Disclaimer: Why do I really have to do this every time I write a fan fiction? I suppose if I am going to write, they're going to force me to. Well, I don't own these characters. Obviously. Goodnight…
No-name Girl
Chapter 3
Present Day…
Rin crept along the roof, blending into the shadows well; Kagome crept more hesitantly a few feet behind. She cast a sidelong glance at her newest friend here and waited to let her catch up before she climbed down the wooden criss-cross fence. She gestured to it and Kagome went down first. Rin followed very soon after. Then she handed something to the girl and whispered,
"Here. For protection." Kagome felt the object and quite suddenly realized it was a switchblade. "I have one for myself. As long as I'm here, you should keep it. Especially if you'll be coming with me on my nightly adventures." Kagome nodded invisibly and made herself say something in the affirmative when she felt that the girl was waiting. "Come on now; wouldn't want to miss the show." 'Show?' Kagome thought to herself. What show? She didn't remember anything about a show.
Rin led her along multiple pathways to a hidden place in the front yard and pointed to something above them both. "It's starting," she said and Kagome looked up. Above her a comet had streaked only a moment before and others were beginning to travel in its path. "See those? Those are my friends. The only friends I've ever made till I got here. Now you can join them; become a shooting star all by yourself in a group of many."
Kagome scoffed at this logic, but kept it in her mind. She may some day want to use this phrase with her children. It was insightful but it made sense only in the mind of Rin. Well, for a while that's the only mind it would make sense in. "You know," Kagome started, "you're a lot different from most of the people I know. Smarter, deeper. Like you've been here longer. But I'm older than you… how can that be?"
"I've been through some things that you haven't been through. Just like you've been through things I haven't. We're the same and we're different. Polar opposites. But without one, we could not be the other." Rin smiled. She knew Kagome would understand that. Somehow she knew. Kagome looked at the comets streaking by and knew that Rin had not been lying; she was up in those comets with the rest of the girl's friends. And she knew she stood out from the rest through only a slight difference.
100 years ago…
Midoriko and Mamoru walked out into the yard, arm in arm. Midoriko looked around for someone vaguely her age coming toward them and Mamoru looked for anyone too much older coming toward them. Both seeing none of what they were looking out for, the walked along the gardens, stopping every now and then to smell a rose or pluck a daffodil. By the time they had circled around the garden once, each had a bouquet of mixed flowers; daisies, October pinks, pansies, and (obviously) daffodils chief among both.
Soon Mamoru noticed what Midoriko had been looking for. A handsome young man of about 19, maybe 20, walked briskly toward them. He held his hands behind his back in military posture and held his chin raised in a gesture of high society. Dark wisps of hair fell out of their gelled-back placement only because of the summer heat and bounced in small scattered pieces over his forehead. Mamoru brought Midoriko's attention to the man.
"Me-ow… Look at that piece of flesh, Midi," she said whilst yanking her friend's arm a little roughly toward the man. When Midoriko looked up from the rosebush, it took all her self-control to keep from gaping. Who was this gorgeous man and where did he come from? He stood in front of her and bowed lightly, extending his hand.
"May I have a dance with the lady of honor?" He said, a slight Carolina accent tumbling from his lips. Midoriko nodded dumbly and took his hand graciously. He led her toward the cleared area of grass near the band. About halfway through dancing, an older man with a cane walked up, led by Midoriko's mother, and extended his hand. He cleared his throat.
"May I intrude?" He said suavely. He smiled and all teeth showed in between his thin lips. He had a rather English accent and Midoriko accepted only because her mother was there. The young soldier (she had learned that he was in the military whilst dancing with him) went to sit at a table placed conveniently outside for those tiring and watched the dance. Midoriko only knew this because she watched him the entire time. Midi looked down at her feet when the dance was done and curtsied like a good little girl was supposed to. The older man smiled.
"Miss Hashutei, I was just wondering if you would like to attend a ball with me a few nights from now. I would be greatly honored if you would join me." Midi looked into the man's eyes and smiled insincerely. She told him she would have to think about it, but could she please be excused a moment to go refresh herself in the powder room.
Walking into the small mirrored powder room on the bottom floor of the manor, Midi took a deep sigh and spoke. "I don't know what to do," she said to her mirror self, not looking up. "I don't want to marry some old windbag of a duke… But I have a duty to my family… And then there's… that…" she slowed as she looked up into the mirror to see the face of the captain staring back at her. She turned quickly, only to be caught by his handsome and clever charm once again.
"Don't stop on my behalf; please do continue. I find this quite interesting," he said, smirking. He stood and continued, "But if it's advice you're looking for, then I'll offer you some of mine: Don't do something for the sake of your family's name if it pains you. It will only end with everyone getting hurt." He walked over to her, standing close and looking down into her big green eyes. "On the other hand, if you really want to marry someone you love, be careful how you do it. It could cost you more than just your heart to do so."
Suddenly, she felt the light touch of his hand on the small of her back through her dress and jumped. "This could cause a scandal if anyone saw us," she whispered quickly. He leaned down closer, breathing each word on her lips.
"Yes, it could. But what if they don't," he whispered. Then he kissed her.
Present Day…
The next morning, Rin was up bright and early while Kagome stumbled into the dining room for breakfast. Kagome's mother immediately noticed this change from her daughter's usual demeanor and seemed worried.
"Kagome? Are you okay? You look ill," she said, walking over and placing her hand on her daughter's forehead and cheeks. "Hm… No fever… Did you have a nightmare, honey? You look dead tired." Kagome shook her head and immersed herself into the task of eating her Cheerios. Ms. Higurashi cast her daughter one more worried glance and then, "Well… Rin, would you like something to eat for breakfast?" The girl only shook her head and explained.
"I've never been a breakfast eater, Ms. Higurashi. Thanks for offering though." She proceeded to get a glass of milk and downed it in mere seconds, then was gone through some other part of the house. How does she do that? Kagome thought absently. I mean… We were out till God only knows when and she's freaking perky. She played with her milk when she was finished, then poured it into the sink. Letting out a yawn, she walked through the living room to see her brother flipping through the early morning news when a broadcast struck her.
"A family in East Cobb was found murdered today—" Flip. Flip.
"Wait, Sota! Go back, go back, go back!" She wrestled the remote from him and flipped back to catch the end of the broadcast.
"The murderer is still at large, but witnesses say they saw a tall, slim man leave the house around 3 AM this morning— She flipped to another news channel.
"A tragedy that occurred in this small, quiet suburban community in East Cobb this morning. A family of four was found murdered in the early hours by a maid coming in for her shift. A daughter, a son, and their two parents were brutally stabbed and then shot through the head—" Click. Kagome turned to see her mother standing with the universal remote in hand.
"It's too early to be watching that… that type of news. Besides, Rin is still to be treated as part of the family and we're not supposed to let her watch anything about murder." Her mother's face was set and she did not like it. Something about this murder was familiar somehow. She knew Rin had nightmares (she had told her last night) but that didn't seem enough to stop them from watching the news.
"Yes ma'am," Kagome grumbled before finishing getting ready. As she walked upstairs, she spied Rin sitting in an old sewing room. She continued walking past, paying no attention to the girl. When she came back, Rin was still sitting there. "Hey," she said. Rin, startled, looked up. She had been drawing, Kagome noted. "Do you need a ride to school?" Rin nodded dumbly; it was amazing that this had been the very girl who just last night had showed her more wisdom than she could possibly imagine.
The ride to school was quiet except for the music. Rin had brought one of her CDs and popped it in. Something loud and screaming and throbbing had burst out of the speakers. It was like an open wound just healed over; you had to pick and pick at the scab and, because of that, it healed slowly. This music banged inside Kagome's small car and she winced every time they screamed louder. It didn't seem to bother Rin. She was looking calmly out the window.
Kagome turned the knob on the music down and Rin looked over. "So you seem to get along… well… with my mother." She said hesitatingly. Rin didn't say anything. "You're not a charity case, you know. Mom actually thought she wanted another girl to take care of. She probably didn't think she would treat you like she does."
"Personally," Rin said in such a quiet voice it seemed almost a lone cricket's chirping, "I think your mom… needs to chill. She's a bitch to you. And to your grandfather. And she dotes too much on your brother." Then Rin was silent for a moment, thinking. "She wants you to live the life she never got to as a child. That's why she got me, if you think about it. She thought, 'Hey, maybe I'll get lucky and get a daughter who will act how I want her to,' and then applied to be a mother. She didn't think about how few people are like that in foster care. And if they are, they're more messed up than me."
"I… guess she does," Kagome started, stammering. "I think I never noticed. I grew up with it, you know?" Rin nodded wisely as they turned into the school parking lot.
"I know. But sometimes," she said, "it takes some outside insight to shed light on inside problems." Right then, Kagome stopped the car and Rin jumped out, leaving her staring at the steering wheel. She knew the girl was right. And she knew it had to stop. Soon.
A/N: Well, isn't that lovely? I see not many people commented on chapter 1 or 2. Guess it wasn't popular, huh? Oh well. As long as I continue posting, someone's bound to see it and get the message.
