I fell through a black void that was nothing. I didn't know what was going to happen to me. The orb was cradled gently in my arms and I held onto it because it was the last reminder of what I was and where I came from. I was whimpering weakly when I felt that I had come to the end of my journey through time. Another portal opened in the darkness and the orb started glowing again as I passed through it.
I felt the sun shining on me wherever I was. I opened my eyes. Wherever I was, was not my world. I started crying thinking about everything that had happened. My papa was dead. My world was going to be destroyed; if it hadn't already been. I was utterly alone in this strange new world. There would be no Remulin to make me study the different laws of my home world. There wouldn't be papa chasing me around the garden calling me his little butterfly. In the end I was alone.
I would have to learn to fend for myself. I just hoped what ever beings lived on this planet that they weren't hostile. I had forgotten that I still had the orb in my hand. It was still glowing and was warm to the touch. All of the sudden it floated out of my hands and glowed even more intensely then when father had took the orb out of his body. I felt it begin to assimilate into my body. It was pleasant if a little terrifying to have it merge with me. The strange sensation ended and I knew at that moment I was glowing with an ungodly inner light. In that moment I felt the power of the orb flowing through every cell in my body and I felt it would have been an easy task with the enormous power that flowed through me to destroy the Atracian star fleet or rebuild a planet. The power finally became dormant within me until the time I would need it again. I was shaking in fear at the power that was mine to do what I pleased with. My father lived with this feeling for over a thousand years and he never let it overwhelm him. I didn't know if I could do what he had been able to do for so long.
I fell to my knees and wept for everything I lost. It started raining and I knew the weather changed because my emotions willed it too. I looked around me in utter loneliness. It looked like I was in some kind of park or garden. I lay in the grass breathing in the air that was foreign and somewhat familiar. I didn't know what I was going to do. I had nothing to barter with to buy food or shelter. I didn't know anything about this earth of the past. I lay there for a long time not thinking or doing anything. The rain soaked me to the bone and I knew I was going to be sick. I was being careless, but I didn't have the strength to care. In that moment I looked out across the park to what looked very similar to the roads of what we had in the Shining City. A person I assumed to be a woman was running. Her outfit was very strange and left little to the imagination. I knew she must seen me because she stopped running and started walking towards me. The rain made it hard to make out her facial features. In self preservation I stood up weakly and ran to the nearest tree and hid behind it. I knew I must be getting a fever because I could barely stand and the world was spinning. I heard her stop walking and I started breathing heavy in fear. "Please don't hurt me. . ." I gasped out as I stepped out from the tree, "I am alone and I'll leave this place and never return."
"It's alright." She said smiling softly, "I won't hurt you. You look ill. Where are your parents?"
"There dead." I whispered.
She looked at me in sadness. I didn't think this woman meant me any harm and I was grateful for the power of the orb for the ability to understand her strange language. "I'm sorry." She whispered, "What's your name? Mine is Kyoko Sohma. I must say you are the most beautiful little girl I have ever seen. I didn't know it was possible to have hair and eyes like yours. Why don't you go home with me and we'll get you out of those wet clothes. I know how to make up some really nice hot chocolate."
I didn't know anything about hot chocolate, but warm clothes sounded heavenly. My night gown and robe were completely drenched and I was shivering horribly. I hesitantly took a few steps closer to her and took hold of the hand she was offering. It was warm and comforting and it was everything I needed at the moment. I started crying again and she picked me up and gave me a hug. "I am all alone." I sobbed into her shoulder, "Everyone is gone. They left me alone when I wanted to stay."
"It's going to be okay." She said soothingly, "You're not alone anymore. You can stay with me for as long as you like."
I looked into her eyes and they were shining with love and affection. She was an amazing person to be able to show such compassion too someone that she had just met. "You are wonderful!" I said trying to smile, "You don't have to take me home with you. I'll be fine."
"I will do no such thing!" she said reprimanding me, "It's no problem at all if you stay with me. The head of the Sohma's would do anything for me and he'll let you stay with me. Let's get out of this rain! I'm soaked. I can't believe how all of the sudden it was."
"Oh-um Kyoko-san," I said hesitantly, "Thank you so much for everything. It means a lot to me. People called me Anorien where I am from."
"What a beautiful and unusual name!" She said cheerfully, "It's defiantly not a Japanese name. I think it suits you perfectly because you are beautiful and unusual."
Kyoko and I became very close in the next few days. I was so sick for the first week and half that I was barely aware of my surroundings. I just remember her carrying into the enormous home that was part of the family of the Sohma's. I new the Sohma's were a powerful family, but I have yet to meet any of them, but Kyoko. If they were all like her it wouldn't be very hard to adjust to this world. I patiently waited in bed for her to come with my breakfast. I was feeling enormously better after she found me in the park. I think part of how ill I was, was due to the shock of everything that had happened to me. I didn't know how long I was going to have to stay in this world, but I would make the best of it. In the end of things, perhaps, I would be able to see papa and Remulin again. After I went back to my world and rebuilt Earth and the Shining City, maybe, they would be waiting for me. I smiled at the thought of being able to see them again and I would use that thought when I was at pit of my depression. I didn't know what I would have done if Kyoko hadn't found me, but I praised what gods were listening. I was so absorbed in my thoughts I didn't see the door slowly crack open. I gasped a little in shock as I saw a boy about my own age slowly enter the room. He was absolutely adorable! He had bright blond hair and honey colored eyes which were regarding me with unguarded curiosity. "Hi! My name is Momiji Sohma. You must be the girl everyone is talking about. It's nice to meet you! You are beautiful! What is your name?"
I laughed out loud at his contagious spontaneity. He shot so many questions I didn't know where to start. I began with the simplest. "My name is Anorien. It's nice to meet you to."
"Would you like to play Anorien-chan? We could play hide-and-seek. Would you be my friend? The only other person around here my age is Yuki-kun, but he is way too serious."
"Yes to all your questions!" I said giggling. "You are so nice Momiji-kun. Kyoko-san has been too. I was so worried everyone would be cruel at this place."
Momiji's face was glowing with happiness, but for a second his smile faltered. "Anorien-chan I should warn you that not everyone is nice here. Watch out for Akito-sama. He is cruel and wouldn't hesitate to hurt you. Poor Yuki-kun gets the brunt of it, but you must be careful."
I frowned at his words, but I was quickly smiling again. I couldn't resist in Momiji's presence. He was so painfully optimistic that I was laughing in no time. He had grabbed my hand and pulled me out of bed. I was a little dizzy from being in bed for so long, but I was soon running after him hand in hand to play his game hide-and-seek. We passed Kyoko in the hall and she only had a second to register who it was. She was angry and was yelling at Momiji, but I just smiled at her and waved as we disappeared around a corner.
We spent the next 45 minutes in a beautiful garden playing Momiji's game. I would have loved to just sit and admire the view, but Momiji wouldn't have any of it. I was having a wonderful stalking Momiji and he me. It was my turn right now and I had a good idea of where he was hiding so I quickly went over there. "I found you Momiji-kun!" I yelled in happiness. Whoever I landed on let out a yelp of pain. I started apologizing as I got off of him. I gasped in surprise. If it was possible he was even more cute then Momiji-kun. He had light purple hair and striking amethyst eyes. He was rubbing his head in pain. "Do you always make a habit of jumping at people through the bushes?"
"I'm so sorry I thought you were Momiji-kun. We were playing a game. Would you like to play?" I asked hopefully.
The boy frowned, but his expression became surprised admiration as he looked at me. "You are the girl that Kyoko-san found at the playground aren't you. I didn't believe Kyoko-san when she said you were beautiful, but you are. My name is Yuki Sohma. What's yours?'
"It's nice to meet you Yuki-kun. Mine's Anorien. Why are you hiding in a bush? It's a strange place to be."
His eyes shot me a look of hopeless despair. "I'm hiding from Akito-san. He can't hurt me if he can't find me."
I wanted to cry for him at his hopeless situation. I didn't know much about this Akito figure, but Yuki seemed so lost and alone. I couldn't resist giving the poor boy a hug. I must have scared him at my burst of affection because he tried to shove me off. "My god!" he gasped in surprise, "Why didn't I change? How is it possible?"
I looked at him in pained confusion. He had pushed me hard enough that I landed on my hip. He looked at me is surprise and disbelief, but it was quickly changed to concern. "I am so sorry Anorien-chan. I didn't mean to shove you so hard. You caught me by surprise. Can you ever forgive me?"
The poor boy looked so close to tears that I wanted to give him a hug again, but I was afraid to try that. I instead stood up painfully and took his hand in mine. "It's perfectly alright Yuki-kun. I know you didn't mean anything by it. I am sorry I surprised you. Would you like to play hide-and-seek with me? You can still hide from Akito-sama and if we see him will tell we haven't seen you."
"I would like that very much Anorien-chan." He gave a gentle smile that brightened his whole face.
I grabbed his hand and we played hide-and-seek. Yuki was eventually smiling care-free and was as much into the game as Momiji and me. Our laughter didn't go un-noticed, however, I saw Yuki freeze in terror. I wondered what could scare him so much, and came to the conclusion that it could only be one person Akito. I watched in silence as a teenage boy made his way over to Yuki. He was shaking in terror and I made a move towards him, but Momiji held me back. I saw that while Yuki was pretty, Akito was beautiful. His whole appearance was dark and sinister, but you couldn't help but admire the perfection of Akito. He had black hair, and even darker eyes.
He went up to Yuki and stroked his cheek almost lovingly and before I had time to blink he smacked him across the cheek. Yuki fell to the ground like a rag doll. I broke out of Momiji's grasp and ran to where the fallen Yuki lay. I picked up his head and was crying because I thought Akito had killed him. He was so harmless. How could one person be so mean and full of hatred? I looked up at the monster in question that was looking at the spectacle in front of him with languid curiosity. "What did Yuki-kun ever do to you? He is harmless. Why are you so cruel?"
He smiled slightly and bent down eye-level with me. "He exists. The rat must be taught his place. Let me guess, you must be the half-drowned weed that Kyoko found. I think I should change the weed to a flower. You are too pretty to be a weed."
I looked at him and couldn't help, but shiver in fear as he looked at me. His eyes were devoid of emotion. They were cold and hard. I knew then that Akito Sohma wasn't someone you crossed and not expect to pay the consequences. I was still crying and he made a move to wipe the tears from my face. I gasped a little at the sudden contact. I was surprised that his hands felt so warm when he was not. "You shouldn't cry little-one. It doesn't suit your pretty face."
I decided then and there that Akito wasn't as truly evil as everyone thought. He was mean spirited and cruel, but anyone who could show concern over someone's tears however minimal had redeeming qualities. I decided that I was going to befriend Akito Sohma, no matter how difficult the task may be. I knew he was probably lonely and was cruel to others because he wanted them to feel like he did. "You must be very lonely Akito-sama. I think you are mean to Yuki-kun and others because you want them to feel how you feel; scared and alone. I'm sure no one ever asked you to be their friend Akito-sama. I want to be your friend. I want you to tell me about your hopes and dreams."
He looked at me in surprise and anger. I saw in his dark fathomless eyes something I couldn't describe that disappeared as quickly as it was there. I thought he was going to strike me like he did Yuki, but I didn't move an inch. The blow never came. I looked up at him in surprise and flinched at the disgust in his face. "I called you a flower earlier. Do you know where flowers come from? Do you? Filth! How dare you think to know who I am! I could never be friends with something that was filth. You are as worthless as the rat that is so comfortable in your lap. Don't ever dare to presume to talk to me again."
His words punctured me to the inside of my soul. I have never felt such a devoid pain inside me, not even after losing everything that was good and true from the Shining City. I started whimpering and sobbing quietly. It hurt so much to be hated by someone that much. I knew deep down that he didn't mean it. He had grown up hating everyone and everything. I don't know why, but it must be significant. I looked up at him, at his cold eyes and told him something that made his disgusted look disappear. "It's alright Akito-sama. I forgive you. I know you don't mean it deep down. I don't know why you hate, but I am sure you have a good reason. I'm sorry if I said something that made you angry, but I am still glad to meet you." I smiled through my tears of pain.
He stepped back from me in shock. He was shaking a little with some unknown emotion. I continued to smile through my tears and his eyes met mine. In that one instance it seemed the world had stopped and all I saw was him. I saw a flash of pain in his eyes that I would have missed if I wasn't staring at him so intently. "What do you know?" he rasped, "You are just a silly stupid child. You don't know anything about me. It may be true that I hate everyone, but I love to hate. No one can save the already damned. Go back to your dolls and children games and don't dare to speak of matters you know nothing of!"
I stared up at him in his despair. I knew he didn't even realize it, but he was practically begging someone to be his friend. "It's alright," I said sadly, "to admit to be lonely. I've learned that even where you are the most sad and scared that you are never really alone."
"Shut up! You stupid child." He yelled at me in fury. "You know nothing! Don't talk to me again."
He was shaking in fury as he looked at me one more time. He turned his back on me and walked away. I was quivering in fear and terror. I didn't think I could bear to main eye contact with his unfeeling eyes any longer. I collapsed in emotional exhaustion against Yuki who was just beginning to stir from being knocked unconscious. "Anorien-chan," he asked in confusion, "What happened? Why are you shaking?"
I didn't think I could bear to answer him at that moment in time. It seemed luck was on my side because Momiji came running up to us. He practically jumped on me and gave me a hug. "Momiji!" yelled Yuki, "Don't!"
I didn't know why Yuki had acted so frightened all of the sudden, but I had relaxed into Momiji's arms and was crying steadily. "I'm sorry!" Momiji said scared, "I forgot! After what Akito did… Wait! Why didn't I change?"
"It happened again." Yuki whispered, "She tried hugging me earlier and nothing happened. Something strange is going on."
"What are you both talking about?" I asked confused.
"It's-it's nothing." Momiji said quickly, "Are you alright? I have never seen Akito-san so angry before?"
"What did Akito-san do to you Anorien-chan?" asked Yuki fearfully, "He didn't hurt you, did he?"
"I'm fine." I said sadly, "I just thought he seemed so lonely and I thought he could use a friend, maybe I was wrong?"
"Akito-san doesn't deserve your friendship!" Yuki practically yelled, "He is a monster and only deserves our hatred!"
"He's right." Momiji said softly. "Akito-san has always hated and enjoys making others suffer. If you try to get closer to him he will just make you suffer."
"I just thought everyone deserves a friend and he is no less worthy of one then everyone else." I sobbed brokenly.
Yuki hesitantly touched my shoulder and I felt him turn me around until I was hugging him with all my agonizing emotions. "Do you think that is safe?" asked Momiji scared.
"I think if it hasn't happened by the third time," Yuki said sadly, "It isn't going to happen at all, but I really don't know why?"
I just stay in Yuki's arms never wanting to get out of his warm embrace. I didn't really care anymore about what the two kept avoiding talking about. I really only could think about cold black eyes that mocked me. I felt the tears continue to fall from my already swollen eyes and I began to hesitantly fall asleep in Yuki's arms.