Akumi-Chan- Wah! So little review for chapter 1! Well, anyways, I am going to continue anyhow. I think you might cry in this chapter, because I'm going to.
Disclaimer: Argh, I hate this, how many time do I have to explain, don't own anything! By the way, I AM Tama-cue and this is going to be my first non-tragic fiction!
Chapter 2-Unremembered Promise
I listened carefully as the man began to speak again, I did not know if this owner of the store was Kouji's father for sure, but it sure looked like it. " Kouji, I have planned this marriage early and you're getting a fiancé." My mind screamed, I could feel the butterflies in my stomach, I wondered who she was, that's when the boy turned around and saw me, I gasped and dropped the book I was holding, I rapidly placed it on the shelf and ran out.
" Wait! Izumi!" Someone called, I recognized the voice, and it was my classmate, Ryoko, followed by her two other sisters, Ayumi and Hinata.
" Where are you going?" Hinata questioned, while resting her hand on my shoulder,
" I-I think maybe I'll come another time," I said, stammering on every word. Ayumi crossed her arms,
" But you promised!" Ayumi complained, I could see tears in her eyes.
" Fine, but my mother is expecting me, I promise I'll come tomorrow afternoon, after school." They all nodded, I sighed in relieve, it was a rule stepmother made up when we moved here. " Never go to anybody's party until you get permission," She had said to me, but Sumi? She was allowed to go anytime she wanted, I was unwanted, unloved and a little girl whom nobody noticed. I walked towards my home with my head down, but suddenly someone stopped me, I turned around, seeing the boy from the store.
" Um…" I mumbled, what if he's mad at me for putting the book on the wrong place? My whole body trembled,
" Izumi…" My name echoed out of his mouth,
" What-what?"
" You're Izumi, I know it." It was him! The Kouji that I missed for seven years, his expression used to be so cheerful, but now it was all cold and bitter. He took off his bandanna and handed to me,
" I don't deserve this, you heard my conversation with my father," I nodded in guilt.
" Kouji, you can keep the bandanna." I said,
" Izumi, I promised to marry you when we meet again, but I am marrying someone else, so you better forget everything I said in the past." His facial expression still hasn't change, the tears blurred my very eyes,
" Who's is she," I asked, trembling,
" Your sister," I stared at him and grabbed the bandanna, did he liked her? Did he say he wanted to marry me so he could get what he wanted? So he could admire my sister every single day? How can someone like my sister, the mean witch who has been showing off before my very eyes,
" I can't believe you," I began rudely, " I can't believe you adore someone who's so mean and nasty, I hate you!" I didn't know what was I saying, the words just blurted out in such unexpectedness, I took off just like that, holding the bandanna tightly, not daring to look back.
I closed the door gently, although my inside wanted to slam it hardly. " I have booked a vacation plan at Shuwa beach, we're all going to go and have some fun in the water!" Stepmother announced, she made it sound so exciting, I wondered if I could go but stepmother said I couldn't and one by one, they packed all the things, I was such a nobody, standing there, just paralyzed, suddenly I heard the door open.
" Yes come in Kouji!" I could hear Sumi exclaim, she called me down, probably to admire her so-called " Friend." I knew she wanted to show off again, Kouji stared at me with that blank expression.
" Come on Kouji!" Stepmother cried out as she squeezed herself in the tiny car. For once Kouji actually cared,
" It's not fair, what about Izumi?" I was stunned but said nothing, my father dropped the last bag of food and turned to Kouji.
" What is it? Do you need to use the bathroom?"
" No, it's so unfair," Kouji continued, still wearing his unseen expression, " Why don't she get to go anywhere fun? But to stay there and drool."
" That's just the way she is! Unloved, unwanted, unseen, a ghost! A nobody! Now you can't suit yourself and come with us or stay with that ghost child!"
" In that case," Kouji replied gallantly, " I think I'll stay and keep Izumi company," He walked next to me but didn't look at me. Stepmother grunted and gave me a death stare.
" I don't hate you Kouji, I really like you." I whispered, he stared at me with a stunning expression and walked away, I couldn't believe I blurted out something so embarrassing! I sighed.
On my next day to school, it was a special day, because we were voting for class president. Of course, my friends voted for me, I won. I couldn't believe my luck, as I was packing to go home I looked out the window I saw beside, I could see someone very familiar, it was Kouji, he caught me gazing at him and gave me a cold stare, I felt myself blushing and quickly ran out of the room.
" IZUMI!" Someone shouted, I realized it was Ayumi, " You promised you're going to come over today!" She reminded me, I nodded and walked to their house, forgetting the rule my stepmother made up.
I sighed, although I wanted to stay badly I knew my stepmother will scold me. " My mother is expecting me," I told them, Ryoko and Hinata gave me a frown, " Gomen nasaii!" I said and rushed out to my house.
I closed the door right after I got home, I went up to my room and opened up my binder to start my homework. Someone knocked on the door, " Come in,"
" You're friends are here to see your freakin' face." Sumi said, surprised I even had friends. I grunted and went downstairs,
" How did you know my address?" I asked,
" We followed you, we were worried that you were hurt, and since you couldn't stay long at our place we bought you some presents." My mind blinked,
" Pre-presents?" The three nodded in unison. Ayumi and Hinata placed their gifts on the coffee table while Ryoko placed hers on the sofa. " Why are you giving me this? I haven't done anything kind," I stammered, Hinata smiled,
" Congratulation for winning to be class presidents, we wanted to show you your kindness." I grinned,
" Sorry to interrupt your boring conversation, but mother is wanting to see you." Sumi said happily, I knew I was in trouble, big time. I closed the door behind me and gawked my mean stepmother.
" You wanted to see me?" I quizzed trying to speak with courage. She laid her newspaper down on the bed and picked up a metal ruler from her desk, she had a VERY incensed expression look on her face, " Come here," She said gently, but I knew that softness meant anger.
" Who are these little hooligans?" Stepmother asked, her voice seething with anger, "making such a racket in the living room downstairs?"
" They're my friends from school,"
Who invited them here?"
" No one,"
" What are they doing here?"
" They came to celebrate my winning the election for class president,"
" Is the party your idea?"
" No," I shook my head. " Please don't hurt them, they've done nothing wrong."
" Come here!" She screamed. I approach her gingerly, trembling with terror. She slapped my face so hard with the ruler I almost fell. " Liar! You planned it didn't you, to show off our house to your penniless classmates. How dare you!"
" No, I didn't." Tears streaked down my cheeks, and I found it hard to breathe.
" Your father works so hard to feed and clothe both of you. He comes home for a nap and there's no moment for peace. What insolence to invite them to our house and make such a racket!"
" I never ask them here." She slapped me with the back of her hand against my other cheek.
" Show off! I'll teach you to be so sneaky!" She screamed, " Go downstairs this minute and tell your hooligan friends to get out! They are not welcome!"
As I hesitated and shuffled my feet, she hit my face yet again. " Do you hear me?" She yelled at the top of her voice. " I want them out of the house this minute! Are you deaf? Tell them to get lose and find somewhere else to fool around! And never come back! Never! Never! Never!"
I clenched my fist as I made my way downstairs. An eerie silence now permeated the house. My friends must have heard every single words my nasty stepmother had said. As I made my first step to the living room, to my horror, I saw bright red blood staining my hand and dress. Drops of blood tricked freely from my nose onto the floor. I realized that stepmother's blow must have caused a nosebleed during the punishment.
" I'm really sorry Izumi, we'll leave now." Ryoko said gently, she handed me a tissue,
" Arigatou for coming, I'll never forget your loyalty." One by one they walked out, when Ayumi aw the Holy of the Holies, she murmured, " This is unfair, you're cruel and barbaric! I'll tell my father!" She gave me a teeny smile and ran out. I sighed, always being tortured this way.
I think this chapter was very OOC, don't you think? I mean the Kouji parts. Bleh! And tomorrow is back to school! * grunts* I hate it, but there's nothing I can do. Anyways, please R&R, the Kouji and Izumi parts will come later, I promise! And please just review!