car, all alone, on her birthday.. Something was definitely strange. And then Aina was struck with a horrible thought. is mama abandoning me???
She cried.
And she remembered the only thing her Kagome had ever said about Aina's father.
"He was brave and at times a bit arrogant, but everyone knew he loved me dearly. He died in car crash before you were born."
"I wish" Aina whispered to herself "I wish my daddy were here. Maybe he could tell me what's going on."
S/N Ok then. HIT THE LITTLE BLUE BOTTON! You know you waaaaaaaaaant tooooooooo. ^_^