The 12th Street Apartment
11/11/2003
Disclaimer: Don't own, never will.
Hi. Thanks for the reviews.
*********
Recap: Kenshin meet Misao and Kaoru, who have just moved in. Gina storms out of Aoshi's apartment because of his comment about him getting married. No word so far on Megumi and Sano so far.
*********
So... on with the story.
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Aoshi entered the Saitou house. His Aunt Aya and Uncle Hiko were over, talking with his parents. They pretty much ignored him, as he did the same for them. Tokio offered her son some cake, but he refused.
He opened the door to Gina's room and slipped in, refusing to meet her eyes as he closed the door quietly behind him. He looked up to see her stone face looking at him. Her eyes were glossy, but not teary. He frowned, what was wrong with her now? She had gone into the frozen forget-about-it mode?
"Gina." He said. He gently sat down on her bed, next to her. The bed creaked slightly under his weight. It was silent for a long time. The tension mounted in the room. Aoshi seemed to want to say something, but everything he opened his mouth his voice froze. He could not do anything; the ball was in Gina's court. All he could do was watch how she would play it.
Gina herself seemed unsure. She shifted nervously on the bed. She opened her mouth and then closed it again. She looked up, into Aoshi's green eyes and burst out sobbing. He held her tightly, "It's all right." He soothed.
"It's not!" She protested, "It still hurts you know." She hiccupped a few times, before dissolving into whimpers.
Aoshi pulled his baby sister close. "I know. I know. Just cry it all out Gina... you should have done this a long times ago..." He said softly, rocking her.
**Flashback**
It was his senior year in high school, late May. Prom night was in two days. He was waiting for Jin, his girlfriend since freshman year. She was pretty, with bright purple eyes and jet black hair; she was a popular soccer player on the varsity team. No one understood why she went out with Aoshi, fore so long. He was a cold loner, smart, great at basketball, but never joining the team. He was also a guy you didn't want to get into a fight with, a true martial arts master.
"Aoshi!" She called, running to him and grabbing his arm. "Come on."
Before he could protest, she dragged him across the street to the park. She clung to him on the bridge over a gentle river. "I left Gina..." He began but Jin cut him off.
"Leave Gina for a day. It's almost prom night; let's go shopping!" She said with a smile.
"But I'm suppose to pick up Gina..." He started back. Gina was only ten, what is she was attack on the way home.
"Aoshi!" He turned at the sound of her desperate voice, "Aoshi." She said huskily.
"What?" He snapped impatiently, stopping at a place where he could see the entrance of the high school; where Gina would usually meet him. She was nowhere to be seen. All he saw when Kenshin's red hair getting into a friend's car. He turned back to Jin, "What?"
She grabbed his arm tightly; "Ditch your sister for a day. She too..." She trailed off, looking away.
"What? She's too what?" He demanded. What did she want to say about his baby sister? "Jin..." His voice held a warning.
Jin looked up at him, purple eyes earnest, "She's too... clingy... and too dependent on you. You've spoiled her with so much attention."
Aoshi frowned. Had he been too protective for his sister? He shook his head. What was wrong with Jin? She loved Gina.
** Flashback within flashback**
Aoshi opened the door to reveal Jin. He smiled and invited her in. It was freshman year, and he had invited her home for dinner.
"Aoshi. Who's this?" Gina's childish voice said beside her towering older brother.
Jin knelt to the little Gina's level, "Hi. I'm Jin. You must be Gina."
Gina nodded, "You're pretty." She announced.
Jin smiled, "So are you. You're going to become a very pretty girl... with lots of boys."
Aoshi smiled, as Jin became fast friend with his baby sister. He wasn't going to date a girl who disliked his sister. Jin was approved.
**End of Flashback within flashback**
"Jin?" He asked questionably.
Jin looked at him, tears appearing from seemingly nowhere, so fast he thought they might be fake, "Aoshi. She's always with us, on dates, or movies... You always crumble to her whims."
Unbeknownst to either of them, Gina had saw Jin drag her brother to the park and followed, stopping to hid when Jin began to talk about her.
Aoshi did not say a word; he was deep in thought.
Jin took that as approve and began her bashing of Gina, "She's so ugly too... with those freaky yellow eyes and those bland black hair...ugh... who's EVER going to date her... let alone MARRY her?" Jin gave a hoarse laugh, "Who would marry your sister? A blind man? A donkey?"
Gina waited for her brother's response... but when she did not hear anything... she took off crying. Her older brother, her idol, had been shattered in her innocent eyes. She ran home in tears.
Aoshi was silent, still thinking. Finally after a long while, he looked up, glaring at Jin in fury. She cowered back in fear slightly, "Aoshi dear..."
"Don't 'Aoshi dear' ME! HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU INSULT MY SISTER LIKE THAT... MY TEN YEAR OLD BABY SISTER!! SHE'S ONLY TEN!! This relationship is OVER. I would much rather share the bond between my sister and I then this I have with you." He stomped off, leaving Jin sobbing on the bridge.
Little did he know he and Gina's relationship had already been strained.
Back home Tokio demanded where he had been, saying Gina had come home crying and was now in her room, door locked. She demanded her oldest son tell her what he did.
"Nothing mother... I just forgot to pick her up." There was when he got a lecture about responsibility, but he already knew that. His father came home right after him, early that day, and had yelled at him about leaving his baby sister alone on the streets. Didn't he know how many criminals wanted their hands on a little girl, or on the daughter of Hajime Saitou, the most feared cop in all of Tokyo?
Aoshi knew all this, and that's why it hurt. He rapped on the door, "Gina?" He called softly.
"Go away!" screamed a shrill voice. Aoshi immediately knew his sister was crying.
"Gina? I'm sorry I left you today."
"It's okay." There was a loud whimper.
"So will you let me in?"
"NO!"
"Why not?" Aoshi begged to know what was wrong with her. She had already forgiven him, so why wouldn't she let him in?
"NO!" She yelled loudly, attracting the attention of their parents.
"What is she doing?" asked Tokio worriedly. "Hajime! Do something!" Her voice shook in fear. "What if she's hurting herself?"
"Me? You're her mother!" Her father protested. He could get answers out of the toughest criminals, but he was no expert on how to talk to his own kid, particularly his baby daughter. He could yell at his sons; they were strong. Yet his daughter was delicate, with a flower, so tender and breakable.
"Well. Kenshin!" Tokio turned her attention to Kenshin, was just walked in. "You take Gina, I'll take care of Ken shin being late. Aoshi, go do your homework."
"But mom..." Aoshi protested. He desperately wanted to know what was troubling his sister.
"GO!" He obliged to his mother's command.
Tokio was lecturing Kenshin on being on time, Saitou attempted to get into his daughter's room.
"Gina? Can you let Daddy in?" He light rapped on the door again.
"Is the jerk gone?" Gina's muffled voice called.
Saitou frowned, "What jerk?" He had never heard Gina's voice so forlorn, let alone call anyone a jerk.
"Aoshi."
Saitou raised a curious eyebrow, "Yes. He's in his room."
The click of the door unlocking was heard. Saitou burst into the room, intending to scold at his daughter for causing such a scene when he froze in seeing his daughter's face.
It was tear streaked. Her eyes were bloodshot and wet, from what seemed like hours crying. Her face was pale and so distressing. He had never seen his daughter in that way.
He closed the door slowly and feel to his knees, cradling his little girl as she sobbed on his shoulder, "Can you tell me what Aoshi did?"
Gina rubbed her eyes, "He... Jin... Jin... called... call me UGLY!! She says I'm um... I have freaky yellow eyes and bland hair... and no one ever marry me!"
Saitou looked cheerless. His daughter inherited his eyes; his wolf eyes and his hair; his messy disarray hair. All his... nothing from his stunning wife, but Gina was pretty in her won way. She always wore a cheerful smile, making everyone around feel a little lighter. He hoped she grew up to love who she was, regardless of what she looked like. In his personal opinion, what was so bad about having wolf eyes? It's a good way to make sure people don't get in your way and scaring the last wits out of others.
"And what did Aoshi say?" Saitou was sure Aoshi would never say anything against is his sister. He knew Aoshi loved the little child.
"NOTHING!" She shrilly screamed, "He said NOTHING!" She fell onto her father's shoulder, no tears left, and collapsed in exhaustion. Saitou put his daughter to bed, telling Tokio to take of his little angel, went to Aoshi's room to get to the bottom
He entered the room; where Aoshi was furiously writing on a sheet on paper, "Aoshi." He said coldly as he sat down on the boy's bed.
Aoshi jerked up, "Gina... she okay? I have to go check on her!" He started for the door.
"No." Saitou's icy voice stopped the boy, "We need to talk son."
"What dad? Is this about Gina?" Aoshi looked worried and he plopped down next to his father on the bed.
"Yes. Apparently Jin was um...bashing... her to you...and you gave no response to Jin bashing your little sister."
"How did she... Dad... Jin did bash Gina... I was just so shocked... I broke up with her... Dad... does Gina hate me now?" Aoshi looked ashamed. "Why did I even got out with Jin... for that long? I thought she loved Gina... Aw Dad... now I've lost her trust... and her respect..."
Saitou stared at his son, leaning back slightly, "I'm not a psychiatrist, but I would say she is feeling a lot of anger and hurt... give her some time... I'm sure this will pass..." He got up to leave, "But I'm sure it will leave a scar..." He opened the door on a confused Aoshi.
**End of Flashback**
Aoshi did not realize Gina had stopped crying. "Um Aoshi? I can't breath! Can you let go of my neck?"
He abruptly let go, "Sorry." He said sheepishly, "I'm sorry about bring it up."
"It's all right. I should be sorry from even remembering it... it's stupid." She flipped her hair back, examining her reflection in the mirror. "Although she was right about the freaky yellow eyes... I think they make me look evil." She attempted to mince their father's look.
Aoshi burst into laugher, "You do look like him."
From outside, they heard Yumi enter their home, asking about Megumi.
Gina and Aoshi traded glances, MEGUMI AND SANO! They totally forgot.
It was then the door creaked open again, and they heard Megumi's voice in the doorway, "I'm HOME!" She called, "And I brought a surprise!"
Aoshi and Gina dashed out, barely avoiding hitting each other in their attempt to get out of the door. They froze in the living, looking around. Aunt Aya was wide eyed and shocked. Tokio was furious already. Saitou just chuckled lightly to himself as Uncle Hiko grunted.
Aoshi and Gina met the eyes of the three people by the doorway, one confident look, one of awkwardness, and one of innocence.
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I'll just end that there...
Really... I will. I thought I would fit Sano and Megumi coming home, but I'll put that in the next chapter...
Next on The 12th Street Apartment: Sano and Megumi and finally home... see the family's reaction to the newest member.
11/11/2003
Disclaimer: Don't own, never will.
Hi. Thanks for the reviews.
*********
Recap: Kenshin meet Misao and Kaoru, who have just moved in. Gina storms out of Aoshi's apartment because of his comment about him getting married. No word so far on Megumi and Sano so far.
*********
So... on with the story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aoshi entered the Saitou house. His Aunt Aya and Uncle Hiko were over, talking with his parents. They pretty much ignored him, as he did the same for them. Tokio offered her son some cake, but he refused.
He opened the door to Gina's room and slipped in, refusing to meet her eyes as he closed the door quietly behind him. He looked up to see her stone face looking at him. Her eyes were glossy, but not teary. He frowned, what was wrong with her now? She had gone into the frozen forget-about-it mode?
"Gina." He said. He gently sat down on her bed, next to her. The bed creaked slightly under his weight. It was silent for a long time. The tension mounted in the room. Aoshi seemed to want to say something, but everything he opened his mouth his voice froze. He could not do anything; the ball was in Gina's court. All he could do was watch how she would play it.
Gina herself seemed unsure. She shifted nervously on the bed. She opened her mouth and then closed it again. She looked up, into Aoshi's green eyes and burst out sobbing. He held her tightly, "It's all right." He soothed.
"It's not!" She protested, "It still hurts you know." She hiccupped a few times, before dissolving into whimpers.
Aoshi pulled his baby sister close. "I know. I know. Just cry it all out Gina... you should have done this a long times ago..." He said softly, rocking her.
**Flashback**
It was his senior year in high school, late May. Prom night was in two days. He was waiting for Jin, his girlfriend since freshman year. She was pretty, with bright purple eyes and jet black hair; she was a popular soccer player on the varsity team. No one understood why she went out with Aoshi, fore so long. He was a cold loner, smart, great at basketball, but never joining the team. He was also a guy you didn't want to get into a fight with, a true martial arts master.
"Aoshi!" She called, running to him and grabbing his arm. "Come on."
Before he could protest, she dragged him across the street to the park. She clung to him on the bridge over a gentle river. "I left Gina..." He began but Jin cut him off.
"Leave Gina for a day. It's almost prom night; let's go shopping!" She said with a smile.
"But I'm suppose to pick up Gina..." He started back. Gina was only ten, what is she was attack on the way home.
"Aoshi!" He turned at the sound of her desperate voice, "Aoshi." She said huskily.
"What?" He snapped impatiently, stopping at a place where he could see the entrance of the high school; where Gina would usually meet him. She was nowhere to be seen. All he saw when Kenshin's red hair getting into a friend's car. He turned back to Jin, "What?"
She grabbed his arm tightly; "Ditch your sister for a day. She too..." She trailed off, looking away.
"What? She's too what?" He demanded. What did she want to say about his baby sister? "Jin..." His voice held a warning.
Jin looked up at him, purple eyes earnest, "She's too... clingy... and too dependent on you. You've spoiled her with so much attention."
Aoshi frowned. Had he been too protective for his sister? He shook his head. What was wrong with Jin? She loved Gina.
** Flashback within flashback**
Aoshi opened the door to reveal Jin. He smiled and invited her in. It was freshman year, and he had invited her home for dinner.
"Aoshi. Who's this?" Gina's childish voice said beside her towering older brother.
Jin knelt to the little Gina's level, "Hi. I'm Jin. You must be Gina."
Gina nodded, "You're pretty." She announced.
Jin smiled, "So are you. You're going to become a very pretty girl... with lots of boys."
Aoshi smiled, as Jin became fast friend with his baby sister. He wasn't going to date a girl who disliked his sister. Jin was approved.
**End of Flashback within flashback**
"Jin?" He asked questionably.
Jin looked at him, tears appearing from seemingly nowhere, so fast he thought they might be fake, "Aoshi. She's always with us, on dates, or movies... You always crumble to her whims."
Unbeknownst to either of them, Gina had saw Jin drag her brother to the park and followed, stopping to hid when Jin began to talk about her.
Aoshi did not say a word; he was deep in thought.
Jin took that as approve and began her bashing of Gina, "She's so ugly too... with those freaky yellow eyes and those bland black hair...ugh... who's EVER going to date her... let alone MARRY her?" Jin gave a hoarse laugh, "Who would marry your sister? A blind man? A donkey?"
Gina waited for her brother's response... but when she did not hear anything... she took off crying. Her older brother, her idol, had been shattered in her innocent eyes. She ran home in tears.
Aoshi was silent, still thinking. Finally after a long while, he looked up, glaring at Jin in fury. She cowered back in fear slightly, "Aoshi dear..."
"Don't 'Aoshi dear' ME! HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU INSULT MY SISTER LIKE THAT... MY TEN YEAR OLD BABY SISTER!! SHE'S ONLY TEN!! This relationship is OVER. I would much rather share the bond between my sister and I then this I have with you." He stomped off, leaving Jin sobbing on the bridge.
Little did he know he and Gina's relationship had already been strained.
Back home Tokio demanded where he had been, saying Gina had come home crying and was now in her room, door locked. She demanded her oldest son tell her what he did.
"Nothing mother... I just forgot to pick her up." There was when he got a lecture about responsibility, but he already knew that. His father came home right after him, early that day, and had yelled at him about leaving his baby sister alone on the streets. Didn't he know how many criminals wanted their hands on a little girl, or on the daughter of Hajime Saitou, the most feared cop in all of Tokyo?
Aoshi knew all this, and that's why it hurt. He rapped on the door, "Gina?" He called softly.
"Go away!" screamed a shrill voice. Aoshi immediately knew his sister was crying.
"Gina? I'm sorry I left you today."
"It's okay." There was a loud whimper.
"So will you let me in?"
"NO!"
"Why not?" Aoshi begged to know what was wrong with her. She had already forgiven him, so why wouldn't she let him in?
"NO!" She yelled loudly, attracting the attention of their parents.
"What is she doing?" asked Tokio worriedly. "Hajime! Do something!" Her voice shook in fear. "What if she's hurting herself?"
"Me? You're her mother!" Her father protested. He could get answers out of the toughest criminals, but he was no expert on how to talk to his own kid, particularly his baby daughter. He could yell at his sons; they were strong. Yet his daughter was delicate, with a flower, so tender and breakable.
"Well. Kenshin!" Tokio turned her attention to Kenshin, was just walked in. "You take Gina, I'll take care of Ken shin being late. Aoshi, go do your homework."
"But mom..." Aoshi protested. He desperately wanted to know what was troubling his sister.
"GO!" He obliged to his mother's command.
Tokio was lecturing Kenshin on being on time, Saitou attempted to get into his daughter's room.
"Gina? Can you let Daddy in?" He light rapped on the door again.
"Is the jerk gone?" Gina's muffled voice called.
Saitou frowned, "What jerk?" He had never heard Gina's voice so forlorn, let alone call anyone a jerk.
"Aoshi."
Saitou raised a curious eyebrow, "Yes. He's in his room."
The click of the door unlocking was heard. Saitou burst into the room, intending to scold at his daughter for causing such a scene when he froze in seeing his daughter's face.
It was tear streaked. Her eyes were bloodshot and wet, from what seemed like hours crying. Her face was pale and so distressing. He had never seen his daughter in that way.
He closed the door slowly and feel to his knees, cradling his little girl as she sobbed on his shoulder, "Can you tell me what Aoshi did?"
Gina rubbed her eyes, "He... Jin... Jin... called... call me UGLY!! She says I'm um... I have freaky yellow eyes and bland hair... and no one ever marry me!"
Saitou looked cheerless. His daughter inherited his eyes; his wolf eyes and his hair; his messy disarray hair. All his... nothing from his stunning wife, but Gina was pretty in her won way. She always wore a cheerful smile, making everyone around feel a little lighter. He hoped she grew up to love who she was, regardless of what she looked like. In his personal opinion, what was so bad about having wolf eyes? It's a good way to make sure people don't get in your way and scaring the last wits out of others.
"And what did Aoshi say?" Saitou was sure Aoshi would never say anything against is his sister. He knew Aoshi loved the little child.
"NOTHING!" She shrilly screamed, "He said NOTHING!" She fell onto her father's shoulder, no tears left, and collapsed in exhaustion. Saitou put his daughter to bed, telling Tokio to take of his little angel, went to Aoshi's room to get to the bottom
He entered the room; where Aoshi was furiously writing on a sheet on paper, "Aoshi." He said coldly as he sat down on the boy's bed.
Aoshi jerked up, "Gina... she okay? I have to go check on her!" He started for the door.
"No." Saitou's icy voice stopped the boy, "We need to talk son."
"What dad? Is this about Gina?" Aoshi looked worried and he plopped down next to his father on the bed.
"Yes. Apparently Jin was um...bashing... her to you...and you gave no response to Jin bashing your little sister."
"How did she... Dad... Jin did bash Gina... I was just so shocked... I broke up with her... Dad... does Gina hate me now?" Aoshi looked ashamed. "Why did I even got out with Jin... for that long? I thought she loved Gina... Aw Dad... now I've lost her trust... and her respect..."
Saitou stared at his son, leaning back slightly, "I'm not a psychiatrist, but I would say she is feeling a lot of anger and hurt... give her some time... I'm sure this will pass..." He got up to leave, "But I'm sure it will leave a scar..." He opened the door on a confused Aoshi.
**End of Flashback**
Aoshi did not realize Gina had stopped crying. "Um Aoshi? I can't breath! Can you let go of my neck?"
He abruptly let go, "Sorry." He said sheepishly, "I'm sorry about bring it up."
"It's all right. I should be sorry from even remembering it... it's stupid." She flipped her hair back, examining her reflection in the mirror. "Although she was right about the freaky yellow eyes... I think they make me look evil." She attempted to mince their father's look.
Aoshi burst into laugher, "You do look like him."
From outside, they heard Yumi enter their home, asking about Megumi.
Gina and Aoshi traded glances, MEGUMI AND SANO! They totally forgot.
It was then the door creaked open again, and they heard Megumi's voice in the doorway, "I'm HOME!" She called, "And I brought a surprise!"
Aoshi and Gina dashed out, barely avoiding hitting each other in their attempt to get out of the door. They froze in the living, looking around. Aunt Aya was wide eyed and shocked. Tokio was furious already. Saitou just chuckled lightly to himself as Uncle Hiko grunted.
Aoshi and Gina met the eyes of the three people by the doorway, one confident look, one of awkwardness, and one of innocence.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'll just end that there...
Really... I will. I thought I would fit Sano and Megumi coming home, but I'll put that in the next chapter...
Next on The 12th Street Apartment: Sano and Megumi and finally home... see the family's reaction to the newest member.