Warning: Not much here either...might be a little confused on the marks, but I think you should be able to figure it out. Oh, and I do a lot of jumping to flashbacks, just so you know.
Disclaimer: When I own a white dragon with teal fur, I'll know that dreams come true and I own Spirited Away.
Feedback: Bleh...if you do, great. If you don't...eh...I'm too tired...
Yeah...I didn't think the first chapter was too interesting, so I decided to post a little more. Why didn't I just post it all together? 'Cause I didn't want it that way. Besides, it was a nice place to leave off in the last chapter.
...
I'm guessing you're wondering why no elves. Well, I'm pressuring them with the homework I should be doing, so they're kinda busy right now. ^_^
~ * ~ * ~
// "Welcome to Koneko Day Care. How may I help you?" The worker looked at the two who had entered the door, one an average sized girl still in her uniform, the colors easily recognized as the high school not ten minutes away. Holding her hand was a smaller child, large green eyes staring around the room in wonder.
The worker gave a cheerful grin as she bent down. "And who's this little flower?"
The older of the two was the one who answered, brown eyes dulled as if weighted down and desperately tired, yet her gaze was steady, her posture supported by some unseen strength as she shifted her hold on the little one's hand.
"Her name is Kouryuu. I'd like to enroll her in this day care."
"And under whose name will she go under?"
"Chihiro Ogino."
The older woman looked up from the form she was filling out. "Your mother?"
"No. Mine."
Sighing while mentally muttering about the ignorance of young people these days, she quickly turned her over pencil, ready to erase what she had written down.
"I'm sorry. I need the name of the parent."
A small hand blocked the path of the pencil, and the worker looked up, annoyance level rising. Unwavering brown eyes stared at her.
"I /am/ the parent."//
~ * ~ * ~
"Mommy! Look what I drew today!"
Putting down her pencil, Chihiro picked up the folded paper her daughter dropped excitedly in her lap, her own essay left half done of the table. She couldn't get too mad at the child; even at her age, Kouryuu was amazingly intelligent and patient. She had already sat by the window quietly indulging in her crayons for the last hour, allowing her to complete some of her homework, even though Chihiro could see the little girl was bursting to tell her something.
She was such a wonderful child.
"What is it, Kouryuu?"
"It's a picture of us! See, this is me, and this is you, and…" The little child pointed to the third figure, beaming. "…this is Daddy!"
Chihiro stared at the third figure, a messy scrawl with short black hair and a blue shirt. The most prominent feature, however, and almost seemingly delicately drawn for a child, was two cat-green eyes.
// "Mommy, what does Daddy look like?"//
This was not the first time Kouryuu had drawn such "family" pictures. She had many more; each of them showing a different person that was "Daddy", whether it was different colored hair or different colored clothes. But the eyes always remained the same. Green.
// "He's very handsome, and very noble."//
A wave of sorrow ate away at Chihiro's stomach as she handed back the picture, trying to keep her hand from shaking. She would smile for her daughter, would be strong for her daughter. She /will/ survive here, in this world that looked down on them both.
…
What else could she do?
"It's beautiful, honey."
It was so unfair, she thought, as she watched her daughter return to her seat by the window, a content smile on her face as she picked up a fresh sheet of paper and a blue crayon. It was unfair that all her child had were words and dreams of a man known as "Daddy." It was unfair that /she/ was the only one who could supply those dreams, when her own memories were fading into a blur of unsure fantasy and reality.
// Jade eyes warmed her with their calm, such surety shining in them, such strength. And she believed him. Really believed him and that one word, for who could question such eyes? She believed in him, in his strength and his warmth. And his promise.
/I'll be strong…and I'll wait. /
She let go. //
Shaking her head as if to rid herself of such thoughts, Chihiro glanced at the glowing numbers of the electronic clock on her desk. 5:48.
"Come on, Kouryuu. Time to go."
Glancing at the window, she was glad that it was summer, and it was still light out. Her room was at the far back of the house, closest to the forest. The leaves glowed in the afternoon sun with a brilliant emerald sheen. The trees rippled in the wind like the waves rolling in the river.
// "…authorities have approved and construction will begin…head of the project says the new apartments should be up by…"//
Quickly, she gathered up the child's papers, noting the clouds drawn on the top sheet, while said child placed her crayons along with the papers inside a tiny knapsack that used to be Chihiro's. Ready, they descended the stairs to the hallway, slipping on their respective shoes: Kouryuu, her white and pink sneakers and Chihiro, a pair of blue tennis shoes.
"Where are you going?"
Hand on the knob, Chihiro did not even turn at her father's voice. She will not look at him, at his blank impartial face. She will not allow his voice, empty of all its old cheer, break her. She will not cry for causing this change in her father, and she will not regret her daughter's life.
// "Mr. and Mrs. Ogino…your daughter is pregnant."//
// "Oh God Chihiro…what did you do?"//
// "Who is he, Chihiro? Who?!!"//
// "Chihiro…pregnant…"//
// "I heard that…"//
// "…whore…"//
//…//
// "It's a girl."//
// "Mommy…"//
// "Mommy!!"//
// "Mommy, I love you."//
No, never ever regret that.
Twisting the handle and opening the door with a slow creak, she watched Kouryuu step out first, before answering her father, still not looking back. She learned not to do that eight years ago.
"Work."
With that, Chihiro closed the door behind her.
Click.
~ TBC ~
Author's Note: I really didn't like cutting it there, but it wouldn't have gone on way too long if I didn't. And I don't want to use up my all my already-typed stuff before I get a chance to write up more. I'm hoping doing it this way'll make updating go a little easier...::hopehope::
Anyway, I know not much is happening now, but things should pick up by next chapter. ^^ Now, must go do homework before I stress out anymore and explode.