Review replies…
AraelMoonchild: Yep, Mingzashi had a sad past, but Kimiko's is even sadder! Poor thing! I know they are 'blessed' family and all that, but well, no one's perfect!
Purejoy: Hehe, your name suits you! You just gave me PURE JOY! Haha… anyway, thanks for reviewing… HANG ON! You are a new reviewer! WELCOME:P
Ffchick: Hey! You are a NEW reviewer too! WELCOME! I don't really like Mingzashi's character myself. But still, I LOVE all my characters! Thanks for reviewing, here's another chapter!
Draggywriterofalltime: NEW reviewer too! WELCOME! WOW, so many new reviewers! YAY! I'm so happy! Hope you find my story good! Thanks so much! I'm so touched (sniffs), someone pass me a tissue! Thanks! Actually, I like my story unpredictable, hehe. Thanks!
Chapter 24 – Kimiko
"Breakfast!" Tohru called from the kitchen.
Yuki and Kyo arrived at the same time, sending each other death glares as they entered together.
"Stop copying whatever I do, you sneaky rat!" Kyo spat as he sat down beside Tohru.
Yuki just shrugged and began his breakfast.
Kyo was surprised. Usually, a fight will start and they would be at each other's throats seconds before Tohru stops them. But Yuki not only shrugged his remark off, he didn't even reply!
Tohru seemed to notice, "Yuki? Are you…feeling alright? Are you sick?"
Yuki looked up from his food, shook his head and gave a weak smile. "I'm fine."
(Sohma estate)
Knock.
Shimaya put down her book and hurried to open the door, revealing Kimiko. She smiled at her.
"You found you way in, huh? Lucky you didn't get lost," Shimaya said, closing the door. "Does Toyoko know that you are here?"
Kimiko shook her head. "I'll give her a surprise visit. When does school end? I took off a day today…"
"How do I know? I do home-schooling," Shimaya replied, looking at Kimiko curiously. "Why are you so eager to find Yuki?"
"Talk to him."
"Tamasha knows about this?"
"No. I told her I was feeling unwell today and she went to school. But I think she was suspicious though."
The bell rang. School ends. The fan girls are gathered outside Yuki's classroom. Same old routine. Why should to day feel any different? Because Kimiko is paying a visit to him again today.
Only Momiji was bouncing beside him as he left school. The others were staying back for lunch. (I don't know what else to do with the others, so let's say they stayed back, okay?)
"There they are!" Momiji shouted unnecessarily. He heard his name being called before Momiji announced their presence.
"Hi Kimiko. Hi Shimaya," Yuki greeted with a smile.
"Hi!" Both said in unison.
Shimaya turned to Momiji and said, "Let's go back to the Sohma estate. I want tohear you play the violin."
Momiji nodded excitedly and both of them headed off. "You just wanted us out," He whispered.
Shimaya nodded. "But I really wanted to hear you play too. I have NOTHING to do at home, since I stopped schooling. I can't wait to join your school!"
Yuki and Kimiko were left in an awkward silence. Yuki decided to break it.
"Let's go to my house?"
"Okay."
"Or can you tell me now? Shigure might be nosing around."
Kimiko took a deep breath. How did I get myself into this? Yuki told her his past the previous day, wanting to know her past. She never liked her past, wanting to forget it and all.
(Kimiko begins to tell Yuki. It's in flashback, like Ritza's)
Slap. Slap. A even harder SLAP.
"P…please…stop…M…mom…dad…please…stop! PLEASE! MOM! DAD!"
The slaps did not stop. When it did, the whip came. Slash. Slash. Another SLASH.
"Mom…Mom…Dad…Dad…" Kimiko cried out, tears streaming down her cheeks. She was stark naked in a corner of her bedroom. Her bedroom was no more than just an attic. Her body was dripping with blood. Her face was red from the slaps.
Someone punched her in the stomach. She cried out in pain. "Mom! Dad! Please…"
They didn't stop. She was whipped again…
Finally, after an hour, they stopped.
"That'll teach you, you monster," Yen Timika said as she followed her husband out of the door.
They locked her in. She was left alone to clean up her own cuts. She wiped her body clumsily and applied medicine. She then put on a long-sleeved shirt and jeans. Those were the only ones she had. Her parents said to cover up the scars so that Toyoko wouldn't see them. She didn't even know who Toyoko was.
Kimiko looked at herself in the broken mirror. She herself was broken. When she was younger…
Her parents used to bring her to many places. They were always smiling, and looked happy. Kimiko felt that she was the luckiest girl in the world. She felt safe. Until the play ended with a crash.
Her dad moved to hug her. She transformed into a mouse. Her parents stared at their daughter. Their smiling faces turned black. They stared at her animal form. Shen Timika stared at his daughter with absolute disgust on his face.
"Looks like being nice didn't work, Yen," Shen said, looking at his wife. "Time to make more desperate moves."
His wife nodded. "It's time. If being all nice doesn't work, then we'll have to do it the hard way. For our daughter."
Kimiko transformed back. Her nightmare began.
Everyday, she was abused for an hour, and left alone. She didn't go to school; she spent everyday in her room. She did not go out. She could only read books that her mother allows, which was near nothing.
Every night, she was to take off all her clothes stand at a corner to wait for her parents. They would come in with a whip or stones and hit her till she bleeds. Then they'll put out medicine for her to clean herself.
Every month, her father will hug her, and she would transform. Everytime she transformed, disappointment would flash on her parents' faces. Each month, the treatment got worse. It seemed that her parents had lost control. Her mother would shriek with frustration when hitting her, her father would look at her with hatred in his eyes.
She was scared. She hated everything they did, and blamed herself, telling herself that she deserved what she got. But another part of her mind asked, "What did you do to deserve THIS?"
She struggled to survive.
Kimiko stared at her reflection. Suddenly, the door burst open. In came a girl a little older than her. She had dark purple hair, and quite a pretty smile on her face.
"Ah, my mouse had been here all along," She grinned at Kimiko.
Kimiko started to undress automatically. She was stopped half-way.
"What are you doing?"
"Aren't you going to hit me?"
"No, why would I?"
"My parents sometimes hire someone else to hit me with them."
"WHAT! All this time, when I thought you were unborn, you were being ABUSED?"
"I… NO! I wasn't! I deserve what I've got!" Kimiko cried out.
Toyoko caught sight of her cuts and bruises. "Call Yen and Shen in!" She shouted angrily.
Kimiko kneeled down, "Please! Don't scold them! I deserve what I've got! It's my entire fault! Mine!"
She was pushed away. It was useless. But her nightmare stopped.
She lived with Toyoko from then on. Then Tamasha came in, which made everything even more perfect for her. But she missed her parents.
I've updated! I won't do anymore till 2 weeks later! Exams…must study! Review! Please! Thank you!