A/N: Hmm, what was I thinking when I did this? I really don't know...

Disclaimer: I own Volume seven of the 1stgig and volumes one and two of the 2nd gig...whoops, wrong place for that.

I do own the concept of this story, and Mayuka Kusanagi :D

Simple Beginnings

By: Jun-kei

Chapter 17: A promise

Mayuka and Motoko looked out of the window. It was raining out, and the two sat there silently…until Mayuka broke the silence.

"O-nee-san?"

"Hmm…what's up?"

"O-kaa-san…and O-tou-san…they're not coming back…right…"

Motoko shuddered…it wasn't exactly something she wanted to talk about, but she nodded solemnly. "So, that means they're gone forever…so if they're gone…that means it's just the two of us left…" Mayuka turned to Motoko and smiled.

"We're orphans now. But we're the only family we've got now Motoko. We're family…we're sisters. The only ones we have to rely on is each other." Mayuka held up her pinky to Motoko. "So let's make a promise, ok?"

"Yeah."

Motoko said as she crossed her pinky with Mayuka's and shook gently.

"As sister's we'll always be together. And we'll always be there for each other. Promise?"

"I promise May."

Chapter 18: Claustrophobia

Motoko searched frantically around the orphanage. Today, the Yamoto's were supposed to pick them up. Yet Mayuka was nowhere to be found. Motoko gritted her teeth.

"MAYUKA! COME OUT HERE!"

Silence.

"She picked a hell of a time to play hide and seek!"

Motoko growled. She stopped in her tracks. She could have sworn she heard voices.

'Heh, like a little baby!'

'Quiet John! Motoko might hear ya. If that happens all hell will break loose if she finds out.'

Motoko slowly headed towards the closet, sneaking up on the two of the boys.

"She'd never find out."

"Find out what John?"

The boy named John turned around, his face frozen in fear.

"It…It was Kaisuke's idea!"

"You little ditcher! How dare you ping the blame on me alone!"

"Look, I don't care whose fault it is! Where's Mayuka?"

John became silent and pointed in the closet. Motoko growled.

"Both of you stay put. Run, and you'll regret it dearly!"

The boys both nodded, staying put. Motoko walked up to the closet, throwing it open.

Mayuka sat there shivering. Motoko angrily turned towards the two boys.

"What the hell did you do?"

"We…we didn't do anything! We just locked her in there, and she started freaking out!"

"Freaking out?"

The boys nodded.

"Just listen for yourself!"

Motoko bent down to Mayuka's level.

"Hey, are you ok?"

"So small…and dark…."

"Mayuka?"

Motoko frowned; Mayuka's eyes seemed blank. Something was wrong with her.

"It was just like that day…. just like…"

Mayuka gasped, her eyes widened as she looked up at Motoko.

"O…Kaa…Sama!"

It was then Motoko realized what was bugging Mayuka so much. Motoko grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her.

"Hey! Snap out of it!"

Mayuka's eyes seemingly returned back to normal, as she latched onto Motoko.

"O-nee-san…I hate the dark…"

Motoko nodded as she helped her up. She glared daggers at the two boys before carefully walking down the steps, with Mayuka holding onto her.

Motoko made it a personal note to tell the Yamoto's about this later. Just incase it was a tad bit more serious than it seemed.

Chapter 19: Kurutan

"Damn it! I hate my birthday!"

Motoko pouted as Mayuka chuckled.

"You always say that, sister. Come on, birthdays aren't that bad."

Motoko shrugged as she and Mayuka looked at their surroundings. The hospital. Both Motoko and Mayuka threw each other an uneasy glance as they heard someone scream in agony. Motoko could have sworn she saw her sister's face pale several shades of white.

"If you hate it here so much…why did you come?"

Mayuka didn't answer, but merely began nervously tapping her foot.

"Well?"

"Because…"

"What?"

Mayuka stopped for a moment.

"I hear something…"

"GET HIM TO THE ICU! NOW!"

Yelled a nurse as she and two Paramedics rushed a guy to the emergency room.

"HURRY! I LEAVE HIM TO YOU!"

Mayuka watched as they sped past her. The guy on the bed was badly wounded and covered in blood. Mayuka stiffened. Motoko also watched them run past her, calmly. Mayuka, on the other hand…

"Ugh! I think I'm going to be sick…"

Mayuka muttered weakly as she staggered onto her feet, covering her mouth with her hand. From how pale she was, you'd think that someone would have mistaken her for an estranged spirit of some sort. Mayuka took a quick glance at Motoko. No words were needed; she always got like this around blood. She would freak out every time. So there was only one place she was heading: The bathroom. Motoko nodded and watched as Mayuka bolted to the Hospital bathroom.

It was then Motoko saw the nurse, as she came and sat beside her.

"Hello there."

"…"

"You're not much of talker, are you?"

The nurse smiled and shrugged.

"We'll I guess it can only be expected, I am a stranger to you after all."

The nurse reached out her hand in a welcoming gesture, and grabbed and shook Motoko's hand.

"I'm Kasumi. I'm a nurse here. In fact, you're about fifteen, are you?"

"Um…I'm Motoko…and yes, I'm fifteen…why?"

Kasumi smiled.

"Thought so! I have a daughter your age. She's here with me today. In fact, today happens to be 'take your kid to work day' so that's why she's with me."

Motoko blinked, and watched as Kasumi looked over her shoulder.

"Kurutan! Over here!"

Another girl, of about fifteen years old walked up and sat beside her mother. She had shoulder length brown-blond hair.

"Hi, I'm Kurutan, Kurutan Myoto."

Motoko shook her hand.

"Hi, I'm Motoko Kusanagi."

Kasumi got up.

"Well, I better get going…uh, Motoko, do you're parents work here?"

"No."

"Hmm, I see, so you're here by yourself, where are your parents?"

"Oh, the Yamotos…they said they were called into work last second and left us here."

Kurutan blinked.

"The Yamotos? You just said your last name was Kusanagi."

"Adoptive parents. Ours died when we were little."

Kasumi gave a questioning look before looking up.

"Ours…oh, you mean that little girl who was with you right? Is she your little sister?"

Motoko nodded.

"I just saw her bolt to the bathroom a moment ago. She was as pale as a sheet. Is she sick?"

"Uh…no?"

"Then why are you two here?"

"Um…we're here because…"

"Cyborg resizing lady…"

Mayuka muttered as she walked back over to Motoko and sat down beside her.

"Hey, May, how are you feeling?"

"Like a load of crap, but other than that I'm fine."

Mayuka muttered weakly as she sat slouched over, her elbows on her thighs.

"Oh…Um, I forgot to introduce you May…"

"What?"

Mayuka asked.

"Um, Mayuka, the nurse over there is Kasumi, and the girl beside her is Kurutan, Kasumi, Kuturan, this is my sister Mayuka."

"Nice to meet you Mayuka."

Kasumi said.

"Yeah, same to you."

"Well, girls, I'll leave you three to chat. See you later."

Kasumi said before rushing off. Kurutan sighed.

"So…you're here for a cyborg resizing?"

Chapter 20: School troubles

Motoko sat stiffly in a wheel chair as Mayuka silently pushed it along the street.

"O-nee-san?"

"Yes May?"

"Are you sad?"

"No."

"Mad?"

"No." May looked at her sister, her face tightened, as she looked angry.

"Come-on Motoko-o-nee-san! You look upset! Who was bugging you?"

"Don't worry about it, okay, I'm more concerned about the hell they've been giving you of lates."

"I can take care of myself! But I'm sick and tired of them harassing you all the time!"

Motoko sighed, as she looked at a doll she had in her hand, with purple hair and red eyes. She smiled to herself as she looked at it, then to May, who had gave it to her. May looked down and smiled back, before looking up again to cross the road, all while humming a tune to herself.

"Hey I know that song!"

May blinked.

"You do…it's in English you know."

"Not all of it! Come on! Sing it!"

"Um….I am calling, calling, spirits rise and falling. To stay myself longer…um I forgot after that part."

Motoko laughed.

"But you do sing well."

"Gosh…you think so?"

May replied while scratching the back of her head with her left hand.

"Um…Motoko-nee-san…"

"Huh."

"We're…here…"

She said the last part timidly as two girls approached them, each with a smirk on her face.

"Well, well, if it isn't the robot, and the freak."

"What do you want Higurashi?"

Motoko yelled, as Higurashi's friend beside her saw the doll and grabbed it.

"Ooh! I didn't know you still played with dollies, Kusanagi. I understand your freak of a sister having a fascination with dollies, after all, she's seven, and you're what, fourteen?"

"Give that back! It's Motoko's! No yours!"

"I'll do what ever I want freak!"

"SHUT UP MORI!"

"What do you two want anyways? Whatever it is, leave May out of it!"Mori and Higurashi both glared at the two.

"Actually, Kusanagi, our problem is with the pipsqueak."

"Leave May alone."

"And just what are you going to do? Use a rocket punch and knock us out, robot?"

"She's not a robot! She's my sister!"

With that May tried to charge at them, but Motoko blocked her way. Higurashi angrily toppled over the wheelchair, with May glaring at her.

"If you have a problem with it May, then you're going to have to take it up with me."

May growled at this charging at them. But Motoko who was on the ground was unable to see what was happening. However, she heard May scream, then being thrown harshly to the ground. It was then she was able to see her sister, who struggled to get up, falling into fits of coughs, tainted as she coughed up her own blood.

"M-may? May are you ok…"

"Grrr…Damn them!"

May muttered angrily as she jumped up to attack them. For a few moments things were silent except for the sound of someone struggling from being choked, and another person, slowly approaching them.

"Hey! Mori, Higurashi, cut it out!"

"It's you! What do you want, Shinta? Shugo?"

"Shugo, help Motoko back into her chair. And Higurashi, put Mayuka down, now!"

Now Motoko could see everything as Shugo, a boy in her class helped her up. He had shoulder length brown hair, and green eyes. And Shinta, his twin looked the same. Behind him, Higurashi held Mayuka in the air, Mayuka's hands were lying to her sides: she had lost conciseness.

"Shugo, I'm going to get help, ok?"

"Hai! O-nii-san!"

Shugo replied as he blocked the girls' way from going anywhere.

"Ruka-sensei!"

Shugo turned when he heard his brother's voice as one of the teachers approached. In shock, Higurashi dropped Mayuka, who fell like a rock, inhaling a deep breath.

"Ruka-sensei! It's not what"

"I want both of you at the Principal's office"

"But-"

"NOW!"

Ruka-sensei was rather young to already be teaching, but as Far as Motoko knew, she was rather kind hearted. Ruka turned to Motoko.

"Are you ok, Ms. Kusanagi?"

"Yes…I'll be, fine. Just a little shaken."

Ruka smiled.

"A wheelchair? Did you have another cyborg-resizing?"

Motoko nodded.

"I see. It takes a while before you get used to the size. But if such wasn't the situation, instead of sending Ms. Mori and Ms. Higurashi to the principal's office, you would have had full permission from myself to beat them up, and I'd gladly take any heat for it."Ruka turned around to see the unconscious Mayuka, and gasped.

"Oh dear... Shinta!"

"Yes Sensei?"

"Take Mayuka to the nurse's Asap!"

Shinta nodded, and he and Shugo picked Mayuka up and started carrying her in.

"Motoko, you can check on your sister later, but I'm sure she'll be fine. You might be pulled out of class later about this. I'd accompany you, but I must go to the principal's office to make sure things are taken care of. Take care, ok? I'll see you later."

With that, Ruka-sensei left, leaving Motoko in her wake.

A/N: Ok, so the last one was from the story...I know, I know, I should have added, edidted, ect, ect. Truth was when I got to that one I was feeling quite uncreative.

Ja-ne!

Jun-kei