Shattered
Chapter Seven: Rain
Jun's small fists tightened as she hid underneath the shelter of her blanket while the storm raged on outside. The heavy rains pounded against the roof of the mansion, and the wind howled menacingly like a person screaming out of torment. She was curled up in a little ball, her mind and senses wracked with fear, anticipating the thing that she feared most...
An earsplitting clap of thunder sounded through the heavy torrents of water, causing the young girl to immediately shriek into her pillow. It rumbled sullenly and finally subsided into an eerie silence so that only the rain could be heard. Her body shook uncontrollably, hiding her pale face into her pillow.
"Let it go away, please let it go away..." she prayed, only to be answered by another boom of thunder. She shut her eyes tightly as to not see the terrifying clashes of white lightning outside her window, her ears covered by the palms of her small hands.
When she could only hear the driving splatter of raindrops onto the ground, she crawled cautiously out of her blankets and onto the floor, leaving her room with hastened steps. She entered the hallway, shrouded in shadow, and went across to Kazuya's door. She was about to knock on the door, but it had swung gently open, inviting her in. Hesitating a bit, she hurried soundlessly in, closing the door softly as she did.
The spicy scent of candles permeated the room as if they were once lit. She paid no attention to the papers scattered across the surface of the wide oak desk, or the spines of the books that were stowed away in the bookcase; her nerves were far too rattled to notice them. She found him in his bed, sleeping soundly on his side. She quietly walked over to him and gently whispered, "Kazuya-sama?"
She was answered with the steady pace of his breathing. Trying once more, she beckoned him, this time gently shaking his shoulder. "Kazuya- sama?"
His eyes shot open, revealing dark mahogany pools that seemed to burn even through the heavy darkness of night. He sat up when he saw her, thinking that something had happened. "What is it?"
She avoided his stare and bit her lip a bit. Her hands were folded beneath her back and she swayed a bit, a habit she did out of nervousness. "C-can I sleep with you?"
Seeing that there was nothing to be wary of, he settled back against his mattress. "Why?"
"...I'm afraid."
He looked at her, his face wearing an expression of slight irritation. "Of what?"
A few flashes of lightning burned through the night sky, and a great roar of thunder ripped the air, tearing through the raindrops. Jun let out a small yelp and her hands held her ears as she trembled uncontrollably. Kazuya watched with interest and humor.
"Thunder? That's what you're afraid of?"
She nodded her head furiously, the strands of black hair bobbing up and down from her head.
"You should be more afraid of the lightning. At least thunder can't hurt you."
Common logic did nothing to ease her mind. She was a child, and rational thinking often was useless in quelling the fears of a toddler. She was so frightened that just hearing the slightest hint of thunder was as if she was being physically harmed. Tears were forming in her eyes, the almond brown depths glistening softly with the crystal drops.
"Please, Kazuya-sama?" her small voice pleaded with him.
Seeing that there was nothing else that would comfort her, he sighed and shifted further onto the other side of the bed. "Fine, but only until the storm is over. And don't get any of your tears on my pillow."
Her lips broke into a grateful smile, and wiped her tears with the sleeve of her nightgown. She climbed onto the bed next to the older boy and rested easily under the satin sheets. Since the bed was king-size, there was enough room for both of the children to move about. She laid onto her side, huddled up in a little ball with the blankets settled around her.
"Kazuya-sama?" The clear voice rang softly through the darkness.
"What now?"
"...thank you."
He did not respond, but rather listened to the rain outside as he rested on his back. Jun flinched a bit whenever flashes of lightning would momentarily illuminate the room, followed up by a deep growl of thunder. He was silent as he heard the stifled whimpers of the poor girl: he knew that she was trying her hardest not to scream out of fear.
"What would you do during thunderstorms at Yakushima?" He asked out of curiosity.
The girl turned onto her other side so that she faced Kazuya. "Otousan gave me a teddy bear that I would always have next to me before I slept. Whenever there was a storm, I felt better whenever I hugged it."
"Did you forget it back at your house?"
"...no."
"Then what happened to it?" He noticed the sadness that tinged her gentle voice.
"...the other children in my village took my teddy bear from me. They held him up high so I couldn't get him, and then one of the older boys threw it into the river. I never saw my teddy again after that."
"Why did you let them do that to you?"
"Huh?"
"Why didn't you do anything to get your bear back?"
She paused for a second, and he could hear a slight sniffle. "Because, two of them held me back whenever that boy threw him into the water. I kicked and screamed, but they didn't let me go until my teddy floated away from me, Kazuya-sama."
Once again, silence. For some inexplicable reason, he began to feel animosity towards the children that had tormented Jun. Naturally, he would not care if someone had their possession stolen and then destroyed if he himself was not the victim. But to do it to a defenseless girl like Jun was something that he could not act passively to.
There was another boom of thunder, but he did not hear Jun whimper or see her recoil back into the blankets. "...but...you kind of remind me of my teddy bear, Kazuya-sama."
"How?" There was a tone of slight confusion to the boy's inquiry. "I'm not a toy that you can carry around-"
"No, I didn't mean that," she giggled a bit which eased Kazuya's agitation. "I'm just saying that I'm not afraid when I'm with you. You make me feel happy, just like my teddy bear did."
He did not answer, for he was slightly taken aback by Jun's sincere confession. For an instant, he felt almost...at peace knowing that he was the reason why she laughed and smiled. He had to admit that some part of him was joyous that he made her felt safe and secure, even if she had just compared him to a child's simple plaything.
But of course, his cold demeanor did not show it. "Stop being foolish. I want to get some sleep, so don't bother me with your nonsense."
"Oh, I'm sorry," her head leaned against the pillow, her eyelids feeling a bit heavy. She could make out the lean form of Kazuya sprawled onto his back with his eyes closed. "But I meant everything I said, Kazuya- sama. You really do make me feel happy when you're with me."
The dark prince was soundless as he heard her shuffle a bit in the blankets.
"Good night, Kazuya-sama."
And then she was silent after that, the only sound coming to his ears was the soft beating of her heart as she slipped into a colorful realm of dreams. He remained motionless for what seemed like an eternity, attempting to fall asleep but failing in doing so. Letting out a sigh of frustration, he sat up from his bed. He could make out the hands that pointed to a quarter after one on the face of his clock, and then his eyes moved towards the still figure of the child next to him, and they remained on her.
It has been a little more than two months since she arrived. Wang still continued their training sessions while he attended school, but she was always there waiting for him on the front steps of the mansion to greet him with a smile. He found solace in those sparkling almond brown eyes of hers and the kindness and genuine compassion that she had for him and people around her. Even if she was not from Tokyo, it was as if she had always been here.
He gently pulled the edge of the blanket closer to her chin to tuck her in so that she would not grow colder into the early morning. The last thing he saw was Jun sleeping peacefully, and he too succumbed to slumber as the rain continued to fall.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I apologize for not updating promptly. I didn't think I would receive so many reviews while I was away, so to all of you who were kind enough to write them, thank you!
I do plan on continuing this story, and I will be introducing a new character in the next chapter. I'm sorry if it's a little boring, but I figured that you would want something to read while I start on the next chapter. I will not write Kazuya and Jun as children forever, so please don't be patient.
Thank you for your support, Cherry Whisper
Chapter Seven: Rain
Jun's small fists tightened as she hid underneath the shelter of her blanket while the storm raged on outside. The heavy rains pounded against the roof of the mansion, and the wind howled menacingly like a person screaming out of torment. She was curled up in a little ball, her mind and senses wracked with fear, anticipating the thing that she feared most...
An earsplitting clap of thunder sounded through the heavy torrents of water, causing the young girl to immediately shriek into her pillow. It rumbled sullenly and finally subsided into an eerie silence so that only the rain could be heard. Her body shook uncontrollably, hiding her pale face into her pillow.
"Let it go away, please let it go away..." she prayed, only to be answered by another boom of thunder. She shut her eyes tightly as to not see the terrifying clashes of white lightning outside her window, her ears covered by the palms of her small hands.
When she could only hear the driving splatter of raindrops onto the ground, she crawled cautiously out of her blankets and onto the floor, leaving her room with hastened steps. She entered the hallway, shrouded in shadow, and went across to Kazuya's door. She was about to knock on the door, but it had swung gently open, inviting her in. Hesitating a bit, she hurried soundlessly in, closing the door softly as she did.
The spicy scent of candles permeated the room as if they were once lit. She paid no attention to the papers scattered across the surface of the wide oak desk, or the spines of the books that were stowed away in the bookcase; her nerves were far too rattled to notice them. She found him in his bed, sleeping soundly on his side. She quietly walked over to him and gently whispered, "Kazuya-sama?"
She was answered with the steady pace of his breathing. Trying once more, she beckoned him, this time gently shaking his shoulder. "Kazuya- sama?"
His eyes shot open, revealing dark mahogany pools that seemed to burn even through the heavy darkness of night. He sat up when he saw her, thinking that something had happened. "What is it?"
She avoided his stare and bit her lip a bit. Her hands were folded beneath her back and she swayed a bit, a habit she did out of nervousness. "C-can I sleep with you?"
Seeing that there was nothing to be wary of, he settled back against his mattress. "Why?"
"...I'm afraid."
He looked at her, his face wearing an expression of slight irritation. "Of what?"
A few flashes of lightning burned through the night sky, and a great roar of thunder ripped the air, tearing through the raindrops. Jun let out a small yelp and her hands held her ears as she trembled uncontrollably. Kazuya watched with interest and humor.
"Thunder? That's what you're afraid of?"
She nodded her head furiously, the strands of black hair bobbing up and down from her head.
"You should be more afraid of the lightning. At least thunder can't hurt you."
Common logic did nothing to ease her mind. She was a child, and rational thinking often was useless in quelling the fears of a toddler. She was so frightened that just hearing the slightest hint of thunder was as if she was being physically harmed. Tears were forming in her eyes, the almond brown depths glistening softly with the crystal drops.
"Please, Kazuya-sama?" her small voice pleaded with him.
Seeing that there was nothing else that would comfort her, he sighed and shifted further onto the other side of the bed. "Fine, but only until the storm is over. And don't get any of your tears on my pillow."
Her lips broke into a grateful smile, and wiped her tears with the sleeve of her nightgown. She climbed onto the bed next to the older boy and rested easily under the satin sheets. Since the bed was king-size, there was enough room for both of the children to move about. She laid onto her side, huddled up in a little ball with the blankets settled around her.
"Kazuya-sama?" The clear voice rang softly through the darkness.
"What now?"
"...thank you."
He did not respond, but rather listened to the rain outside as he rested on his back. Jun flinched a bit whenever flashes of lightning would momentarily illuminate the room, followed up by a deep growl of thunder. He was silent as he heard the stifled whimpers of the poor girl: he knew that she was trying her hardest not to scream out of fear.
"What would you do during thunderstorms at Yakushima?" He asked out of curiosity.
The girl turned onto her other side so that she faced Kazuya. "Otousan gave me a teddy bear that I would always have next to me before I slept. Whenever there was a storm, I felt better whenever I hugged it."
"Did you forget it back at your house?"
"...no."
"Then what happened to it?" He noticed the sadness that tinged her gentle voice.
"...the other children in my village took my teddy bear from me. They held him up high so I couldn't get him, and then one of the older boys threw it into the river. I never saw my teddy again after that."
"Why did you let them do that to you?"
"Huh?"
"Why didn't you do anything to get your bear back?"
She paused for a second, and he could hear a slight sniffle. "Because, two of them held me back whenever that boy threw him into the water. I kicked and screamed, but they didn't let me go until my teddy floated away from me, Kazuya-sama."
Once again, silence. For some inexplicable reason, he began to feel animosity towards the children that had tormented Jun. Naturally, he would not care if someone had their possession stolen and then destroyed if he himself was not the victim. But to do it to a defenseless girl like Jun was something that he could not act passively to.
There was another boom of thunder, but he did not hear Jun whimper or see her recoil back into the blankets. "...but...you kind of remind me of my teddy bear, Kazuya-sama."
"How?" There was a tone of slight confusion to the boy's inquiry. "I'm not a toy that you can carry around-"
"No, I didn't mean that," she giggled a bit which eased Kazuya's agitation. "I'm just saying that I'm not afraid when I'm with you. You make me feel happy, just like my teddy bear did."
He did not answer, for he was slightly taken aback by Jun's sincere confession. For an instant, he felt almost...at peace knowing that he was the reason why she laughed and smiled. He had to admit that some part of him was joyous that he made her felt safe and secure, even if she had just compared him to a child's simple plaything.
But of course, his cold demeanor did not show it. "Stop being foolish. I want to get some sleep, so don't bother me with your nonsense."
"Oh, I'm sorry," her head leaned against the pillow, her eyelids feeling a bit heavy. She could make out the lean form of Kazuya sprawled onto his back with his eyes closed. "But I meant everything I said, Kazuya- sama. You really do make me feel happy when you're with me."
The dark prince was soundless as he heard her shuffle a bit in the blankets.
"Good night, Kazuya-sama."
And then she was silent after that, the only sound coming to his ears was the soft beating of her heart as she slipped into a colorful realm of dreams. He remained motionless for what seemed like an eternity, attempting to fall asleep but failing in doing so. Letting out a sigh of frustration, he sat up from his bed. He could make out the hands that pointed to a quarter after one on the face of his clock, and then his eyes moved towards the still figure of the child next to him, and they remained on her.
It has been a little more than two months since she arrived. Wang still continued their training sessions while he attended school, but she was always there waiting for him on the front steps of the mansion to greet him with a smile. He found solace in those sparkling almond brown eyes of hers and the kindness and genuine compassion that she had for him and people around her. Even if she was not from Tokyo, it was as if she had always been here.
He gently pulled the edge of the blanket closer to her chin to tuck her in so that she would not grow colder into the early morning. The last thing he saw was Jun sleeping peacefully, and he too succumbed to slumber as the rain continued to fall.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I apologize for not updating promptly. I didn't think I would receive so many reviews while I was away, so to all of you who were kind enough to write them, thank you!
I do plan on continuing this story, and I will be introducing a new character in the next chapter. I'm sorry if it's a little boring, but I figured that you would want something to read while I start on the next chapter. I will not write Kazuya and Jun as children forever, so please don't be patient.
Thank you for your support, Cherry Whisper