4. Yu and Me
We arrived in the circular hallway again. Tiedoll led me to a door, where he knocked one solitary time before entering. It was empty, save a twin sized bed with an iron headboard, a nightstand on which stood an hourglass with a lotus bloom tucked inside, and a tall wardrobe. It didn't look to me to be very inviting. Who would want such a gloomy room?
Tiedoll strode into the room and waltzed right up to the wardrobe. He wrenched the oak doors open and I was greeted by the sight of traditional Japanese clothing mixed with clothing of the same black material as Tiedoll's jacket. The bottom was neatly lined with a pair of black boots, some zori and geta, and a pair of black slippers.
He took out a light blue Japanese style shirt. It had a high neck with long baggy sleeves. A length of maroon fabric wrapped around the waist and it was slit up both sides. A pair of navy ninja pants were on the hanger as well.
Handing them to me he said, "Just take a minute to change and then we will send your wet clothes to be washed and dried." He mumbled something else, but I didn't hear it. Then he stepped out the door.
I quickly changed into the dry clothes. They were a little big for me, but I wasn't going to complain. At least they were dry. I gathered the wet clothes in my arms and stepped into the hall.
Tiedoll was gone. I looked left and right, but he was not anywhere in sight. I started to feel panicky. The halls were empty, so I decided not to go anywhere. With my luck I would end up lost or falling down into "The Pit," as I had deemed the wide black hole in the middle of the hall. I sat down with my back against the wall, hugged my knees to my chest, and let everything that happened to me in the past three years come rushing into my head. I started to cry within seconds.
"Che. Stop crying," a voice commanded. I looked up into the face of a boy. He had shoulder length black hair, eyes dark as midnight, and a scowl on his face. I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. His scowl became even more pronounced.
"Hey! Are those my clothes? Why are you wearing them? Who let you in my room? What the hell!? Who the hell are you?" he yelled in a constant stream of questions. I shrank back as more tears came. This must be Kanda. I thought briefly about what Tiedoll had said and decided that he had lied to me. Kanda did care that I was borrowing his clothes.
"Return my belongings to me at once, or you shall face the wrath of my Mugen!" he cried.
"Tiedoll said you wouldn't care," I whispered. The name seemed to spark something, interest maybe, in the boy. His eyes showed recognition with the name and he took a step back from me.
"The old man is here?" he asked, distracted. Kanda continued on without waiting for an answer. "Damn. I thought he'd be gone longer." Then he seemed to remember that I was here. He turned to me and a scowl formed on his delicate, but strong face.
"I'll let you wear my clothes for now," he said in a superior tone, "but make sure they get washed at least five times before you give them back."
My eyes widened at his last statement. Was this really the Kanda Yu that the general seemed to be so fond of? He seemed to me to be a jerk. I looked away, before pushing myself up.
"Why don't I just burn them for you?" I said angrily. He thought for a moment.
"Good idea. I don't need your germs investing my closet," he told me with a smirk. I gritted my teeth together and held back the tears that threatened to fall. Why was he being so mean to me? I didn't even know him, and vice versa. There was no reason for this.
"You don't even know me," I said quietly. He cocked his head to the side and let out a low chuckle.
"Your point?" he questioned, raising his eyebrows up in a swift motion. I was shocked at his attitude. I stood still for a moment, unsure of what to say. Part of me wanted to slap this boy for being so rude, the other part wanted to run away and find somewhere to hide. Luckily I didn't have to make that decision.
"Yu-kun!" came a rough growl. Tiedoll was back. In his hands was a pair of black slippers. He tossed them to me. "I think those should fit," he said. I slipped them on and was thankful for the barrier between my feet and the stone floor.
"I see you've met my new apprentice, Yu," Tiedoll said. Kanda cringed.
"Don't call me that!" he commanded. Tiedoll just laughed.
"Val, this is Kanda Yu of my group. Yu, this is Val. She will be joining you in training."
Kanda's lips pursed and he glared at the wall. Tiedoll just shook his head.
"Well, aren't you going to greet your new comrade?"
Kanda looked at me with a deathly glare. "Hello. Please refrain from taking my clothes as long as you are here. I don't appreciate your rudeness."
"Nice to meet you to," I said sarcastically.
"What a happy introduction," Tiedoll said glumly. Kanda glared at him and I sighed and looked down at the floor. Happy indeed.
Sorry it took so long to post. I'm not entirely happy with this chapter, but at least I got one up. I feel like this chapter is missing something.
Anyway, I will try to post as soon as possible. Please review!