Chapter 4
Yuki and Tohru were walking home from the store, chatting happily. They passed an alley, and Yuki stopped. "Honda-san, do you hear that? It sounds like someone is crying," he said, looking back. "Now that you mention it, I do. Is there someone in the alley? Are they okay?" Tohru asked frantically. "I don't know. Hello? Who is in there?" he called into the alley, looking for something that could have made the crying noise. I-I'm over here. Please help me. "Who said that? Where are you?" Yuki asked, puzzled. The voice had come from inside his head. The voice didn't respond. He moved a huge bag of garbage and found a small, trembling heap of clothes. He dropped it and the heap moved. A small, tear-streaked face looked up at him. No! Go away! Leave me alone! Don't hurt me anymore! Stop! Stay away! The voice in his head shouted and he backed away. "Yuki-kun, are you okay? Do you need my help?" Tohru asked, close to panic now. "Honda-san, can you get her? She won't let me near her. She's too scared," he said, placing a hand over his eyes. Tohru stepped over the piles of garbage and saw the dirty, trembling girl huddling near the wall. "Oh, you poor thing. Let me help you," Tohru said, stooping to pick her up. "Are you okay? Come with us and we'll get you nice and clean," Tohru said. The little girl nodded, and snuggled closer to her chest. Thank you. Tohru started. "Did she speak in your mind as well, Miss Honda?" Yuki asked. Tohru nodded, not trusting herself to speak. "Let's take her home then," Yuki said.
Back at Shigure's house, Kyo and Nanori were walking into the living room. "I almost had you, Kyo! Admit it, I did, didn't I?" Nanori teased him. "Feh. You're pretty good, but you're no where near me," Kyo boasted. Nanori laughed, enjoying their time together. She stiffened. "No, it can't be! She's alive! Kyo, my sister is alive! I- I can feel her, just like before! Where is she?" Nanori said, sounding like a crazy person. "Come on Kyo, help me find her!" She jumped up and grabbed his hand, dragging him to the front door. She opened it to find Tohru holding a small bundle. The bundle turned in her arms, and Nanori saw its face. "Meina! Meina, is it really you? Oh, I missed you so much! I thought you were dead…" Nanori trailed off. "Er, Nanori-san, what are you doing here?" Tohru managed to stammer out. "I was visiting Kyo, but that's not important! Can I have my sister back, please?" Nanori asked in a rush, obviously restraining herself from snatching the girl out of Tohru's arms. "O-of course. Here you go," Tohru said, handing Nanori her….sister? Nanori felt something move under her sister's clothes, like a broken bone or something. "She's hurt! Call your doctor! What's his name, Haroti? No, it was Hatori, wasn't it?" Nanori said, running to set her sister down and call the doctor. She remembered his number from when she had taken Kyo's form. She rushed into the living room and tore the phone from the hook. She dialed the number and realized that Hatori didn't know her. "Er, uh, Kyo, could you call please?" Nanori asked nervously. He nodded and dialed the number for her.
Hatori exited the room this…Meina… was staying in. He found Nanori wringing her hands and Kyo awkwardly trying to comfort her. "How is she?" Nanori asked anxiously. "She has a few broken ribs, and she has a pretty bad cold. I think she won't have to go to the hospital, but she'll need her rest. Let her sleep for a couple days and she'll be fine," he replied in his business-like manner. "Oh, thank goodness. Is she awake? Can I see her?" Nanori asked, once again bombarding him with questions. "She's awake right now. I had to leave when she woke up. She wouldn't let me touch her. She said something about not hurting her anymore. I think she may have been abused by a man previously," Hatori answered, not fazed a bit. "Perhaps she won't be so…violent… towards you." "Thank you so much, Hatori-san," Nanori said, bowing formally. She got up and practically ran into the room. Kyo followed close behind.
Meina sat silently on the edge of the bed. She had managed to stop trembling after the man had left. She looked up in fright as the door crashed open. "Meina! Oh, I thought I'd never see you again," an overjoyed voice yelled. In the split second before the voice's owner made contact with her, she flung up a mental barrier. The body collided with the invisible shield and stumbled back into the arms of a orange-haired boy. The loud person looked up in shock, and Meina recognized the face the monster who had ruined her life.
"M-meina? Why? Why did you…" Nanori stuttered in shock at her sister's violent reaction. "Why? I'd like to ask you the same question. It's your fault. You're a monster! You killed Momma and Dad! And everyone else! It's your fault I was hated by the villagers! It's your fault I was put in the orphanage! I hate you! Stay away from me! I hate you!" Meina vented all her fury at the one person she truly hated, the one person who was to blame for all her misery. The monster's eyes widened, her face the portrait of despair. "No…no…I-it wasn't my fault! I…I didn't…I didn't mean to hurt them… Please, Meina…please don't hate me…" The monster couldn't even finish her sentence. Meina sneered at her in disgust. "Shut up. It was all your fault. You killed them all. I will hate you for the rest of my life, because it is all your fault. Get out of here. I hate you, and so does everyone else," Meina said, her anger flowing out of her like a huge fountain. Nanori obeyed, running out of the room. "Nanori, wait! Come back," the orange-haired boy who had stood behind her yelled, following the girl as she ran.
Thanks for the reviews, furubafreak22! Also, does anyone know how to see how many hits a story has? 'Cuz I'm an idiot and I have no idea! Anyways, there'll ne more to come soon!