Chapter 2

Haunting Nightmare

-XXX-

Six years has passed since I've been reborn. And I learned a bunch of things about Kozato Mami.

I am Enma's younger twin sister.

Yes. Twin.

It makes sense. I remember that Enma was very close to her. Their powerful bond explains that they were twins. All hail, the power of twins!

I have the exact same eyes as Enma as well. Blood red with the compass symbol. Cool right? I find glaring at people and animals a whole lot easier with these eyes. (I was never able to intimidate anyone in my past life. I only ended up making myself look stupid).

What freaks me out right now is Enma.

How could adorable Enma freak me out?

He grins.

Yep. Grins.

His personality is the total opposite of hit future self. All sunshine and rainbows. It scares the crap out of me. But at least one thing that didn't change was his rather quiet persona and clumsy self.

I gazed at the blue sky from my bedside window. The hot blazing sun shined through my window. I slightly smiled as I bathed in the warm rays. The bright green leaves of the tree just right outside my window ruffled in the warm and gentle breeze

"Mami! Breakfast is ready!" My mother's voice rang faintly from below.

Enma's mother.

No information was given of her. But I was able to acquire said information. Her name is Kozato Asuna. I will always imagine the Asuna from Sword Art Online. Other than that, there are no other information I have gathered from her. I don't want to though. She's my mother. It would be weird if her daughter integrates her. Asking weird questions out of the blue.

I sighed and got off my comfy bed, not bothering to change out of my frog print green pajamas and headed for the door.

"GAHH!" I shrieked as I fell backwards, landing ungracefully.

In front of the door stood a grinning Enma. He was still in his star and moon print blue pajamas.

"Ohayo, Imouto!" He greeted.

"Gods, Enma, you scared the living daylights out of me." I groaned as I rubbed the back of my head while I got back up.

"How many times do I have to tell you to call me Onii-chan?" He scowled. (Failed by the way).

It didn't make sense why our family speaks Japanese. We live in Italy for the love of ramen!

"Fine then. Onii-chan. There, happy?"

"Not quite."

"Enma! Mami!" Mom called from downstairs. "The pancakes aren't getting any warmer down here!"

"The pancakes are all mine!" I ran down the hall and tumbled down the flight of stairs along with Enma.

"Fuck that hurts." I muttered to myself.

"HUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHH-" I slapped my hand over Enma's mouth.

"It's not a bad word if you're using it to express yourself."

I helped him up and together we entered the kitchen.

"Ohayo, Okaa-san." We said in unison.

"Good morning you two." She replied cheerfully. "I see you fell down the stairs again."

I took my seat and grabbed three slices of fluffy pancakes onto my plate. I grabbed the bottle of syrup and drowned my pancakes. I topped it with strawberries and blueberries along with whip cream and wolfed it down.

"Where's Otou-san?" I asked with a mouth full.

"He's at work, honey." Mom replied as she sat down to eat.

"Are we going anywhere today?" Enma asked.

"We're are going to go shopping."

What?

-Reborn-

I found myself staring at a pineapple.

We all went on a trip to the supermarket right after breakfast. Mom and Enma left not too long ago.

Why did my own mother leave me alone?

Because I didn't hold her hand, like a good child would. So now I'm lost in the sea of strangers.

Which brings to where we are right now.

I took the pineapple off the unoccupied stall and inspected it.

It looked fairly good . . . but wasn't it said that pineapples actually eat us instead of the other way around?

I shrugged and took the pineapple with me.

I walked through the crowd and eventually ended up at the park. It was rather empty except for a few kids and their parents.

I sat on a bench and placed the pineapple beside me. I stared at the kids playing happily in the playground.

I felt a bit of envy and anger bloom in my chest.

So naïve and innocent to the world. They don't understand the cruel reality of life.

I yawn and stretched.

-Reborn-

Did I fall asleep? It was already sunset.

.

.

.

Where's my pineapple?

I patted the area where my pineapple use to be. Just to make sure I wasn't seeing things.

Yep.

My pineapple disappeared.

"Mami!"

I turned my head to the direction of the voice. Mom and Enma came barreling into me. She knelt down and hugged me tightly, almost crying.

Wait. She is crying.

"Mami, I'm so sorry!" She cried into my shoulder. "I'm such a horrible mother!"

I awkwardly patted her back. "You're not a horrible mother, Okaa-san." I paused. "It's just that I'm a terrible daughter."

Suddenly, her grip tightened on my shoulder. She looked at me with teary eyes. "Don't say that!"

"Say what?"

"Don't call yourself terrible." She sniffled. "You are perfect. You and Enma both are perfect. The best kids I could ever ask for."

I stared at her in awe. She held out her arm for Enma. He came over and we had a group hug.

"Can we go home now?" Enma asked.

"Of course, Enma dear."

-Reborn-

A girl of fourteen, curled up into a tight ball. Another girl, who seemed a bit older continuously kicked the younger girl. The younger girl was covered in blood and bruises and cuts.

"What do you think now?" The older girl grinned maliciously. "No one's here to save you!"

The younger girl cowered and whimpered under all the beatings that she was receiving.

"You're worthless you piece of shit! You're a selfish bitch who cares for no one but yourself and take all the attention away from me!"

"I-" The younger one tried to speak but was cut off by the older one who smashed her foot onto the girl's head. She cried out in pain and blood seeped down the side of her head.

As the beatings continued, a boy, older than the two girls, watched silently from the small creak of the door. He watched with guilt that slowly gnawed at his heart. He never had the courage to do anything. He knew that he could report this. Yet, he didn't.

Why? Why didn't he help the young girl? His little sister. His little step sister. It was his blood sister who was hurting his step sister. He didn't do anything - because he was afraid. He was afraid to get involved.

His eyes widened when his blood sister took out a large kitchen knife.

The older girl slowly trailed the blade upon the younger girl's arms. She screamed and struggled to break free from the monster's hold. The older girl, irritated; slammed the back of the knife against the girl's ribcage.

A sickening crack sounded.

The girl screamed again.

Annoyed; the other girl raised her arm and brought the blade down.

"NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The brother screamed as his sister brought the blade down.

The young girl coughed up blood and laid still. The boy held her tightly. Angry tears trailed down his cheeks as he tightened his grip and cried.

His sister scoffed at him. "You seriously care for this bitch? She's nothing but a selfish-"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" The brother roared. "I HAD ENOUGH OF YOU! SHE DID NOTHING WRONG!" He stood up, leaving his step sister on the floor. "YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A SELF-CENTERED BITCH WHO DESTROYS OTHERS FOR THINGS YOU DON"T HAVE! YOU"RE THE MONSTER!"

The boy brought out his fist and punched his sis - no, monster, and sent it to the ground. He tackled it and the two rolled around, punching and kicking and scratching, while using the furniture around them to hurt one another.

Then the door clicked opened.

I screamed as I awoke from my nightmare; sobbing uncontrollably as the door to my room burst open. Enma and Asuna came running in. (Makoto was at work).

It was past midnight.

Asuna wrapped me in her arms as she stroked my hair, trying to calm me down. Enma joined into her other arm.

I bawled my eyes out as Asuna cradled me in her arms, rocking back and forth. She hummed a song before singing.

When I think of the memories we shared long ago

There's a part deep within me that wants you to know

Though I left without warning, without a goodbye

Suddenly, the song sounded very familiar.

I have faith that soon someday, you'll be by my side

I promise you, I'll answer your plea

I swear it's true, just trust in me

My love for you will always live one

Enma has already fallen asleep at this point. I stayed silent. Listening intently to the song.

Like a song, a simple melody

Though we're apart, you'll always be in my heart

I'll dream of the day you travel my way

And we make a brand new start

Never forget my oath, come what may

The sun will shine someday

With new horizons to pursue

New horizons, here with you

And then it hit me. This song didn't belong in this world. It was a song from my original world.

But how could Asuna know this song?

Could it be? I remembered this song. This song was the song that my mother . . .

My eyes went wide. I looked up and into Asuna's eyes. Hot tears blurred my vision and rolled down my cheeks.

It couldn't be . . .

"Mommy?" I whispered.

Her eyes softened and reflected intense love. She smiled warmly; her eyes filled with tears. She hugged me tight, burying my face in the crook of her neck.

"Mommy . . ." I said again, voice cracking.

She stroked my hair. "It's been so long, my little dove."

"How did you know it's me?"

"You never called me 'mommy' and I know my precious daughter."

I smiled and nuzzled her.

"I love you and Enma very much, Val."

"I know." I said. "It's Mami now."

"Indeed."

It didn't make any sense.

My mother died in my old world. The she was reborn here? Were there others?

Many questions swarmed my head but I didn't care at the moment.

All I cared about was:

I've been reunited with my mother.

Who loves me and Enma.

She hugged Enma and I once more. She tucked me into bed, kissing my forehead.

"Sweet dreams, Mami."

She left my room with Enma in her arms, quietly closing the door.

I turned over and shut my eyes.

That girl from my dreams . . .

It saddened me that such a thing happened to her. To be stabbed by her own sister. Her brother didn't help her till it was too late.

It must suck to be her.

But it was only a nightmare.

-XXX-

This chapter is pretty short - but I promise next chapter will be a whole lot more entertaining. The real plot begins next chapter so stay tunes! XD

P.S. Enma's bubbly and cheerful because he's a kid. The traumatic event that took the lives of his family would most logically change him. So that's why he's full of sunshine and rainbows!

The song I took was taken from Lizz: Iris (Professor Layton)

Ciao,

-Arti