Whilst The Sakura Blossom Blooms

Chapter Four

She didn't understand. What had she done to offend him? She'd lay there on her bed in a new, unfamiliar room and questioned herself. She lied there, her legs scrunched up against her chest, kept there by her trembling arms. She stared at the wall across from her, eyes wide and fearful. She drew breath in short, sharp intakes. She was trembling all over, the side of her head hurt, the spot where he pulled her hair. She felt beads of sweat on her forehead. It was nearly evening, she had been laying there for a while, but she was frightened. She was afraid to leave her room, afraid of him. Kayl feared that if she left the room, he would hurt her far worse than he already had. Her arms were bruised where he held her down and her headache was fading slowly. She breathed in and out, trying to calm her racing heart. She finally sighed as she calmed down the slightest bit.

There is nothing you can do for them..

The words stung, in which way she couldn't decide. It's not like she wanted to help, but if she had to she would. Kayl's arms relaxed as she let her legs straighten out. She rolled over into a more comfortable position on her stomach, gazing out onto the porch where she left the door open. One arm hung over the side of her bed as the other stuffed itself under the pillow. Her eyelids became heavy.

Why did he bring me here if he didn't believe I could help? She pondered this the moments before she fell into a peaceful sleep.

"Chito-kun? What could Ren-sama and Dragon-kun be talking about?"

"I dunno...and don't call that woman 'sama', she is of no importance."

"Ok Chito-kun!"

Two children about thirteen years old sat out on the porch. It looked to be about mid-fall, the sky was cloudy and grey. One child's legs couldn't reach the ground as she hung her legs over the side and swung them about. She had long, jet-black hair and large dark blue eyes. Her skin was a snow white, she wore a light blue kimono with matching sandals. The other child, who appeared to be male, was shadowed, his features were unidentifiable. He sat next to her as she started to sing a soft lullaby.

"Kayl-chan?" the boy identified as 'Chito' asked. She looked up at him, smiling happily.

"Yes Chito-kun?" He gazed down at her.

"You'll...always be here right?" asked Chito. She giggled.

"Of course I'll always be here Chito!" she sighed. "I'm not going back to the place I once called home...this is my home now!" She laughed as she stood up and touched Chito's shoulder. "You're it, you're it!" she shouted as she ran away from him into the house.

Chito smiled brightly as he chased a younger version of Kayl around the house. They were both laughing wildly as they raced across the tatami mats. Finally, Chito jumped and tackled Kayl to the ground. She gasped in delight and surprise as they hit the floor. They rolled for a minute before she sat on him. She giggled.

"Pinned ya." She said playfully. He smiled warmly up at her, and she returned it.

Kayl rolled off him and he sat up. Chito looked over to her and gazed into her eyes. She blushed as he did. He leaned in as if to kiss her, and she was about to meet her lips to his, but they're bliss was broken by a cold voice.

"Kayla." They turned and saw a woman who was shaded. Next to her was a man that was shaded as well.

"Yes Ren-sama?" She saw Chito wince in annoyance as Kayl call her that.

"We need you to come with us..." the man had a sad look in his eyes. Chito's eyes shot open as he saw them.

"You're having her memories erased aren't you?" He asked with slight anger in his voice. Kayl looked at all of them worriedly.

"It is for the best son, she is not yet ready..." Ren said. Chito seemed to burst with anger suddenly.

"What do you mean 'not ready'! If not, she can wait here until she is!" He shouted. "How dare you take away the only person that has brought me happiness thus far! As head of this house, I will not allow it!"

"And as your mother, I say it is not your decision! It is for the better, she doesn't need to be poisoned with your burden..." Her voice was cold as ice. Chito glared at her. "Ha'ri...take her away."

Ha'ri nodded solemnly and walked over to Kayl. She started backing up.

"No..." Her eyes were big. "I wanna stay here!"

"I'm sorry Kayl...we have to go." He reached over to her, she slapped his hand away.

"No!" she was shouting now. Her eyes were glowing now.

"My God, If you want something done right!" Ren walked briskly over to her and shot out for her arm. Kayl was fast and dodged, but her hair was grabbed instead.

She cried out in pain as she was dragged away by her hair, hot tears rolled down her face.

"Let her go!" Chito ran over to his mother and tried to get Kayl free, but Ren backhanded him and he went flying to the floor.

"Chito-kun!" Kayl shouted as she reached out to him. He slowly reached his hand to her, he looked hurt. Their fingers barely touched before she was dragged farther away.

She struggled more as she tried to get to him, to help him. But Ren wouldn't let go. As she was dragged, she spotted a pair of scissors on the nearby table. Her eyes glowed as the scissors floated over to her. She grabbed them and, swiftly, chopped off her long hair. She seemed to fall very slowly. She saw pieces of her long hair fall from Ren's hand. As soon as she hit the floor, she scrambled to get up, but Ren jumped her and pinned her to the ground. Kayl struggled, but it was in vain.

"Hatori! Do it! Erase her memory now!" Ren shouted towards the man.

The man rushed over and, kneeling down, pressed his palm to her head. She continued struggling as he was preparing to take away her memories.

"Kayl! No!" was the last thing she heard from the boy before there was a large flash and all went black.

Kayl shot up in a cold sweat. She wrapped her arms around herself and looked around. What just happened there? She knew she had a strange nightmare, but she could only remember bits and pieces of it. Suddenly, there was a knock at her door. She was still a little scared from the dream, she reached for a nearby vase and hid it behind her back.

"C-come in" The door slid open and she threw the vase, hoping to hit Akito, but instead, Hatori dodged the oncoming vase.

"What the cha!" He shouted as the vase hit the nearby wall. They stared at each other for a moment, blinking for a few seconds. "...It's time for dinner." Hatori said as he turned and walked out the door, a little embarrassed at his sudden outburst.

Kayl shook her head, got up and followed him down the hall. She was nervous, was Akito going to be there? Hatori walked into the dining room and sat down. As soon as she set one foot into the room, her eyes grew wide in fear. There, sitting at the head of the table was Akito, smirking. Kayl gulped as she walked over to sit next to Hatori, wanting to be as far away from him as possible.

"Wait." Said Akito. Kayl winced and turned to look at him.

"Yes?" She asked, trying to sound as normal as possible.

"You're sitting here, next to me." He pointed to the spot that was closest to him.

Kayl mentally cursed herself. She slowly walked over and sat next to him. Her headache was returning, she winced in pain, but did her best to hide it. The food came, there was a good variety to choose from. Pot-stickers, rice-balls, noodles, and some others. She ate her food in silence, keeping her eyes to the table, trying her best to ignore Akito and the pain in her head. Akito kept looking her over, and she could tell. His eyes continued to wander away from his food and over to her.

She seems so...familiar... He thought. Akito finally spoke to her.

"So...I never caught your name girl. What is it?" he asked softly. Kayl ignored him and reached for a rice-ball. This angered him and he shot out, grabbing her wrist tightly. "I said...What is your name girl?"He squeezed her wrist. She flinched in pain.

"I-it's Kayl. Kayl Sumizome." She made sure to say it loud enough for him to hear.

Akito's eyes shot open, his face was even paler than usual. She looked up at him, wondering what she had just done. He growled and constricted her wrist in a tighter grip.

"Tell me your real name!" He shouted at her. She stared at him in disbelief.

"That is my real name!" She exclaimed. He was crushing her wrist now, glaring at her.

He dropped her wrist, still glaring at her. She pulled her arm back and nursed her sore wrist. She was disturbed now.

"What is your problem!" She shouted at him. He leapt up and pointed at her.

"You are the problem! You come into our lives thinking you can change things when you can't! And now you have the audacity to sit there and lie!" He screamed. Hatori jumped up to hold him back.

"I didn't ask to be brought here! You brought me here! And I'm not lying!" She was shrieking now. Akito growled at her.

"I did so for a reason! I will make you regret ever stumbling upon our curse!" Akito shoved Hatori off of him and ran down the hall into his room. Kayl and Hatori stared after him.

Akito slammed the door to his room and stalked over to his bed, sitting down. He rubbed his temples and stared at the ground. He was gasping heavily and beads of sweat trailed down his forehead.

"That couldn't be her...she's dead." He muttered to himself before laying down and falling into a fitful sleep.