I'd say something quick, witty and funny...but no one cares...BIG sigh
Standard disclaimers apply
Chapter 1
(Cassandra)
Staring up at the apartment building I tried to figure out why I had agreed to do this whole thing, I didn't want to stay here in Japan nor did I want to go back to foster care in the United States. Shaking my head I entered the building pulling my wheeled suitcase behind me as I headed for the elevator across the lobby, our apartment was on the tenth floor. Using my thumb I punched the button for the 'up' elevator and waited setting down my bags still wondering why I was doing this, I didn't care about the whole inheritance thing. An image of Yugi popped into my mind, him crying as he begged the three of us to stay, he wanted to be able to get what his parents had left him because he wanted to have something to remember them by.
With a ding the elevator opened to reveal two people snogging intensely not realizing that the whole public was being subjected to the disgusting sight of them swapping spit. Letting out a growl of frustration I picked up my stuff, stepped into the lift and stabbed the button with the number ten on it, of course the couple didn't notice. It was taking all of my control to not a) say something b) forcefully pull them apart or c) scream really loudly. By the time I got to my floor I was beginning to develop an eye twitch and I was starting to get a headache from clenching my jaw so tightly. As I stepped out of the elevator car I headed straight for the apartment which was supposed to be to my right at the end of the hall but no the old fart was wrong it was at the other end of the hall.
Picking the key I had been given for the apartment out of my hefty set of keys I inserted it into the lock, closed my eyes and turned thanking whatever divine being was listening for letting it be the right room. Utilizing my hip I shoved the door open and observed what was to my place of residence for the next year. The main room was comprised of what would be the kitchen, living room and dining room in a real house, the kitchen was separated from the rest of the room by a counter that came midway up my chest. In the living room part there was a bookcase, a couch, an easy chair, a coffee table and a stereo, it was homey but it was obvious the stuff was all new. Turning to the short hallway to my right I found three doors, the one on the right side of the hall was the bathroom, the one at the end was a bedroom and the one on the left side of the hall was also a bedroom.
Deciding that the bedroom at the end of the hall would be the best one because it had windows and the other one was already taken I lugged my stuff in and contemplated which bed I wanted, there were two to chose from. Finally picking the one nearest to the window I plopped my wheeled suitcase, duffle bag and backpack on it and began to unpack pulling out first my meager selection of clothes. Growing up in foster care I never really have ever had a lot of anything, possessions, love, happiness…so I learned to make due with what I could. After hanging up my clothes in the closet I stored the empty suitcase at the bottom of it and turned to my more personal items. It was sad that I could carry everything I owned with me clothes, all my school stuff, toiletries, and personal belongings.
Digging around in my bag I pulled out my books, there were five well-worn and dogged eared paranormal romance novels from the Dark Series by Christine Feehan, a French dictionary, a Japanese dictionary, An Idiot's Guide to Learning Japanese and a couple manga novels. Gathering them up I went over and placed them on the small bookcase near my bed in a specific order, Dark books, manga and then dictionaries. Next out of my bag came some CDs that had been burned and given to me along with a cheap portable CD player I had gotten from a garage sale. The small jewelry box I had made, a pair of third hand skates, ballet slippers and Irish dancing shoes I extracted along with another handcrafted box filled with my cards. The last things to come out were my hairbrush, lotions, other toiletries and my knick-knack box.
When I was done putting away all my stuff I glanced at my watch to see that it was only ten-o-clock and I had time to spare because the others had said they wouldn't be here until at least eleven. Strolling down the hall I entered the kitchenette and began perusing the shelves and fridge to see if there was anything in there to eat and cook with. I found plenty of food and cooking utensils that appeared to be brand new which killed my theory that my biological parents had been too poor to keep me. Closing the fridge a water bottle clasped in one hand I noticed a card taped to the front of the door with a note attached. Taking it off the fridge I identified the card as some sort of credit or debit card, turning my attention to the note I thanked myself for indulging and learning how to speak and write in Japanese. It said that it was a card for grocery shopping money on it and to spend it wisely because it would only be replenished every month. Uncapping my water I went back into my room to grab a book so I might sit on the couch and read while I waited for the others.
(Aggie)
Entering the lobby of the apartment building I checked my watch as I headed over to the elevators, it was 11:15; I was running right on schedule. The doors opened and I got on quickly not wanting to have to wait for the next one because I didn't like people watching me. Thankfully no one else was in there with me so I used the bit of alone time to try and compose myself by hooking a few stray strand of hair behind my ears and moistening my lips with a swipe of my tongue. All too soon the doors opened and I stepped out into the hall with all my stuff and then I froze, was the room to the left or the right? He had told me but I couldn't remember! Oh, I was so stupid, why couldn't I remember something so simple? Biting on my lip I picked the left and breathed a sigh of relief when I got there and realized I had been correct. Shifting everything around I grabbed the doorknob and opened the door. I spotted one of the others lying on the couch in the lounge area their feet hanging over the edge of the couch, it appeared to be the other girl, her name was Cassandra I believe.
"Hello," I called softly so as to not startle her.
"Welcome, I've set up camp in the bedroom at the end of the hall, unless you want to be sleeping with one of the boys I suggest you take up residence with me." She informed me not getting up from her position.
"Thanks," I said before staggering down the hall to the room she had mentioned there was a big window looking out across the city. The bed closest to the window was marked as Cassandra's by the black backpack in the direct middle of it; the bookcase had a few things on the top shelf leaving the bottom to open. Opening one of the purple storing containers I had hauled up I pulled out the beautiful scrap quilt I had made a few summers ago, the whole thing was a myriad of colors with a whole bunch of symbols appliquéd on. Hugging it close I inhaled the scent of what had been my old home and new I would need the simple familiarity of it to get through. Carefully I spread it out over my bed and tossed some throw pillows on it and placed two neatly folded quillows at the end of my bed (all made by me). The second container had my simple wardrobe in it, which consisted of a few pairs of raggedy old jeans, some plaid shirts, a few t-shirts, and then some simple dresses, skirts and tops I had made. Opening the closet I found it my roommates domain so I put my stuff in the set of drawers near the door of the room.
My backpack I set at the end of my bed and then began to unpack my more personal items from my duffle bag. Out came my folders of music and composition paper along with tons of pens, college ruled paper and notebooks, books on quilting and sewing followed some romance books and my cards. One of my most important things came out, my small CD player and CD collection, I would not be able to live without them. There weren't too many pictures or sentimental 'remember-me-by' stuff, I had my diaries but that was it for memories and stuff. Upon finishing putting away all my belongings I made my way back to the main room to find that the two boys had arrived and were sitting in the lounge area near Cassandra.
"Hey, how are you doing?" The crimson-eyed one greeted me and I froze not sure what to say.
"F-fine," I stuttered looking away.
"Well, why don't you sit down so we can figure out what we're going to do?" He suggested kindly so I sat down on one of the bar stools at the counter. "My name is Atemu but I prefer to be called Yami, I'm eighteen years old and I guess I'm the oldest."
"When I was born our parents named me Amaryllis but I recently had my name legally changed to Cassandra and that is what I prefer to be called," Cassandra told us without looking up from her book. "I'm seventeen and most likely a middle child."
"S-sagira, b-but I like to b-be called Aggie," I forced out feeling like a real dunce, no one else was nervous about this except me. "I-I'm seventeen also."
"When's your birthday?" Cassandra looked up from her book to stare me straight in the eye unnerving me even more.
"Oct-tober th-thirty-f-first."
"Hmm, interesting…" She returned to her book as the last of our group spoke up.
"I'm Yugi, I'm sixteen years old and I just want to thank you all so much for doing this for me, I really want to do this for our parents and I would like to have my part of the will so I can have stuff to remember them by."
"No problem," Yami said quietly opening a big envelope and pulled out a sheet of paper and pen. "Does anyone have any allergies?"
"Penicillin," Cassandra offered turning a page in her book.
"Same here," I replied.
"Bee stings." Yugi told him and Yami wrote it all down on the paper and proceeded to ask more questions in case there was an emergency. When he was done he gave Cassandra and I our school passes, a credit card and a cell phone.
"Everyone has all of our numbers in their phone, the cards are like an allowance, for clothes and stuff like that, our grandfather gave them to us," Yami explained almost choking on the word our. "Tomorrow we will begin school, at Domino High School, Yugi's school, ok?" Everyone nodded, "Who wants to make up a schedule for chores and cooking, we all have to help out."
"I'll do it," I said, if there was anything I knew how to do it was make up charts and things like that.
"Well, I guess that's it, we can just scrounge tonight for dinner" Yami stood up and headed off to the other bedroom while Yugi went over to the phone and I retreated to my room and pulled out my diary to record what was happening. I ended my entry with a statement, which I thought was an understatement: Tomorrow is going to be a big day.
Ok, not really funny but the next will be...promise...who am I talking to? I don't think anyone is reading! Hey prove me wrong and review!