Haruko…

Haruko… Can you hear me?

Haruko… Oh Kami-sama, how I wish to see you, my dear, beautiful, lovely, cheerful little sister, but oh cruel fate has separated us, separated us so that I know not if you can hear me. Your death would have been mercy, dear Haruko, for I would know that you wouldn't be able to hear me, but this isn't anything like that.

Sweet Haruko, forgive me. You and I both know the truth that surrounds your imprisonment. Our separation was my entire fault, and this torture I feel when I try to speak with you is inflicted solely by me.

It's hard to smile now, but we both must try, and, if you can hear me, remember that I will find a way to free you. Please don't lose faith in me.

I remember that day, only a few weeks after the final snow had gone, that day, you, the child of spring was born, Haruko. That day was the first time my eyes saw you, the first time my hands held you. Back then, I wasn't happy that you were alive, I confess. Our parents seemed only to care for you while I was pushed into the background of their lives.

I was ten years your senior and after a few years, I began to cherish you, sweet Haruko.

Remember your fourth birthday? You were wearing that sundress mother had made for you. Remember? It was the yellow one with flowers lining the bottom, the one with that butterfly. You were young then and I have doubts whether you truly remember or not…

Haruko…

Don't lose faith… I will free you and we can be together once more, in this world or the next!

-

Bad Ass Girl
by: Jineka

Hey! Here the latest chapter. For those that are confused as to why the beginning was so strange, here's the deal. I was rereading the chapter I had previously written and I couldn't help but feel that Hiei and Hitomi's relationship was going way too fast. So, in order to slow things down a bit, that chapter needs to be rewritten a bit.

This chapter will explain the "IT" that was ripping at the barrier, the antagonist of the story, blah blah blah.

Also, to those of you anticipating and/or wanting and/or needing a sickening sweet chapter, myself included, I'm really sorry, but it's been one chapter delayed.

Sorry!! (Don't flame me for this, thank me because it'll mean a longer chapter next time I swear!!)

Btw, THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED!! It's always fun to receive reviews and fun to know that some people are actually reading… To Yahaku-kan: smile

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Chapter 7 Akiko

27 years ago

A teenage boy, 14 years old, or maybe even 15 years old was sitting with a young girl around 5 years old. They were inside a small house, watching the rain pour through a large bedroom window.

"I don't know why you like the rain so much, Akiko, isn't kind of depressing when the sun isn't shining. It's also kind of cold…" The young girl said.

The boy smiled and stood up and walked to the bed and grabbed the blanket before tossing it to the girl. "Here, underneath a blanket is nice and warm." He sat back down next to the young girl.

"Thanks Akiko, but even though it's not cold anymore, it's still gray and sad," the girl was watching the rain with a curiosity only small children could have.

"Haruko, remember that day you fell down and your knee started to bleed?" the boy, Akiko asked gently.

"Yeah, my knee was all bloody and mommy wouldn't let me go into the brook to play that day. I really, really wanted to go into the water, but mommy said I would get infected," Haruko looked up at the Akiko.

"Remember how you started to cry because you said it hurt?" Akiko inquired further.

"It hurt, so why shouldn't I cry?" Haruko retorted as if Akiko was being mean to her.

"Calm down, that's not what I meant. See the rain? It's like Heaven is crying. Remember how after you cried, you said you felt much better and wanted to keep playing?"

Haruko nodded slowly, "So, do you think Heaven is hurt?"

"Maybe, but I feel that when it rains, Heaven is healing. And also, remember that day we went to the big oak tree and found that someone had painted a ugly face and wrote 'Stupid' on it? Well, remember it rained later that day and the paint had come off."

"The rain was washing the world clean," Haruko said, "Right?"

"That what I believe," Akiko smiled down at Haruko, "That's why I like the rain."

Haruko looked down in thought before looking back into the face of Akiko, "You're the smartest person I know! Akiko, I want to be just like you!"

"Don't flatter me, Haruko, I'm not as smart as I may seem. There's much I don't understand and there's much I don't know."

"It's not flattery! Akiko is smart because he wants to understand, because he tries! It doesn't matter if you don't know everything! Nobody knows everything except Kami-sama, and I feel sorry for Kami-sama because it's much more fun when you learn things slowly, that way, when you finally get something right, it feels like such a big accomplishment and accomplishing something makes you really happy," Haruko ended her speech with a small sigh, "Akiko is such a great person. I don't know if I can be like you."

"You are truly wiser than your years, dear little sister. You are very smart and very clever. You know what? I want to be like you," Akiko smiled down at Haruko, "Haruko is a really great person."

Haruko smiled happily. The siblings turned their attention toward the rain again. It seemed to be raining harder and harder. "When do you think the rain will stop? I know you like the rain, but I like the sun, that way we can go down to the brook and play in the water!"

"I want to go down to the brook too, but it looks like the rain won't be stopping for a couple of days, maybe."

A couple dayslater

"Where's daddy? What happened mommy?" Haruko asked.

Their mother was a lady in her mid-thirties. She had the same round face as Haruko and the same light colored eyes as Akiko. Her hair was a complete mess and her eyes were puffy and red.

"Ha-Haruko is so stu-stupid," their mother sobbed, her words choppy and detached, "I've told you the st-story how many times?!"

Akiko countenance was concerned, "Please, mother, don't yell at Haruko." His voice cracked slightly, "Father wouldn't have wished it."

But his words had no effect on the woman. She began to yell at the young girl, "You stupid, damned girl! It's your fault, daddy's never coming back. He's dead! And it's your fault!! Stupid, stupid girl! Damn it, I hate you!"

Haruko looked at her mother in fear and withdrew behind Akiko's legs. "I told you to stop yelling at Haruko!" Akiko spit at the woman, "What mother yells at her five year old daughter when she has committed no crime?! How dare you say that this was Haruko's fault! Do you not think she is affected by his death?!"

He was trying hard to calm down, succeeding slightly. He brought his voice back down to a normal volume, "Come on Haruko. Let's go back up to my room."

The girl nodded eyes wide with fear. She followed her brother up the staircase and into his bedroom. She started to cry when Akiko had closed the door. "What's going on? Where's daddy?"

Akiko picked Haruko up and sat her onto the bed. "Listen to me Haruko! Be strong and try to stop the tears from coming!"

"I-I can't!" she said sobbing harder and harder, "Wh-Why was mom-mommy yelling at me?"

Akiko didn't answer and instead hugged his sister, comforting her.

57 minutes later

"Is daddy really gone?" Haruko asked quietly.

"Yes, he's gone."

"Why?"

Akiko sighed before answering, "The rain killed him. He drowned in the brook when the road he was walking on washed out beneath him."

"Why?"

Akiko looked down at the girl, "Why what?"

"Why would the rain do something like that? I thought you said the rain was good," Haruko's face was contorted with confusion. She wasn't able to understand what had happened.

"I'm sorry Haruko, but the rain isn't something that is controlled by me, and whether the rain is good or bad, Kami-sama decides. Don't lose faith in Heaven though; Kami-sama has His reasons."

"What reasons could justify killing?" Haruko asked.

Akiko pause before replying. "I don't know."

"Why was mommy yelling at me?"

"She's just sad that father is gone. She loved him more than life itself."

"Doesn't she love me too?" Haruko asked. Her face seemed calm, but her eyes were extremely troubled.

"I thought she did, but now," Akiko paused, "I really don't know anymore."

Haruko looked down, "Is it my fault daddy is gone?"

"No." The answer came quickly and Akiko's voice rose in volume, "Don't you ever believe that his death was your fault. It was nobody's fault!" Akiko calmed himself down, "I'm sorry for raising my voice."

"What's going to happen now?" Haruko kept her face down.

"I don't know, Haruko, I really don't know, but remember this, I'll be here with you," Akiko lifted Haruko's face up and their eyes met, "Always."

Two years later

Akiko's mother slapped him across his face. "Don't you use that tone with me!"

Akiko winced slightly, his hand moved up to feel his cheek, "Ok." Haruko was watching silently, she looked at Akiko and then to her mother.

"What're you looking at, brat?" Their mother snapped at Haruko.

Haruko didn't even wince, "Nothing… mother."

"That's what I thought. Stop watching me!"

Haruko didn't look away, "Can Akiko and I go outside." Their mother opened her mouth to say something, but Haruko cut her off, "We could do the laundry at the brook, that way you don't need to draw water to wash them."

"Fine, but I expect all of it to be done by this afternoon, got it?"

"Yes mother." She watched her mother leave the room before turning to face Akiko, "I'll get the laundry and then we can go to the brook."

Akiko stood silently. Haruko watched with a worried face, "Excuse me." She exited the room. One hand was on his cheek, the other clenched into a fist.

Haruko reentered the room with a basket of clothes. "Ok, let's go." Akiko slowly let his fist unclench and nodded.

"Here, that looks heavy, let me carry it for you," Akiko took the basket from Haruko, "Ok, I'm ready."

The two went down to the brook. It was about a ten minute walk and the whole time, nobody spoke a word. The birds' chirping and singing seemed so out of place then, but the birds continued their song.

"Haruko, what would you say if I suggested that we leave home."

Haruko turned an inquisitive gaze toward her brother, "Run away?"

Akiko nodded, "Yeah…"

Haruko looked away in silence and then grabbed a garment from the basket and begun to wash it in the brook's clear water, "I don't know. We have no money; we wouldn't be able to feed ourselves."

"She may provide food and shelter, but I can't stand her abuse any longer." Akiko removed his shirt and reached into his pocket. He brought out a small white jar, "Haruko, can you help me with this?"

Haruko sighed, wincing slightly as her eyes fell on her brother's back. Various cuts and scars ran across his back, some already two years old. She took the small jar from his hand and removed a small bit of the goop and rubbed it onto his back.

Akiko sighed, "It must be torture for you to see those wounds, I'm sorry I can't do it myself."

"No, I'm glad to be of help. You help me so much, this is nothing compared to what you do."

Akiko smiled slightly, "You have become strong, Haruko, probably stronger than me, I feel that I am weakening."

Haruko frowned at that and stayed silent for a while. She put the lid back onto the jar and handed it to Akiko, "You are right. We need to get away."

Akiko stiffened, "You do think I'm getting weaker don't you? I wished that you would say that I wasn't."

"We need to get away from here," Haruko said again avoiding her brother's face. "You are the only one that can think of how this can be done," she added softly.

"Thanks." Akiko pocketed the jar and put his shirt back on. "The closet town is only half an hour away, but it is such a small one. Mother would be able to find us easily. We need to get out of here and the only way I see is by train, but the train stops only in the bigger cities. It might take days to get to one and that's assuming we somehow get directions."

Haruko seemed to think it over, "From what you just said, our best bet is first going to the village and then getting directions from someone and then going to the city. What do you think?"

Akiko seemed hesitant to answer, "I do want to get away, but it might be dangerous for you. You are only seven years old…"

Haruko whacked him playfully, "Whatever you can do, so can I. We can do this, besides, what I'm really afraid of is…" she paused, "Please don't think I'm selfish for saying this. I'm scared that mother might start to beat me the way she beats you."

"Don't worry; if I were you, I'd be afraid of that too. You're right; it's too late to get cold feet, we need to get out of here."

"Let's go now, it's bright out and since it's the rainy season, we need to go when the sun is out."

"We can't go from here though, we need to go back home to get some food and water and some clothes," Akiko said, "Did you not think of that?"

Haruko laughed, "I guess I'm getting a bit excited is all."

2 weeks later

"Are you feeling better Haruko?" Akiko asked gently. Haruko was lying on a bundle of clothing. She coughed.

"Don't worry about it Akiko, it's just a little cold." She started to cough.

Akiko face showed signs of doubt and worry. "The rain has betrayed us again."

Haruko stopped coughing, "Don't say that. It was my fault I didn't wear a jacket over my sweater."

"I don't know how far we are from the city, but we can't go if you're sick. Maybe we should go back."

Haruko shook her head, "No, we can't go back. Mother would be furious, you might end up dead and I am too scared to face her."

Akiko sighed. Haruko smiled, "Don't worry, remember the farmer that gave us directions? He said that when the mountain's shadow reached you in the morning, then you are close. We are getting close."

Akiko sighed again, "But it has been raining. The sun hasn't come out; you don't know if we're close or not."

Haruko coughed and swallowed, "But it's better to think positive, you said so yourself Akiko." She turned her head, "Akiko? Look at that. What is that?" She sat up and continued to stare.

Akiko turned to look at the thing Haruko was staring at. It was a tunnel of some sort, but instead of it being black like a tunnel in a cave was supposed to be, it was purple, black, and gray colored and the colors seemed to swirl around.

"What is that?"

Suddenly the hole got bigger and some ugly creatures crawled through. "Akiko! They're demons!" Haruko stood up, eyes wide with curiosity and fear.

The creatures turned their eyes unto the two siblings and its eyes went red.

3 days later

"How can we free her?" Akiko asked. His question was aimed at a woman. She had short orange-ish brown hair. She wore a headband and half her face was covered. She was one of the three demons lords, Mukuro.

"I don't know if we can, but there is something that can free her," Mukuro replied, "I realize that you love her dearly, but my power is limited and there is nothing I can do directly to help you."

Akiko was looking at a large boulder with chains wrapped around it. "What can free her soul?"

Mukuro watched the boy with a spark of interest, "I will tell you, but first I want to ask how you survived so long here."

"I promised her that I would be there for her, always."

"A human is the key to freeing her, but not just any. Every millennium, a human is born with a power that can call souls."

Akiko listened, eyes still glued on the rock, "A human with the power to call Haruko's soul."

"Yes, the power is that part of their soul is detachable. It can then call other souls to it. That is the power that would be able to free your sister, but there is another catch."

"Another catch…?" He echoed. His voice was tired and had a melancholy edge to it.

"Your sister's body is missing and missing bodies are out of our reach. If her soul were to be free, it would have no body to go into unless you get a host body."

"If her soul were free, would she be able to pass into the other world?"

Mukuro looked surprised for a second, "What?"

Akiko repeated his question, "Would Haruko be able to rest in peace if her soul were free?"

"Yes, she would be able to pass to the otherworld, but I thought you wished to see her again." Mukuro seemed to understand the boy's thoughts, but opted for a confirmation.

"I do, but she wouldn't like it if I put her into another's body. If I free her, I will die and be able to see her in the next world. We can be together then."

Mukuro smiled, "Your love is undying and I respect that, and I envy the girl for having a brother such as yourself." Mukuro's face became serious again, "But the chances of finding a human with that power fast are slim to none. I will extend your life until one such human is living. As for the time until then, do as you wish."

"How will I obtain the power when this human is alive?"

"And as for obtaining the power, remember that the human first needs release a bit of the power on his own, meaning something dear to him must be lost, a cat or dog perhaps. He will then release a bit of that power unknowingly to try to save the cat or dog, but don't try to kill something this person loves, because then the person would release the power to save it and the power would be gone. You would then be left to wait many years again. Do you understand?"

"Is trying to free Haruko's soul justification for killing?" Akiko asked, "Haruko once asked me 'what reasons could justify killing?' and I was unable to answer."

Mukuro was once again surprised, but she smiled and replied, "A few sacrifices are needed for everything. Your reasons are noble and based on love and not hate. Killing a few is justifiable by your reasons."

"I understand."

-

That was really, really long. And since I wrote it, I don't think it was that bad, but if it was a bit boring, SORRY!

This is my 9th page! That's, like, double the length of the past chapters! Wouldn't it be great if all my chapters could be this long…

One minute. Is that too much to ask? R&R!