Playing with Fire
Chapter 1: Breakfast
Disclaimer: Same as usual…
Thank you all other reviewers.
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Tsukushi watched silently, waiting, expecting the world to take her down. For everyone to appear from the shadows of her own mind and kill her. It's funny how the only person capable of killing her was herself and yet she never had the guts to do it.
The wind blew endlessly around her, the cold breeze cutting her ever so slowly. She continued her pace, her mind trapped in a reverie. Her soul trapped in her heart. But as much as she wanted to, she could never run away from herself. There would always be that shadow lurking around that she could never get rid of.
She continued walking, making her way back to her house. Her feet came to a halt in front of a small, elegant house. 'Great fucking surprise.' She thought harshly to herself. This house. The bitch really knew how to play games.
Meeting Tsukasa Doumyouji was only part of her mother's plans. She always had so much more planned. Tsukushi smiled lightly, making her way into the little house. Her eyes became misty, but it wasn't tears, it was filled with pure hatred. Her smile slowly faded as the past she had tried so hard to push away once again returned.
'No. I don't need this shit right now.'
The house was filled with lights, laughter hung through the air. That of a little child and her parents, their voices were muffled, but their love was clearly heard.
Moments of happiness in her past came rising up, taking her back to the better times. That small amount of time.
She entered the hallway of the little house, hearing her voice running down the hall screaming for her parents to come open the presents. Right now, she was an outsider to her own past. She was so far from the little girl she had once been. She didn't even belong here anymore.
Then, just as quickly as the happiness came, the horrifying darkness followed eating it up and burying it deep into her heart.
The walls were smeared with blood just as it once had been. The floors filled with decapitated bodies and the air heavy with the stench of death. She could still hear the screams, the shouting, the footsteps of her parents and her own haggard breathe.
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. She stayed under the bad the whole time, shivering with fear.
Her eyes widened when she saw her father walking into the room, her mother walking behind him and a trail of blood following them.
Crash. The door burst opened.
"Did you think it was going to be that easy?"
"Hana. You've come to join the party?" Her mother asked, her voice pleasant yet dangerous.
"No, I've come to gather the gifts."
"Their in the hallway."
Many footsteps followed the brief conversation; she could still remember seeing the feet of this Hana just opposite of where she lied. Her father fought bravely, her mother at his side.
She was the only one hiding.
Within mere hours, her parents were standing in the room, a large amount of feet surrounding where they stood.
"You betrayed the clan. You betrayed us all."
"There was no clan. It was all so messed up that even you couldn't keep track anymore." Her father voiced holding onto her mother's hand.
"I guess you two do keeps to your wedding vows. 'Til death do us part. Well, I'll help you keep that promise. Tanaka."
The man named Tanaka, made his way towards her father, his sword running against the red carpet as he did a little turn. And within moments, Tanaka too was down. But another man had strike her father. He fell down, his breathing barely audible. Her eyes widened, how could this happen. Her father was such a great fighter.
I love you. I love you. The words rang like bells in her head. Killing her from the inside.
Until his last moment, he had mouthed, "I love you".
"Why didn't you stay with me, Chieko? I would have never got you into this shit."
"I would have never stayed with you because you were too much of a coward to ever get into this shit. My husband loved me, that's why he got me away from the clan."
"And where is your husband now? Dead. On the floor. He couldn't even protect you until the end."
"Fuck you. My husband had more than you could ever offer, that is why you came. Fuck the betrayal. Fuck the clan. You came because it was too late for you and Hana to make anything of yourselves without us. Betrayal, no, this isn't because of betrayal, you all just wanted to make something of yourselves. So you make up an excuse to kill us."
"You drugged our drinks. We were too much for you to handle. That is why you had to use this underhanded trick. You piece of useless shit. You kill me now and you will live to see your own merciless death."
"Aw, how cute. She even told us good bye, Rei."
And within mere moments, her mother was too on the floor, dead. I love you. I love you. It was in her eyes, in was on her lips but she never mouthed it before she too died.
"Now that is a fairy tale ending." She then heard the ringing of laughter fill the barren house.
Click. Click. Click. Heels, footsteps. Someone else was here.
The lady stood at the end of the bed, looking down at her feet. Se then got down on her knees and looked under the bed.
And that was how she met Sakura Shinji.
She remembered the older woman picking her up and taking her away from the house. She was five. And since that day, she never forgot what happened. In her dreams, she relived every moment of that night.
I love you. I love you. Endless ringing. Her father's lips, her mother's eyes. She needed to get away, she needed to get out.
Within moments, Tsukushi was out of the house. Her hair fell freely around her face, her veil was off and she was running as fast as she could away from the hell she had once lived in.
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Rui walked aimlessly, his eyes fixated on his own shadow looming ahead of him. He couldn't see the people around him, for all he knew; it was just him and him alone. But the truth was. He was never lonely. He was completely happy like this. He was content and for a
second, he almost smiled at his own stupidity.
He was happy. He was not alone. Lies. Stupid lies. Everything was a lie. Everything is a lie.
Rain started to pour down on him as if crying for him. Crying for him and his mother.
Maybe that was it. He continued his slow steady pace, passersby staring at him oddly. He was like a sad angel. His eyes a reflection of a beautiful lake. So hauntingly beautiful, it was hollow.
His eyes traveled to the sky, letting the rainfall on his face. Drop. Drop. Drop. "Rui, come out here honey. Isn't it great?"
"The rain is good for your hair, you know that?"
"Rui…Rui…I love you…"
"Rui, your mommy's little angel…"
Mommy's little angel. He thought as he closed his eyes lazily, the raindrops got heavier and heavier by the second. His stood still in his spot, face tilted up to the sky. Rain drops covering his face. Dripping down to his shirt, washing him. He was coming clean. Tonight he would come clean.
Rui opened his eyes when he felt something bump into him. The figure fell back a few steps before bowing and once again taking off. Her short hair, flying back as the wind and rain
brushed her porcelain face.
"Mother…" Rui whispered aloud, when he saw a handkerchief drift slowly in his direction.
The wind carrying the small silk fabric to him. He grabbed it and stared at it. TM was quilted on it along with a picture of an eclipse. He slowly brought it to his face, it smelled like his mother.
Without knowing it, Rui ran after the girl. He held the handkerchief close to his chest, squeezing it tightly in his hand. He needed to find that girl; he needed to find his mother. The rain fell on the ground, Rui's footsteps splashing the many puddles onto his pants. His shirt clung to his body, he felt heavier and heavier as he continued running.
He slowed his pace, sitting on the ground rubbing his hands over his weary face. He felt the
rain stop and looked up to see Akira holding an umbrella over him.
"Rui?" The red haired boy as worriedly.
"Akira."
"What are you doing here, Rui? And what is that in your hand?"
Rui quickly tucked the handkerchief into his pocket before getting up and shaking his head.
"Nothing is wrong, I just like being in the rain."
"Oh. Well. Why don't you accompany me tonight, my date got interrupted."
Rui gave Akira an indifferent look before following his friend towards the café near by.
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Tsukushi continued her fast pace, earning her odd looks from the many people walking in the street. But she didn't care, right now; she just had to come clean. Right now, she had to run away. Right now, she had to forget her past.
She reached into her pocket for her handkerchief and couldn't find it. 'Where could it be?'
She shrugged slightly and walked towards a nearby café. Entering the brightly lit café, she sat down in a table near the corner, facing the window.
Rui turned his head around, in the reflection of the window, he saw the girl again. The owner of the handkerchief, the girl who so much resembled his mother.
"Who are you looking for?" Akira asked looking towards the direction of Rui's eyes.
"Nothing."
And so the uneventful night continued with Tsukushi sipping coffee and Akira sharing stories of his many affairs with older women to Rui, who was thinking back to the earlier incident.
Time passed and Rui said his good-bye and left the café, Akira headed towards the club wanting to find some lonely lady who would more than glad to have his company. Tsukushi walked out the door around the corner. Tonight would never end, she just wanted to sleep but she was afraid now. Afraid of the images slumber would bring.
"Oomph."
"I'm sor-"
Rui couldn't believe his eyes. She was the girl form the club and she didn't look anything like his mother. He just thought she did, but her eyes were the vibrant fire he often found glowing in his mother's. Her hair was the same silky dark chestnut brown hair that would brush against his face when his mother rocked him to sleep.
And she smelled like the fresh picked lilac scent that caressed his nose every time his mother hugged him. Every time she was near the smell surrounded the room taking him to another place.
"How come you have my handkerchief?" Tsukushi pointed out when she saw the small white cloth hanging out of his right pocket.
"This is yours?" He decided to play dumb.
"Yes and I would appreciate it if I could have it back." Tsukushi said politely nodding at Rui's pocket.
"Oh right." Rui couldn't believe it, never in his life had he heard himself sound so dumb and shaken. 'This is probably the effect she has on everyone.'
He handed back her handkerchief and before Tsukushi could walk off, he pulled her back,
"What is your name?"
"Excuse me?"
"What is your name?"
Why does he care? He never cared but why did he care now?
"Tsukushi Makino." Tsukushi said quickly before walking away.
"Aren't you going to ask for my name?"
She stopped, turned her head and gave him an arrogant smirk. "No."
"It's Rui Hanazawa."
"Pleasure, I'm sure." She said with a sarcastic roll of the eyes and walked off. Rui could only stare after her with an amused smile.
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"Why are you smiling, Tsukasa?"
"Did I ask for your opinion?"
"No, but I like to give it." Soujirou said with a smile while Akira laughed lightly in the background.
"None of your business." Tsukasa said blushing slightly.
"Uh-uh, not when you have that cute little school girl blush on your face." Akira said leaning closer to Tsukasa as if ready to hear a secret.
"Well….I….there was this….ermm…"
"Damn, just spit it out."
"Did I ask for your opinion?"
"Arrgh…you damn virgins."
Tsukasa blushed brightly at the comment before lunging at Soujirou ready to strike the other boy. That's when Rui walk in with an equally bright glimmer in his usually cold eyes. No one would have noticed this small detail except his friends who was so used to see his cold and indifferent eyes.
"What's up with you, Rui?"
"Yeah, first Tsukasa and now you?"
"I met someone, that's all."
"Oh? When? Who? How? Where? Details man, details." Akira said as he plopped down next to Rui on the leather seat of the five star restaurant. He got slightly distracted when he heard whispers and gasps around the restaurant. His eyebrows shot up when he saw the many waiters running towards the door to greet the newly arrived guests.
"What's going on?"
The F3 just shrugged in reply. The got quite a surprise when they saw who just entered the restaurant, especially Rui and Tsukasa.
'Who would have thought?'
'Tsukushi Makino.'
Tsukushi turned her head towards the more reserved and quiet side of the room and saw the F4 staring intently at her. 'Wow, looks like I got more attention than I was intending to get.'
"She's hot."
"I call dibs."
"No, she isn't your type." Soujirou argued, getting out of his seat.
"Anyone can be my type, it's whether I'm interested or not." Akira shot back before smiling brightly and making way towards where Tsukushi was sitting.
"Excuse me, do you mind if we shit down?" Akira said politely, Soujirou leaning against him smiling seductively.
Tsukushi smiled before getting up and walking to a table just next to the window, opposite of her previous seat. Soujirou raised an eyebrow at Akira who returned the gesture, smiling widely, they both made way towards where Tsukushi was sitting but found themselves beat by Rui.
"Tsukushi Makino, it's a pleasure to see you here." Rui said, sitting down across Tsukushi with Tsukasa following him, scowling.
"I didn't expect to see you here. You either. I guess those two are your friends?" Tsukushi said turning around to look at Soujirou and Akira. She smiled charmingly before picking her purse off the open seat next to her and gesturing for the other F4 to join the trio.
'I wonder how long it will take to kill Tsukasa Doumyouji.' Tsukushi thought as she smiled lightly gesturing for the waiter to take their orders.
This would be a breakfast to remember. A breakfast of the predator and the prey.
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Aiyah. A bad ending to complete a horrible chapter. But please review as always. I'll be looking forward to your reviews. And thank you to my readers as well as my reviewers. I'll try to update as often as possible since I'm going to be on vacation all summer but I doubt I will have time. Please bear with me, I will update whenever I can.