Chapter II
"Come on, let's get you cleaned up." Shepf smiled, as they entered the abandoned warehouse that served as the gang headquarters. The girl said nothing, just looked around the room in fear, eyes wide in her small face.
"Poor thing…d'you reckon she's ever seen something like this before?" Suzaku murmured, walking close behind the pair.
Shepf smiled again, but this time grimly, remembering what happened those three years back, when she had taken the child to her associate, with those careful instructions. "No, I don't suppose she has." The trio made it's way to an old sofa. Shepf sat the child down on it, whilst Suzaku hurried away for water, a towel, and clean clothes.
"Well, you've been banged up pretty good, honey," the hybrid spoke, gently stroking the girl's back, an arm around her.
Large amethyst eyes stared back up at her, trust shining in them. Also, Shepf noted, there was something else…could it be…recognition?
Her suspicions were confirmed, as the child spoke.
"She'f?" The question was tentative, as the child cowered slightly, as if in fear of being hit. Indeed, maybe she was.
The older girl was torn between smiling and frowning. That was the nickname the child had given her, when too young to pronounce her name correctly. She was delighted that the child recognized her, but the condition she was in…
A voice from the doorway broke her from her thoughts. Suzaku had returned with the items she had been sent for. Immediately, the pair set about washing their new charge's face.
Underneath the grime and dirt, she was quite a pretty little thing, Shepf mused, gently dabbing around the girl's eyes. Porcelain skin, delicate facial structure, and a pair of stunning, large, amethyst eyes. She was really a lovely child.
And through all this, the child had said no word but the mangled pronunciation of her new caretaker's name. She stayed silent, wide eyes staring at the older girls.
Finally, they finished, and propped the girl up against several cushions.
"What's your name, sweetie?" Suzaku asked, peering concernedly at the child.
There was no reply.
"Can she talk? Shepf, do you think she even understands?"
"Oh, she understands. She just doesn't want to reply. I think she may be in shock." Shepf explained, laying her hand on Suzaku's arm. "I wouldn't push too much just yet, hm? I gave her the name of Brimstone when I left her."
"So this was the child that you- Oh…I see…Well, we probably shouldn't push her too hard, then. Come on, Brim; let's get you settled into a warm bed, shall we?"
END CHAPTER
A/N. A rather pitiful update, but this is the difficult part of the fic. Add to that moving into senior school, a lot of homework, a large burst of too much inspiration, and about a squillion other things…Well, let's just say it's difficult.
Though that doesn't excuse me not updating for about half a year. For that, I truly, truly apologize. Gomen nasai.
I hope you're all doing well, and I adore reviews! –Hinthint-.