Yes. It's me… after how long? Heh. Yeah. But I did say that I would continue, didn't I? So here it is.

Set My Love Free

Chapter Two: So Prove It

By: Marlinda

-----

"Who the hell are you and what do you want from me? You're the freak from yesterday, aren't you"

Sana watched as her new master ranted in a tongue she was still trying to figure out. And why was he so angry? She hadn't done anything yet. Or maybe that was exactly why he was angry. He made a wish she didn't grant because she had no idea what we was saying! Oh Kami-sama, no!

"I'm calling the police! Ah, to hell with them! I'll boot you out myself." He reached out a menacing hand towards her, but before he could even touch her, she fell on her knees and touched her forehead to the ground in what she thought looked like an apology. They may not be able to communicate with words- she figured body language was the next best thing.

"What the-" Akito stared down at her, astonished. If she were dangerous… she would've done something while he was asleep. How long has she been in the house? Not knowing what else to do, he scrutinized her clothes, and that's when he noticed she was trembling. She was scared. Maybe she wasn't out to get him after all. Could she be lost? "Where are you from?"

Sana could only shake her head, she didn't want to invoke his wrath again.

"Are you Japanese?" he asked this time, looking at her hair. To his surprise, she looked up.

"Ja… Japanis?"

"You're foreign," Akito concluded. "What the hell are you doing here? It's not the place for stupid lost people." The girl sat up from her downward position, but stayed on the floor. It appeared as if she wasn't listening to him anymore. Instead she kept muttering the same word over and over to herself, searching for something.

Akito closed his eyes and breathed. He walked to his door, opened it and motioned with his hands that she should get going. He was being nice, and he asked himself why. He should've dragged her out by now. He looked at her, exasperated.

"Leave, now! And you should know the way out as you let yourself in! Stupid foreigner."

"Akito. Who the hell are you talking to?" a voice said from his open door.

Akito looked at his sister, annoyed. "Look for yourself, Natsumi. The weird girl with the weird clothes who followed me home like a lost puppy and sneaked into my room."

She leaned in through his door and scanned the room. Then she looked back at her brother, her face blank. "It's too early in the morning for you to be wasting my time."

"What do you mean. Just take a look at her! Someone is in my room-" Akito turned towards the girl. "Who are you and what the fuck are you doing here?"

"Yeah. Mm hm. This is just another one of your dumb games. Are you doing this because I couldn't help you with the cleaning?"

"No!" Akito shook his head violently and looked at the girl, still muttering.

"Jah-pah-nis…"

"You're blind. That's it. How can you not see this freak who keeps talking to herself? In fact, every one around me is blind!" Akito exclaimed, a touch of irritation in his voice.

Natsumi then turned around and walked away. "Dad! He's really gone off the deep end this time!"

Akito slammed the door shut to muffle the sounds of his sister's babble. At the same moment, the girl jumped up, a look of delight on her face.

"Japanese! Oh… I know what this language is! That means I'm in Japan. I'm right, aren't I?"

Stunned, Akito could only stare. She was fluent. And she kept right on talking to herself. "Ah… no wonder it took me so long- I've been here only once, and that was years ago!"

"So you are foreign." Akito shook his head, his shock slowly fading. "Wait, now you can tell me why they hell you're here!"

"Of course, Master."

"Master?"

She took a deep bow. "My name is Sana, and I'm here to grant you your wishes!"

Akito rubbed his temples hard. His head had started to spin. "What…"

"Let's start! First wish?"

Deep breath, he told himself. One big, deep breath. "Don't tell me. You're a Genie."

"Like you didn't know!" She laughed. "Of course I am! Now what's your first wish?" She watched as Master lowered himself onto his bed and sneered.

"Maybe I am going crazy. Maybe, just maybe, if I ignore this thing, it'll go away."

And so he got up and walked out of his room. He didn't dare look behind him to see if she was following. She wasn't real, so she wouldn't be there. That's what he kept telling himself as he made his way into the kitchen.

His sister and father were already seated and eating. "So, brother. Are you awake now? Or should I go call a shrink? You haven't even showered yet."

"Shut up." He took a seat and reached for the toast when out of the corner of his eye, he saw the girl examining the stove with wonder. They hadn't asked about her yet.. Then he remembered- she didn't exist. "I didn't see that," he muttered to himself.

"Didn't see what?" his father asked. Akito could only shake his head.

Natsumi leaned in closer towards her dad. "See? I told you. He's being really weird. He might not be safe."

Meanwhile, Sana was now standing in front of the fridge, marveling at the magnets scattered on the door's surface. "Does this lead to another realm?" she wondered aloud.

"I didn't hear that," Akito said, a little louder this time. Natsumi gave her dad a meaningful look.

"I wonder, how long have I been sealed? Master, what year is it?"

"Go away! Get lost! No one wants you here!"

Now concerned, his father put back down the fork he held and frowned. "Now, Akito. That's no way to talk to your sister."

"I'm not talking to her!"

"Then who-"

"I'm talking to the girl who's in our kitchen!" With that he stood up and stomped out of the room. Why couldn't they see her? Were they in on it, too?

Back in his room, he rounded on her, eyes shining with fury. Sana couldn't help but to take a step back, though ruling told her to stay put.

"Whatever you're up to, quit it. I don't like people who play games." Sana found his flooring fascinating and chose to look down as she spoke.

"This isn't a game. They can't see me- you're the only one who can. It's to protect you from other power-hungry people who would do anything- even kill you for the wishes I can grant. "

"So, because you're here, people will now want me dead?" Sana nodded. "Then leave already! You've done nothing but aggravate me. You are UNWANTED. That's the last time I will ask. "

"I can't. I must first grant you-"

"Three wishes right? You're still going on with that crap? And you expect me to believe you?"

Here, Sana raised her head and looked him straight in the eye. "I've no reason to lie to you."

"Okay. Prove it. Prove that you're a Genie. If you can't, then go away. " Akito smirked and turned his back on her. When he turned around, she was gone, he breathed a sigh of relief. Had he once again just looked up, he would have seen her hovering above and behind him.

He didn't. Sana only noticed how happy he looked. Maybe he didn't really know about Genies? Was that possible? How much did the world change while she was asleep?

Akito went on with his morning chores before heading out. Sana took careful pains to follow at a distance so as to not alert him. But he wasn't looking over his shoulder every few seconds like he was yesterday, so it wasn't too hard.

He was taking a short cut through the park on the way to Tsuyoshi's house, when he heard her.

"Ehhh… What's that?" Sana was marveling at a kid who was blowing bubbles. There were so many new things on earth!

Akito slowly turned around to confront her. Only thing is, her whole body was levitating three feet off the ground. "You're floating!" he exclaimed, as he pointed to Sana.

Another kid passing by, sneered, "That's cuz, bubbles float, stupid." Akito wasn't paying attention to him.

Sana slowly let herself down. "Now will you believe, me, Master? This isn't a joke."