PENALTY
Storms-Winter
Disclaimer: This is a Crossover story from differing shows and magna. I own only the plot, songs, poems, (if any) random ideas, and of course my four characters: Ayame, Miriko and Kyoko Kimura, and Sachi Yoshi. Anything else is up for grabs.
Chapter Three
"I don't understand it, why would the administrator to such an outstanding organization invest in the production of a school so far away from the city limits? It doesn't make sense to do such a thing."
"I heard it was because of that old prison."
"But isn't that place empty?"
"Rumours say that it's a delinquent house."
"Really? Ohh, that's kinda scary…and exciting."
Soft brown eyes glanced over as a dark haired female shrugged her bag over her shoulder more comfortably, and turned away, walking down the corridor of the newly built school, thoughtfully going over what she had heard. What does it matter that the school was built here of all places? But still…if those rumours of the delinquent house is true…
Pausing briefly outside on the step, her eyes drifted to the side to the direction of the supposed prison. She'd heard the rumours as well from the businesses around, and her own family as well, but even so, she wasn't inclined to believe them right away, not until she saw it for herself. Then perhaps…and only perhaps…
"Oh, excuse me."
Hitting some other person, she blinked as she stepped back from the force and turned her gaze onto another female shaking her head from the collision, and offering an apologetic glance, her unique glowing eyes of silver capturing her attention right away.
"Forgive me, I wasn't paying attention." The girl bowed slightly.
Brown eyes lit up slightly as she gave a smile. "It's okay. I wasn't either, day dreaming."
Returning the smile, the silver-eyed girls face was shadowed slightly as she inclined her head, dipping her chin fractionally in a graceful movement. "I find myself doing that at odd times as well," the girl murmured before shaking her head once more.
"How rude of me. I am Ayame." She introduced herself politely.
Finding it odd that the other had not revealed her surname on introduction, she replied likewise. "Kagome." She returned bowing to the other.
"I see you also go to this school." She waved her hand to indicate the uniform both wore. The matching white blouse with red collars and black skirts falling to their mid thighs with white knee length socks and black shoes.
"Yes, my cousin and I were among the first to be enrolled." Ayame admitted softly, lifting her unique eyes to the school.
"Ahh…that must mean you know your way around then?" Kagome asked hopefully.
Ayame's faint smile grew as she nodded silently. "I can give you a tour if you wish," she offered. "Right now the school isn't officially open as of yet, registration is still taking place."
"That'd be great." Kagome sighed with relief. "I didn't have much trouble finding the office," her tone became a little drier. "The signs helped with that."
"They are helpful," Ayame murmured as they walked. "You must have come from the city."
Kagome looked over with a startled expression to her eyes. "How did you know?"
"You have a certain bearing…that speaks of it. That, and the way you speak," Ayame tilted her head giving a small smile once more. "I mean no insult."
"None taken, I just didn't realize," Kagome replied. "Have you heard the rumours going on around here?"
"Which rumours?"
Kagome hesitated. "The ones about that place by the seaside," she didn't notice the fractionally stiffening of Ayame.
"It supposedly a delinquent prison house…but I'm not sure myself. It kinda seems odd for it to be in such a place, near a prospering town…but to go and build a school here as well? Wouldn't that cause troubles?"
"There is the possibility." Ayame replied after a time, drawing Kagome's attention to her.
A speculative light entered Kagome's eyes. "You think its true, don't you?" She asked softly.
Ayame glanced over, and a small, shadowed smile rose up. "Think? I know for a fact." She whispered before a voice cut through the halls alerting them.
"Ayame!"
Turning Ayame focused her gaze on the oncoming female ignoring the shocked expression that she received from Kagome. "Kyoko?" She questioned her cousin.
The other female skidded to a halt and gave a feral grin. "I got them!" She announced.
"All of them?" Ayame demanded, voice suddenly sharp, her eyes intent. Kagome looked between the two of them confused but stayed silent, observing.
Turning her head Kyoko hesitated suddenly, and Ayame glanced over. "Kagome-san…this is my cousin, Kyoko. You must be confused."
"Just a little…" Kagome gave a weak smile.
"I will explain." Ayame delivered a sharp glance to her cousin when the other made to protest. "Please, come with me." She murmured.
Glancing at Kyoko, Kagome followed silently to a library where the three sat at a table placing their bags aside. Ayame folded her hands in her lap closing her eyes momentarily before opening them, and pinning Kagome with a direct look. "Have you ever heard of the Twin Teardrops?"
Kagome's eyes took on a startled cast. "Yes…I have. Their gems supposed to have magical properties of purity, but as well as that, the power to change things, with the past, present, or future. Some say there are other things those gems are capable of, but no one knows."
"Interesting," Kyoko arched a slender brow. "How did you find out about them?"
"My family has a shrine," Kagome looked aside. "There are certain things that I know about, the Teardrops are held to a family over the centuries, the sacred guardians to these objects unknown of, even if disaster strikes."
"Like the Teardrop Massacre," Ayame whispered. She sighed to herself. "I will tell you Kagome-san, the rumours are true."
"What?" Kagome stared, surprised.
"The structure at the seaside is a place for delinquents. Their prison," Ayame looked up. "It's funded by the same organization that supports this school."
"What? No way!" Kagome exclaimed. "Why would they do that?"
"Because it profits them in both situations," Ayame explained calmly, her eyes darkening as Kyoko sat silently at her side staring with narrowed ruby eyes at the table. "With the school, the money from the families of the children that came here, as well as various managements within the school itself. With the prison…the government sets down appropriate funds for each incriminated person that enters, plus, if one in some…accident…or breakout…or even a fight dies…that amount doubles and immediately goes to the organization in order to help them cover the…insurance."
"I…can't believe that…" Kagome stared. "How do you know all of this?"
"Let's just say it's in our best interest to know such things," Ayame replied secretively. "But…in the meantime, I asked Kyoko to find information regarding the Teardrops."
"But…why?"
Ayame looked away. "I have reason to believe that they have surfaced…and will be taken from the family that guards them…"
Kagome shook her head. "But how does that relate to you?"
Ayame closed her eyes. "Because I think the Teardrops are within my family."
Eyes widening, Kagome looked between the cousins slowly. "Are you sure?" She whispered.
"Not entirely…" Kyoko admitted. "But…these scrolls will be able to tell us for sure." She reached into her bag and brought out a package, unwrapping it, she revealed aged looking scrolls, the handles made of old worn wood and the paper itself yellowed with age, and dry.
"I went into the family burial grounds to find these. They were placed there long ago…before the Teardrop Massacre. And updated each generation." Kyoko looked over the documents with a tiny scowl. "I wouldn't have had to take this if I knew how to read the language it was written in…but only Ayame knows…" she glanced at her cousin and passed the scrolls over.
Ayame took them carefully, and set them down with great care, before she undid the binding ribbons, and slowly unrolled the first. Her eyes skimmed over it swiftly before she went on further. After a moment, she placed it aside, and reached for the more recent and newer looking of the scrolls, opening it silently.
Pausing for a moment, the two females started as suddenly the blood drained from her face as she stared at the page before her. Then, very carefully, and deliberately, she closed it, and placed it within her own bag with trembling hands. "Its true," she murmured very softly. "The Teardrops…its true…"
"They're in our family?" Kyoko exclaimed quietly. "But then…who's the holder?"
"I don't know…it doesn't say." Ayame replied staring at nothing. Suddenly she stood and swept up her bag, leaving the other two to stare after her. "Ayame?" Kyoko demanded.
"Please, excuse me," Ayame bowed hastily, but with sure grace. "Kagome-san, it was a pleasure to meet you, I hope we will get to know each other better later on, but there is something that I must take care of this instant." Leaving them to stare after her she vanished out of sight, and silence descended.
"I hate it when she does that." Kyoko muttered.
Kagome hesitated. "Should…we leave her?"
"It's best." Kyoko frowned, a dark knowledge in her eyes. "Ayame does as she pleases, when she gets like this, its better to leave her alone."
"What about the scrolls?"
Kyoko shrugged. "I can't say I'm not interested. I am. But at the same time, I don't want to know. Some things are best left alone. But if Ayame wants to know…" she shrugged again. "She can deal with the problems that comes with the knowledge then."
"Well…" Kagome bit the inside of her lip. "I'd be lying if I said that this hasn't been interesting from the start…"
Kyoko blinked and looked over at her, and suddenly a smirk decorated her lips. "Yeah." She agreed. "We'd also be lying if we said that it won't get more interesting."
Kagome looked over to the ruby eyes, and grinned. "I couldn't have said it better myself," she declared.
"Sir…"
Grey eyes lifted slowly to the young male standing at the front of the desk and blinked tiredly. "Ah, forgive me. What is it?"
"There are more letters…"
"Thank you, just leave them with the rest."
Hesitating, the young man did as told giving a bow as he backed out once more. Leaning back, the man rested his chin on his hand with a pensive expression. "This cannot go on any longer…" he murmured.
"Father?"
Gaze settling on the door, opening once more to admit another male, similar in appearance, merely younger, he gave a wan smile. "Hiro. I'm afraid…it's time."
Hiro regarded him impassively. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. I cannot keep up anymore, besides, you have taken care of everything for me for so long…" sighing he closed his eyes. "I've been stubborn."
"You did build this up from the start…" his son began quietly.
"Yes. And now it's time to pass it on." Opening his grey eyes, the man looked to his son. "As of now, I, Tetsoko Kimura place all responsibilities of the family business unto you…my son, Hiro."
"Father…I am honoured." Hiro bowed to him deeply.
Waving it away, Tetsoko rose slowly, taking up his cane. "I know that you are well off for this Hiro, you've been steadily overtaking duties to relieve me of the stress. Consider this the big promotion." With a small smile he began to walk out. "This is my retirement…my time to spend with the children."
Closing the door after him, he paused and a flicker of pain crossed his face. "It is the wrong choice…" he murmured to himself. "But for now…it will have to do…"
Sitting in the leather chair behind the great mahogany desk, Hiro's dark eyes narrowed at the pile of letters before he picked up the receiver of the phone and pressed buttons before leaning back to wait.
After a moment a voice replied.
"It's me," he gave a hard smirk. "It's finally happened. Go ahead with the plans."
Yay for me, I updated! Thank you to Anime-diva-40 once more for leaving such an uplifting review!
I apologize if their are any mistakes (grammar, the likes) in this, I'm editing this myself...not as easy as some would think...
Storm