Here is the next chapter. It is long as well. I am now not sure as to how long this story will be but I will try to drag it out as much as I can.

Warning: This chapter contains mild violence and metions of rape.

A slightly run-down home sits in the not-so-nice part of Tokyo. A blonde with pink tip hair girl walks up the walkway to the front door. Riley enters her house to find her father laying in the living room in front of the T.V. He was asleep for the time being, a whiskey bottle in the hand hanging off the edge of the couch. Sighing, she places her bag beside the door, takes the application with her into the kitchen to fill it out. Her siblings were not home yet and her step-mother was at work. Sitting at the counter, she sets to work on completing the paper before her. It takes several minutes to do so, and when she is done her little brother Damian, age 14, walks into the kitchen to get an apple.

"Hey sis...whatcha doin'?" he asks as he gazes over her shoulder, hugging her from behind.

He is a good 5 inches taller then she is, making him 5'7". She is older then him, but people mistake her as the younger. Giving him the application, she gets up from her seat and pulls some fresh fish out of the fridge.

"Sushi alright with you?" Riley asks.

"Always is." he replies with his trademark ear-to-ear grin.

Smiling slightly herself, she takes out a cutting board and knife and sets it beside the fish. Removing a pot from under the counter, Riley fills it with water to boil. Damian pulls a small notebook from his backpack that has his homework in it.

"Sis...Need help?"

"Nope. I got it. You do your homework. We do not want dad to get angry again. Remember last time you got in trouble at school?"

"Please, don't remind me."

"Dad got very violent that time and if I had not saved your butt, he would have put you into the hospital."

"I know...how is the scar?"

She rolled up the right sleeve of her shirt to show a rather nasty scar starting at her wrist and up to her elbow. Their father was drunk one night and he got a call from the principal at their old school. Her brother had failed the 7th grade (he is in 9th now and that is Jr. High, so he is in a different school then his sister, who is a senior) and was being held back. That made their father really mad. He took a knife from the kitchen, chased Damian around the house, knocking things over on the way. Damian ran into Riley's room and she kept him behind her. When their father came in, he was furious and lashed out. She threw her arm up and took the hit. That snapped her father out of his anger and he stormed out of the room. She was utterly terrified at that moment.

Riley forced that memory back into her head. Her father was violent and she always protected her siblings and step-mother from it. She had more scars on her body then one could imagine, that is why she wears long sleeved shirts and pants all the time, to hide them. Riley cut up the fish as her brother worked on his Japanese History. While rolling up the sushi, Dante came into the room. Her brothers looked a lot alike. Both of them have brown hair and emerald eyes. She had the same eyes, but obtained her mother's platinum blonde hair, though there was a slight brown tint to it. Dante took a seat next to Damian and also pulled out his homework, starting it immediately.

"So how was your first day of school you two?" she asked her brothers while placing a plate of sushi and wasabi sauce in between them.

"Alright. Homework already, though." the 12 year old said as he munched on a piece. "Yummy. Great food, sis."

"Thank you." a small smile playing on her lips as she prepped another plate for her father.

She could hear him stirring in the living room which means that he was waking up. Grabbing the cup of tea she had prepared for him, she took that and the plate to the living room. Gonimuko Akai rubbed his head as his daughter entered the room.

"Here is some food, father, salmon sushi, your favorite. I also have some tea for you to help with your headache." she placed it on the table before him. He began eating it as she pulled a paper out of her back pocket. "I found a place to work."

"Hmm...where?"

"A book store about 4 blocks from here. The pay is good and the hours are decent, right after school till nine or ten. I can cook dinner the night before and put it into the fridge so all the boys have to do is pop it into the microwave to heat up. It would be fun."

"And the money?"

"I will distribute the money. Half of it to the boys and myself for clothes, food, and such, a quarter to housing needs, and the rest to you."

"Sounds fair to me. Why don't you go down there and turn in the application? The boys can clean up."

"Thank you, father."

She bowed to him and hurried back to the kitchen to tell Dante and Damian they will have to clean up. They agreed quickly because of why they had to, their sister getting job is good because she wouldn't have to see their father as much. He really didn't have respect for women and, even more so, his daughter. She was always at the receiving end of his anger and they hated to watch their father beat up their older sister. She had them make a promise to never interfere or make their father upset. Them being young at that time didn't know any better and agreed.

Riley grabbed her backpack at the front door, ran upstairs to her room, and dropped it off, grabbing her wallet and pocketing it. Yelling a bye to everyone in the house, she ran down the walkway and trekked to the store. The sun was setting beyond the buildings and cast a pink and orange glow into the sky. She smiled slightly. Sunsets always calmed her. They made her think back to when her brothers, parents, and her were a happy family. Ever since her father started beating her and her parents spilt, she never really showed emotions, save only for her brothers. The bookstore came into view and she walked through the front door for the second time that day. The same old lady that had given her the application that afternoon stood behind the counter. Her gray hair was pinned up into a bun and the blush on her cheeks gave her a serene appearance. Riley walked over to her.

"Hello again, deary. How may I help you now?"

"I have my application filled out, ma'am. My father said it was alright with him if I worked here."

"Well let me have a look at it."

Riley handed it to her and the old lady looked it over. A smile came to the woman's face and she nodded her head.

"I do like what I read. How about you get a feel for everything tonight and start first thing tomorrow?"

"Sure."

"What time can you come in the morning?"

"As soon as I cook breakfast for everyone and make sure my father is settled, so 10 am?"

"Perfectly alright, deary. Now let me show you the store."

Riley entered her house a quarter after 10 that night. Sannishi-Sensei had showed her how to work the register, where the books are kept, and where to put them for purchase. As quiet as can be, she made her way past the living room, but had barely stepped on the first step before hearing her father's gruff voice in the room she had passed.

"Why are you so late?"

Timidly, she walked back to the room and stood before her father. The smell of alcohol and weed was heavy in the air. It made her sick to her stomach. He staggered up and stood high above her. Raising his hand, he brought his palm across her face. The force of his slap knocked her down onto the ground. She sported a bloody lip as she rose up.

"Where were you?" he demanded again.

"It took a while at the bookstore. Sannishi-Sensei was showing me everything there. She wants me to start tomorrow morning at 10...if it is alright with you?"

"You WILL cook breakfast in the morning, understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Get out of my sight you pathetic whore. Just like that sorry excuse for your mother. Her, tramping around with random men. Hmph...no wonder I left her."

"Do not speak about mommy like that!" she yelled at him, regretting it instantly.

His cold green gaze bore into her. He would not stand for defiance. Pulling back his arm, he struck her with his fist across her other cheek. She lost her balance slightly, but steadied herself with flailing arms. Again she stood before him, unscathed, her emotionless mask still on her face. He scared her, yes, but she would not show him the fear he so greedily wants to see. His eyes burned with anger as he struck her again in the stomach, but it felt different to her. Gazing down, she noticed small driblets of blood on her hand and pulled up her shirt. Her father had taken his empty whiskey bottle and smashed it across her torso.

"You will not speak to me like that!" he scolded in a rather sober voice. "Now get up to your room, or else you will get worse."

The malicious glint in his eyes sent Riley for the stairs. She rushed up to her room and fell backwards onto her small bed. The comforter's warmth greeted her and she sighed. No matter how hard she tries, the fear for her father will always linger. She was terrified of men because of him and his 'friends'. Turning onto her side, Riley fell into a fitful sleep.

Screams echoed in her mind, reverberating off of walls unseen. A mess of blonde hair is gripped in large fingers, blood dried on them. Shoulders shake with sobs as Riley looks up. A towering man stands before her, the bastard she called a father.

'You have been a bad girl, Riley.' He says as he kneels in front of her.

She scurries backwards, but he grabs a hold of her skirt. Crawling towards her, he slides his hand up her leg. Fear paralyzes her as she knows what he is going to do. His fingers play at the elastic band that holds it up and, in a quick yank, he removes her skirt. Her eyes widen as he pushes her to her back. Gleaming eyes gaze at her and she feels his hand exploring around her thighs.

'Now dear, it won't hurt you...much. Just think about all the other times.' He whispers into her ear as he slides his fingers into her.


Riley shoots out of bed, panting and sweating. It has been that dream every night since her father said they were moving. That meant her step-mother's new job, as a nurse in a hospital, would keep her out of the house, and with her brothers room's being far from her own, her father could...She shakes her head to rid herself of the vile images and stands up. Looking at the clock, she notes that it is only 7:00am, so she decides to take a shower. Grabbing a long, bell-sleeved emerald green top and black cargo pants, along with her make-up bag and necessities, she heads down the hall to the shared bathroom. No one is awake in her parents room as she passes it, taking note of her step-mother's light breathing and her father's obnoxious snores.

Entering the bathroom and stripping herself of her clothes, she turns the hot water on and steps in. It washes down her body, relaxing her. It will be a long day, getting use to having to deal with people constantly. She was just happy it got her out of her father's sight for a few hours. Hurrying up, she washes herself, turns off the water, and steps out, grabbing her towel to wrap around her. Wiping away the fog that collected on the mirror, Riley notes the bruises and busted lip her father inflicted on her. The make-up bag held plenty of cover-up to hide it and she quickly applied it after drying her face. A whimper could be heard in the next room which meant that her half-brother Takini was waking up. Drying her body and putting on her clothes, she wrapped her mid-back length hair up in the towel and hurried to his room. Luckily her step-mother did not awake. She worked hard and deserved the sleep. Takini was lifting up his head and gazed over at his sister, a small smile coming to the sleepy child's face. Riley walked over and picked him up, cradling him in her arms as if he were her own. Making sure not to wake anyone in the house, she went downstairs with Takini in arms and headed to the kitchen. A bottle was already made for him in the fridge so she unscrewed the top and popped it into the microwave. 10 seconds later and Takini was happily sucking on it. Balancing him in one arm and using her chin to hold the bottle for him, Riley used her other arm to open the fridge (believe me when I say it is hard, but possible). The eggs were sitting on the bottom shelf so, with careful maneuvers, she grabbed them and closed the fridge. Takini was halfway done with his bottle so she took it from his mouth, propped him on her shoulder, and burped him. As she did so, Damian came into the room, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Damian, could you finish feeding him for me?" she asked her brother.

He yawned widely and walked over to her, taking his step-brother. The child didn't mind the change and quickly nuzzled into Damian. While Damian fed him, Riley set to work on cooking eggs with rice and waffles, everyone in the house's favorite. By the time 8 o'clock rolled around, Dante was awake and eating breakfast at the dining room table with Damian and Riley. Takini was sitting in a bassinet just 2 feet from Riley, in case he needed something. Their parents remained asleep so they put the food into containers for them. At 30 minutes till 10, Riley made sure everything was situated in the house, said goodbye to each of her brothers in turn, and headed to the bookshop.

"I am going for lunch, dear. Would you like anything, as well?" Sannishi-Sensei asked as she stood by the store door.

"No, I am good."

"Are you sure?"

"Perfectly."

"You look so skinny. What type of sandwiches do you like?"

Riley smiled knowing that the old lady would not give up until she was satisfied.

"Roast beef is fine."

"And for cheese?"

"Provolone."

"Alright, deary. Will everything be under control?"

"Yes, ma'am. You do not have to worry."

"Take care. I will return in half-an-hour."

The old lady left the store. Riley gazed around. No one was really there, it was after all, lunch time. Pulling up the stool beside the counter, Riley made herself comfortable and read a new book from America called Tithe. After a few minutes, the bell on the door rang and someone walked up to the counter. Placing the bookmark in between the pages, she set the book aside and stood up.

"Welcome to Sannishi's Book-Emporium. How may I...?"

She stopped short as she met the eyes of the man before her. His flaming red hair was tied back and his emerald eyes were wide in shock.

"Shu...Shuichi-kun?"She stuttered in spite of herself.

"Riley? What are you doing here in Tokyo? I thought you and your family were staying in England?"

"We...we were, but father wanted to move out here. I did not have time to send you a letter. I was planning on calling you."

"I thought that was you yesterday. I was and still am rather surprised."

She walked around the counter and jumped into his arms. Both hugged each other tightly. The bell on the door jingled and they looked up. Yusuke, Keiko, and Kazuma stood there. Their eyes were wide with shock.

"Wow, you move fast Riley. Hell, go for it."

A blush appeared on both Kurama's and Riley face as they pulled apart.

"It is not what you think." Kurama told his friends, an arm around Riley's shoulders. "She is my cousin and I was surprised to see her here in Tokyo. That is all."

"Why didn't you say your cousin was Minamino Shuichi?" Keiko asked.

"I did not know you knew him."

Riley grinned nervously, the first time she had really shown emotion in front of them. As she was hugging Kurama again, they heard a thump on the window. Several girls were pressed against it, glaring at Riley.

"Umm...who are they?" she wondered out loud.

"My fan club." Kurama said, sighing.

"Fan club?"

"Yep. They are after my good looks."

"I can see why. You take a lot after aunt Shiori."

As the fan girls heard this, they backed away from the window, satisfied that Riley was not trying to take their precious Shuichi, and walked away gossiping. Everyone inside the shop sweat dropped. It was already a strange day, could it get even more worse.?

"Hey, what happened to your face?" Kazuma asked as he stepped towards Riley.

"Nothing. I'm just a klutz."

Yep, it just got worse.

Well? What did everyone think? I personally believe that this will be better then my other stories. The chapters will take longer to post but will be worth while. I am going to spend a lot of time on this story. Review, please!

Jinx-the-Pink-Goddess