(Nakeisha)
I touched the soft, pink flower petal. Yes, my plants were still healthy, even after I hadn't seen them all summer. At least the neighbors kept up their end of the bargain and took care of my plants while my family visited our native country of America.
Had I missed New York? Yes, and no. I loved my plants, but I loved no one in that city. I loved my art, all the beautiful, ornate flowers I'd painted on my ceiling, but I loved no one in Japan, except my parents. I'd almost filled my ceiling with flowers, Japanese characters, and various other birds and garden items. I'd started on a wall, but hadn't touched it since I went away.
I set my plant down and decided now might be a good time to paint. I grabbed a brush, starting the vine I'd left undone. It was a darker green than my other flowers. Maybe it'd wind its way around the slim branch of a tree. Or maybe I'd just hang there, like off a wall, bright buds sprinkled along its stem.
I heard the door open a shut a couple times, but paid no attention to it, deciding the vine would bear flowers, bright pink ones, and that it would wind along a tree branch of a beautiful cherry tree, not blooming, but thick and green as in the summer.
I worked incessantly, perfecting every inch of my vine. It would be a true work of art, a beautiful piece of a splendid mural. Maybe no one would ever see it, but it would be splendid, and when it was done, I'd take pictures. I rarely painted anything for myself, but my room was my room.
A pounding ran through my body. I felt it rather than heard the obnoxious noise. I felt my face grow hot, but not because I blushed. I clenched my fists, throwing down my brush. I pursed my lips, opening my door, walking to the top of the steps. I scowled, disdaining all the people that sat in the living room below me.
"Sean, why did you have them all over?" I spat, looking down on the four people seated around the television.
"Cause, I haven't seen my friends all summer, and mom and dad aren't home," Sean smirked at me, but then he, too, scowled. "I thought you took your annoying crap and went with them."
I locked eyes with my pompous brother. We both had the same chocolate eyes, hair, and skin, but that didn't mean a damn thing. He sat on the couch beside Bahkura, the egotistic idiot with buzz cut hair my brother liked to align himself with. Beside the bulky Bahkura sat a skinny slut, who I'd never seen before. "I see you've invited over Bahkura's latest skank. Where's the ogre, Kento? I'm surprised he's not in our house, stuffing his face, too."
"Nakeisha, could you just leave my friends alone for once?" Sean whined as he chugged his soda.
"My, who made you the judge?" On the chair, the most loathsome of the four, sat Kaede, her shiny hair pulled up in chopsticks. She wore green eye shadow, which looked fine on her, of course. Her whorish beige beater showed too much of her breasts. Her skimpy navy skirt showed the piece of floss she called underwear when she crossed her legs.
"At least I don't have to paint my skin every morning to put on my personality," I gave a quick, false smile. Kaede grinned, shaking her head.
"Sean, your freshman sister has a bad attitude," Kaede remarked calmly. "You're lucky I even talked to you at all when you first came to Japan."
"And then you met holy Sean." I spat. She and I had been acquaintances because we'd had the same art class. The day she met Sean, and introduced him to her less than desirable friends, my remote liking of her ended.
"Listen, sis, just go away," Sean groaned. I walked down the stairs, and before any of them quite knew what I was doing, I'd opened up the CD drive. I took out whatever crappy rap music they were playing, and snapped the disk. A couple silver slivers shot away as the disk broke into three larger pieces.
"What the . . ." Bahkura hollered as he ran over to me. He shoved me down, but I dodged his punch. I reached for anything to hit him with realizing neither Kaede or the slut had gotten up or said anything to stop him.
"Stop it, man! My parents are gonna kill us!" Sean started to tackle Bahkura, so he wouldn't continue to provoke me.
I found a telephone, however, and whacked Bahkura across the face with it. He roared, breaking away from Sean, crashing across my living room. I punched his face, but screamed as he slammed his fish into my stomach.
"STOP IT!" I blinked away the dizzying pain as Sean calmed down Bahkura. The slut came over, whispering something in Bahkura's ear. He flashed a feral snarl at me, but I stood there, gazing defiantly at him.
"That CD was mine," he growled. "You little bitch, if . . ."
"What?" I replied, looking up at Sean. "You invited them over when no one was home, idiot. It's your fault."
"Yeah, really? You just helped trash the house," Sean and I began to squabble.
"Hmm, but you four could have been fingering each other. Hmm, Sean?" I used a sugary sweet voice. I suggested a plausible story to tell our parents. His eyes widened, and I got ready for either guy to rush me.
"Let's solve this problem." Kaede got up out the chair. She walked over towards me, grabbing my wrists. I struggled against her, kicking her and grabbing at her hair. She was several inches taller than I was, but I still held my own.
That's when Bahkura came over and helped her hold me down. I screamed, hollering at the top of my lungs. "Open the door," Kaede ordered calmly. I quite yelling, and started to curse the four of them out. Sean obeyed, and then threw me onto the sidewalk. I wasn't quick enough to get up before they slammed the door.
"Let me in!" I screamed, knowing it did absolutely not good. I kicked the door, realizing nothing would be of use. I didn't have a key, and there was no way I could find one. I grumbled, turning away from my own house.
Where would I go? I didn't know. I'd definitely find a place where Sean wouldn't look. I'd play hide and seek with him, hiding so he couldn't find me. I grinned devilishly at the thought of him being out looking for me at my parent's frantic orders.
I found my wallet, looked innocently at my hundred yen, and waltzed down the street. I stood at the local bus stop, not minding the slightly overcast, but warm day. I boarded the bus, riding around Toyoma until I came to the opposite side of town. I paid my fare, strolling up the streets.
"Idiot Sean," I muttered in English. "I'll teach him for bringing those morons home."
I walked past the local McDonalds, deciding I'd eaten enough fast food in New York. Instead, how about an unfamiliar sushi parlor?
I walked in, grabbed some egg rolls and rice, and sat down, far away from the windows. I began to eat, deciding the food wasn't the best. Still, I found the stomach to eat, just thinking about those idiots.
If Rei Faun had been there, I'd have flipped all of them the finger several times more. My most lasting memory of Kento came fondly to my mind. He'd come over to our house for the first time last year. Not only did he eat a whole pizza, two bags of chips, and drink six sodas, but also he glamorously poked around in my room with Bahkura.
'Wow, that's a cool flower thing.' I didn't get the scream out before he'd dropped my ceramic hibiscus lamp. No apology mended the mistrust and bitterness I harbored towards him. Whenever he came around, things always seemed to get worse.
I stared down at my empty plate. Wow, thinking about Kento really did bring back my appetite. Anger was the answer to every loss of appetite. I threw away my garbage, heading back down the street.
I peered in windows, at beautifully decorated manikins. No, I couldn't bring myself to buy a lot of designer clothes. Cheap Target and Wal Mart T-shirts, jeans, and accessories worked for me.
I turned the corner, grinning as I came upon a bookstore. I'd never been to this one, mostly because I never came to this side of Toyoma. I strolled in, a bounce in my step. I browsed along the shelves out front, filled with best sellers. Then, I headed towards the other shelves, combing each of them, trying to see if anything particular caught my eye.
I paused, looking into the New Age and Religion section. I turned, walking down the row. I peered at sacred books for every type of culture and religion. Several versions of the Christian Bible sat beside the Book of Mormon and the Teachings of Buddha. I looked up, seeing another girl in the isle.
I peered under her hands, seeing a book called Sorcery: The Belief behind the Myth. She held another book in her arm, called Charms. I took a second look at the anorexic looking girl. Her gray skirt and soft, cream sweater hung off her thin shoulders. Her mouse brown hair hung limply to her mid-back, covering her face as she bent over to read.
"What's it about?" My voice was calm, remotely friendly, but she seemed to jump out of her skin any ways.
"What?" Her hazel eyes gazed down at me. She was about five seven, and her long, oval face matched her features. "This? It's just something I'm researching."
"Really?" I knew she was lying, almost instinctively. "School isn't in, yet."
"Well, it's a little side hobby I read about." She stammered, a blush coming over her monotone cheeks.
"You don't practice?"
"No,
I just read," her lips came up in an attempted smile. She stuffed
the book back on the shelf, taking the other one with her. She
turned, walking past me, out of the isle. I considered following
her, but decided against it.
I continued to the fiction section, used to having this type of effect on people. It kept me less popular than Sean, by far, but at least people didn't bug me. It's not like I didn't talk to people. I talked to that girl, tried to be friendly, but oh well.
I thought long and hard about what book I wanted to buy. I could rent a book and do it for a book report. I needed all my yen to get farther out of my family's reach today. I exited the store, and looked up at the clouds. The sun broke through on the horizon just as it began to set.
I watched at the sky that showed tinted orange and yellow. Above the beautiful spectacle hung ominous clouds of night. So funny, how sometimes the sun never came out until it was ready to go. I walked a couple blocks, sliding into a café. I ordered some tea, sitting by myself and sipping it down.
I stared deftly out the little window as the sun sank down completely. The daylight hours were over, and night would come. I didn't want to roam this side of Toyoma at night, though. This side was notorious for more criminal activity. Toyoma Central High lay on this side, and most of the city dwellers attended there. On my side of town, everyone in the suburbs and surround areas went to Han'A High.
I would need a room, but I knew I didn't have enough yen to get a room I'd feel safe at. My mind blanked as I thought of where to head for the night.
I knew no one on this side of town.
I stood up, walking out the door all the same. I continued down the streets, determined to take on anyone that harassed me. It wasn't something I wanted, but if it happened, it happened. A group of guys, about high school age, passed me. They wore leather, had piercings, and dyed hair. I looked sideways at them, passing without a remark.
"Hey babe, want to get lucky?" One of them joked. "I've never done it with a black girl before."
"Not for sale," I spat, walking faster. I heard them laugh, because I knew I wasn't very attractive. Whatever attractiveness I might have, I offset with my tomboy looks and argumentative personality.
I scowled, realizing I'd walked from a decent street into a crappy looking side alley. I almost broke into a run, wanting out of this place. I walked with a more determined step, turning the corner, realizing I was in a slum. I groaned, knowing I'd gotten lost in an infamous labyrinth of alleyways and dead ends.
"Don't think about it," I spun around, facing a very tall guy with shaggy blue hair. I was wary of all these punks, but not terrified of them.
"You're lost," he laughed, smirking at me. I scowled, but nothing of my fierceness seemed to even rouse emotion in him. "Want out?"
"What, if I'll sleep with you?" I looked up at him, cursing myself for being so short.
"A feminist," he looked pleadingly at the sky. I thought about retaliating, but held myself in check. "No, just come on, or else you'll run into someone who does want to sleep with you."
"I guess a big, bad man like yourself will tell me about all the dangerous boogey men in Toyoma?" My face burnt with anger at the reactions that he gave me. He wasn't upset, but he acted like the manly protector.
"You're talking too loud." He sighed, leading me down a serious of alleys.
"Listen, thanks for the help, but I don't need a manly guardian." I refused to tone down my voice. He shot a slightly irritated stare at me as we passed some less than favorable people on a more crowded side street.
"I lived here for a while, okay? You have to know how to live smart," he bent his head upwards again, gazing at the cloudy sky. I saw the light on the street, as a bustle of people moved past the entrance to the little alley where he'd taken me. "This is the exit."
"Thanks," I nodded, feeling relieved. He looked at me, shaking his head with amusement. "What, are you going to make some slur against me, or tell me to be careful?"
"No," he chuckled, walking the opposite direction down the street. I let him go, turning away, realizing I'd been on this street once or twice. I turned the bend, recognizing a street that I'd shopped on more than once.
"Nakeisha!" I heard a loud voice call my name. I froze, watching Sean and Kaede catch up to me. Sean raced back down the street, while Kaede looked down at me. Her perfected features looked perturbed, and she had a stain on her skirt. I smiled, deciding I was satisfied with my work.
"Fancy meeting you," I poured on the sarcastic sugar. She gave me a bored look. Her hair was down, framing her face.
"Listen, I don't care what attitude you're going to cop, but I don't give A. Damn." She locked my eyes, refusing to blink, or turn away from me.
"You're dirty and irritated, and I'm pleased," I crossed my arms. She gazed down at me, her dark eyes holding bitter malice, but no rash anger. Then, a breeze blew her hair, and she looked surreal. I felt my tongue freeze for a second, slightly more wary of her.
"You caused Sean a great deal of grief. You caused your parents a great deal of grief. You call me the drama queen and a whore? I'd rethink your own position to judge people." She paused, took a sigh, and snapped her stony gaze back to me.
"You are a spoiled, insolent brat." Kaede spoke in a level, steady tone. With that, she turned motioning Sean and my parents over. They looked irritated beyond belief. My father was sweating tremendously, and my mother had a large stain on her shirt, too.
"You are grounded," my mother whispered as she led me back to the car. I sat between Sean and Kaede, both quiet and exhausted. They dropped Kaede off, and we proceeded home. Once we'd entered the door, I began my case.
"Sean invited his friends over. They were doing stuff in the living room, and . . ."
"I don't care if they'd called in the police," my father turned on me in a rage. "I don't care if they'd had a drunken sex orgy in my bedroom! NEVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I BEEN THIS WORRIED!"
"It's not my fault!" I shouted back. "Bahkura beat me up, and threw me out of the house"
"IT IS MOST CERTAINLY YOUR FAULT!" My father grabbed me by the wrists, leading me up the stairs. "You aggravated your brother and his friends! You ran away, and God knows what could have happened to you! YOU'RE GROUNDED!"
"YOU ALWAYS TAKE SEAN'S DAMN SIDE!" I screamed, running into my room, slamming my door. I screamed into my pillow until I thought I'd suffocate. I stood up, pounding my fists into my headboard.
"Stupid Sean," I cursed. "Stupid Kaede."
I grabbed a lump of clay, and began molding. I raked tools and fingers across the front, creating the shape of a head. Then, I cut the long, scraggly hair, mistreated and abused for years. I smoothed down the face, jamming in the left eye socket. I carved the thin lips, pointed chin, and right eye. I worked, putting all my frustration into this bust.
I stopped, catching my breath. I turned towards the other side of the room, letting my sweating body cool down. I turned back to look at what exactly I'd done.
I gasped.
The face looked terribly melancholy. The left eye was defected, sunken in, but the right locked its gaze into my soul. I gasped. He looked real, as if he stared at me, begging me to feel his deep thoughts and endless pain.
He looked abused, like he'd wandered the earth and fought in many wars. Maybe he'd lost many loved ones, and in the process, he'd become tainted. I took the bust, placing it under towels and in my closet, knowing I'd look at it again the morning.
I lay down, the face haunting my thoughts. I felt touched by something supernatural and I thought of the witch.
A/N: this is taking forever. Thanks for the suggestions to correct the first chapter. I'll get to that and re-post it. Tell me what you think. Thanks as always to my reviewers, MorganRay.