Prejudice
Krizzie: Hey! Here's the second chap!
Yuki: They know.
Krizzie: They do?
Yuki: Duh they do!
Krizzie: Well, it doesn't really matter! This story is not near its end just yet!
Yuki: Wow. That makes me feel a whole lot better. Yay.
Krizzie: Don't sound so gloomy.
Yuki: I'm not. I'm just rejoicing over the fact that WE DON'T OWN CAPTAIN TSUBASA! And the fact that I don't know a lot about this story's plot…
Krizzie: Sue us and we sue you back.
Yuki: That was my line.
Krizzie: It's MY line now. Let's go! Oh yeah, I won't update the third chapter until I get at least one review. We accept anonymous ones, don't worry. I just want to know if someone's interested or if I'm just wasting my time writing this.
Chapter Two: Pains and Conflicts
It was a Friday evening and everything was still. The day had been uneventful and she suspected the night would've been the same. For a girl like her, excitement had never bothered to visit.
The lone Nakazawa girl stared at the moonlit sky from the vast gardens of the mansion. The stars were twinkling, as if calling out to her but Sanae knew they weren't. They were just there to mock her like everyone else. But they were the only solace she could find tonight.
They were the only thing around her that brought even just a little hope to her shattered spirit and at least tonight, the cold-hearted bastards that kept her there were asleep. And she was free to dream; free to wander aimlessly through her fantasies of a prince sweeping her off her feet. She sighed before fingering one of the roses among the bushes. They were beautiful, yet they were locked up in this garden to be hidden from anyone.
Just like the girl who forced herself to befriend the stars.
The sights, voices and sounds that reminded her of her caged situation were gone and the pain of being trapped was being slowly forgotten but they never completely disappeared. It was always there, whatever Sanae believed, whatever she heard, whatever she did.
A soft sigh escaped from her divine lips, her warm breath forming a small cloud in the cold air. She watched as it slowly dissipated before she went back to look at the small twinkling stars.
She blinked when a shooting star suddenly appeared before her. She closed her eyes. There was nothing in her mind at the moment but one thing. And she thought about how pathetic it sounded on her head but nevertheless, she said it out loud.
"I wish I could do that…" she muttered, clasping her hands together as if in prayer. "…to just vanish into thin air."
--
Oozora Tsubasa went in from the majestic gates. I recognized him from his goofy grin, muddy clothes that came from playing at the pitch and signature ball. But I felt anything but admiration towards him. He was just a soccer player. Nothing more and I knew that he could be better than the young genius everyone worshipped.
Why was it that everyone looked up to him when he just kicked some sphere around while I was here, working my butt. I had talent, I knew I did. And I knew that given the chance, I could surpass the soccer captain everyone believed was a miracle.
It was just plain nonsense, worshipping the guy when there were others who were greater than him. I believe that he was just lucky; just as we were unlucky to be fated to work for this family. I didn't normally think badly of other people but the feeling of being limited was suffocating me.
The knowledge of being trapped and never being free was killing me and I knew that in due time, I would crack. It was just unfair that people looked up to him when they could've helped people like me instead.
People are blind, I forced myself to believe that but I knew that deep down, I was just being selfish. I was just thinking of myself. My father wouldn't do anything like this. He wouldn't be proud of me doing it. But was it wrong to just fantasize of being great sometimes? It was my only way of being free. It was my only way of unlocking the cage they had fell upon me the day I was born… I opened my mouth to tell him all of this when suddenly the light from outside engulfed him and all I could do was watch…
Taro opened his eyes the moment his alarm had sounded off. Grumbling slightly, he sat up and turned it off. It was annoying but it was effective… just what an alarm clock should be.
He threw the covers off himself before sitting at the edge of the body, pushing back his hair and rubbing his temples.
What was that dream all about? Why had he suddenly dreamt about the Oozora and his frustrations? The teen felt like ripping his hair out but he controlled himself. He needed to… it was part of his obligations: To control himself within these walls.
He sighed before arranging his bed. Today would be a long day, he decided. But he knew he would get through it, just like any other day.
--
Sanae looked at the mirror on her bedside, arranging the bow on her apron and patting the frills on her headband.
She looked pathetic but at least she looked decent. She wouldn't stand to lose her dignity, for it was the only thing she had left. Pride? It was all gone the moment Mrs. Sugimoto had pushed her face on the marble floor to polish them. And it was completely demolished when Kumi had stepped on her head and kicked her stomach for not apologizing for spilling coffee all over her new Parisian shirt.
She took her brush and run them through her short brown tresses. She would live up to her duty. She would show this family that she was responsible but she was no push-over. She didn't care about the consequences. Starting today, she was going to live for a cause.
She couldn't tolerate they way they were treating her anymore. She couldn't stand how they mock her and tell her off when there was no reason to.
She was going to show everyone that she wasn't just a human being that was ordered around. She wasn't going to be just Sanae Nakazawa the servant maid, but Sanae Nakazawa, the servant maid who stood up for herself.
--
Ryou Ishizaki snapped his fingers in front of his captain. When the guy didn't break out of his thoughts, he flashed the only goalkeeper in the room a dirty look.
Genzou Wakabayashi shrugged. "What did I do?"
Ishizaki rolled his eyes. "Let me see… well, nothing really… EXCEPT TELL HIM OFF THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE A FUCKING LOVE LIFE!" Ishizaki hissed, throwing a lamp shade at Genzou which was caught easily.
"Hey, it's true." Genzou stated before going over and placing the lamp back at the study table. "Besides, our captain has been sour for a couple of weeks and I thought that a girlfriend might do him some good. A captain needs to be happy so that his team would be happy as well."
Teppei Kisugi crossed his arms. "It might do him some good but I don't think it would be good for the team."
Mamoru Izawa appeared with a tub of popcorn at hand. He took one and chewed before expressing his opinion. "Yup, I agree with Teppei… I mean, what if he gets too hooked up on her to pay attention to practice…" he paused, "Or worse… to a game." Hajime snickered when Izawa shuddered at the thought.
"Don't be such pessimists guys." Genzou said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I'm sure Tsubasa would remember us even if he does get lovey-dovey with a girl."
Tsubasa growled before facing his teammates. "Look guys, I appreciate you all looking out for me but getting a girlfriend is on the very bottom of my priorities right now." He twirled a pen on his fingers. "Besides, I don't think I'm ready for a relationship just yet."
Everyone frowned. They knew that the last girl had been a bad idea and they had tried to talk their captain out of it earlier but Tsubasa was just too in love to pay attention to them. Genzou sighed. Their captain had bad taste.
A knock on the door made them all turn silent. A girl, a year younger than them, entered. Her dark hair was shining from the light on the room and her amethyst eyes looked shyly at each of them before uttering, "Um, guys, Satsuko-san said it was time to eat."
Hajime smiled kindly at their new manager: Himamura Shizuka. The other one was Satsuko Reijan, her distant cousin, also the one who recommended her on the job. Reijan had been serving them for at least three years. Shizuka was far from Reijan and the team often wondered if they reall were cousins. Shizuka was more of a shy introvert while Reijan had been a distant girl who rarely talked to anybody but the team was thankful for both of them. They had contributed a lot for the team, both of them.
"We're going Himamura-san." Shingo said for all of them. Shizuka nodded before bowing down low and exiting the room.
"Let's cut the talk here guys. I'm not going to have a girlfriend for a long time." Tsubasa sighed before following Shizuka to the kitchen.
"Well, I think the captain is not yet ready to open his heart again." Izawa commented, tossing popcorn in his mouth. "I'm really worried about his emotional state."
"Don't talk nonsense Mamoru." Genzou said. "He would soon find his love and would stop torturing us during practice."
"I sure do hope you're right Genzou." Ishizaki muttered before everyone piled out of the room. "I would really appreciate it if I don't need to drown myself with painkillers after every practice.
--
Reijan welcomed them with her same, calculated look once they entered the dining room. She distributed the utensils and the food before she disappeared behind the door of the kitchen.
"Sometimes, she freaks me out." Izawa whispered before taking a bite out of his sushi. "But she does cook well."
"Duh. That's why we hired her." Genzou said with a roll if his eyes before he ate his own meal.
"We'll practice until noon tomorrow guys then after a shower and change; we'll go to the emperor's party." Tsubasa announced, drinking his water before eyeing his team.
"Why?" Teppei asked.
"Because," Tsubasa said with a roll of his eyes. "They invited us and we should go. We are the players that won Japan the world cup after all."
Hajime nodded. "It's just too bad that Hyuuga, Ken, Takeshi, Sorimachi, the Tachibanas and everyone else had to attend that party at Hawaii."
"Well, they were invited and we were not." Izawa muttered. "Get over it bunny boy."
"Shut up." Hajime retorted.
Tsubasa sighed. "Well, we just have to live with the boring party."
Hajime and Shingo smirked. "Well, we sure do hope some girls would lighten it up, ne, Tsubasa-kuuuuuuuuuuuun?" they said in perfect unison.
Tsubasa glared at them. "One more word and consider yourself kicked out of the team."
Krizzie: Second chap done! I hope you guys enjoyed it! Oh yeah, if you know the name of Kumi's parents, could you PLEASE tell me? Arigatou!
Yuki: I have no comment.
Krizzie: Since my fellow author doesn't have anything to say, I hope you guys would! Review! Domo!