Disclaimer: I own nothing. It all goes to Bisco Hatori and everybody who will sue me if I claim otherwise.

A/N: (8/12) Sorry, it took me so long. I had a bunch of writer's block and then summer college classes caught up with me, so I've been a mess with my time lately. I'm going to try harder to get it up faster, but real school is also starting on Monday, so I still might be a bit slow. I'll try my hardest though! In the meantime, thank you for still reading and for all the reviews and story alerts and everything. It means a lot, and I am so flattered. Thank you and enjoy!

Chapter 9

Morning had come, but that didn't ease the pain. It was likely that nothing ever would. Renge stared at the elegantly carved wooden door. She could practically feel the despair and the sadness through the wood. It seeped out of it and wrapped around her like tentacles, strangling her. Or was that the terrible lump in her tear clogged throat? She felt so tired, and every movement felt like a huge effort. And to think, she hadn't even know the girl that well. She hadn't even known that she was a girl! If she was feeling this way, she couldn't even imagine how the boys on the other side of the door were feeling. The ones who had considered themselves a family and thought of the girl as an essential part of it. The girl that they had worked so hard trying to find over the last six months. The one that they had needed. What could they be feeling right now? She had lost a friend, but they…they had lost part of their whole world. Someone precious and important. Someone that they would have risked anything and everything for.

Soft footsteps met her ears. "Miss?"

Renge turned around, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her dress. Two servants stood hesitantly a few meters behind her, holding large trays of food. They had wary, awkward expressions on their faces, for they had never seen their mistress look so distraught. But before, it was so easy to fix all her problems. A carefully constructed pout or a stamp of the foot was all that she had ever needed to get what she wanted, but now…Now she couldn't fix it. No amount of begging or pleading or whining would bring that girl back to her and those boys. She sniffed. "Yes?" she whispered quietly, not having the energy to speak louder.

The two maids looked at each other with concern, and one of them stepped forward. "Miss," she said with a worried tone, "you need to eat. It's not healthy to-"

"I'm not hungry," Renge interrupted sharply. Immediately, the tears sprung to her eyes again, and she furiously wiped them away. They didn't deserve her curtness. What would Haruhi say? "I'm sorry," she said much more softly, hanging her head

The maids stood there awkwardly, obviously not quite sure what to say. Renge didn't blame them. She was a mess. The other girl stepped forward. "What about your friends?" she asked gently. She nodded towards her tray. "They should probably have something. They've been in there a long time."

Renge turned to look back at the door. Not a sound could be heard from the other side, but she knew they were in there. Taking a shaky breath, she turned her back on the door and walked between the two maids. They turned to face her retreating back. "Miss?"

"I don't think that that door will be opening for a while," she whispered, the sunlight falling on her body through the windows.

Rene silently rose to her feet, clutching the empty drawstring bag and her black shoes against her chest. The quiet breaths of her fellow orphans filled the air, but the room still seemed horribly silent. She felt that any sound could shatter it, alerting everybody of her actions and ruin everything. Even her heartbeat put her at risk. She could feel it hammering against her chest, and she squeezed her eyes shut, praying that it would calm down. So loud, so loud…It'd wake everybody up for sure. And then where would she be?

She opened her eyes again and quietly leaned against the wall by her thin mattress, doubt filling her mind. It felt depressing and hopeless. Maybe this was a bad idea. They'd catch her for sure! It was only a matter of time, and what would happen then? She shivered and felt her stomach drop as she imagined how Biru would react. His splotchy, cruel face swam in her vision, and she furiously shook her head, trying to rid herself of the image. He'd kill her. Her breathing picked up, and she slapped a hand over her mouth, trying to stifle it. She should just lay back down and go to sleep. Abandon the plan. Getting caught was something she couldn't risk, something that could kill her. Was it even worth it.

As she thought that though, six blurry figures popped in her mind. Her memories, or what was left of them. Rose petals and a symphony of voices, colliding together to form an unrecognizable mess of noise. Soft materials pressed against her skin and a warmth. A warmth so different from the cold that always pierced her now. One that not only ran across her skin but filled her from the inside. One that occupied her chest and felt like smiles and laughter. The precious metal of the necklace rested against her chest, warm from her body heat. She pressed it now, feeling the grooves of its design through the thin fabric of her ratty dress. She'd never find out about any of that if she stayed here.

She took a deep, steadying breath and straightened, a new determination in her face. I can't believe that I'm doing this. Still clutching the bag to her chest, she stepped over her mattress and tiptoed through the room. The shadows of the bodies around her were dark despite the moonlight that glowed through the window, but they didn't move or stir as her feet fell on the old wooden floor. Her bruises ached from the movements, but she ignored them. A vivid sense of awareness pervaded her system, and along with it came a horribly uneasy feeling that flooded her mind. Fear. Rene breathed deeply through her nose. Now isn't the time to be preoccupied by such things, she scolded, but that didn't stop her from nearly crying out as a body shifted in the dark. She froze in terror for a moment, but no other sounds or movements were made, and she could only assume that the child was still asleep.

When she passed Jakkusa's bed, the uneasy feeling reached it's acme, and it was all she could do to not break into a sprint and run as far away from his as possible. The boy who had tortured her for months and made her life a living hell and who still would if she made the slightest movement. Go back, her mind cried, just go back to bed. He won't notice. Gobackgobackgoback.

No! a stronger voice from her head cried, one filled with determination. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain! Keep going!

Rene chose to listen to the stronger voice and whispered past him. A sense of relief rushed through her as she reached the door to the hallway. This marked the completion of the first obstacle in her journey. She turned back to look at the dark, ramshackle room. The children sleeping in their beds. The people who had watched her abuse and ignored it and her altogether. The bastard himself. Her mattress in the far corner, looking lonely and secluded from everybody and everything. The moonlight shining down on it, illuminating the stained material. Good riddance. She eased the door open and slipped into the hallway.

It took her a few moments to get down the staircase. She knew from experience that the steps tended to groan and creak if too much weight was placed on the wrong spots. She carefully evaded every problem point that she knew of, stepping over them, placing just the right amount of weight on them and slowly lifting it. At one point, she slipped on the edge of a step, and her foot fell off and landed on one of the loud ones. Rene closed her eyes, bracing herself for the noise that would give her away. Silence. Surprised, she opened her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't weight enough to set off the groan. Pressing a hand against her startled heart, she continued her descent, glad that she had lost so much weight in the last six months. Not that she weighed much beforehand, but her meals had been rather infrequent thanks to their caretakers drinking habit.

She stepped lightly off the last step, her foot padding softly against the floor. So close now. Freedom was just outside the front door. It beckoned her, calling for her, but she turned her back on it. There were a few other things she needed to do.

Rene walked across the filthy room to the kitchen door and grasped the handle with her pale hand. Slowly, she twisted it and pushed on the wood, letting herself in. She looked around to make sure that nobody was there before she went to work. Quickly, yet quietly, she crossed the room and opened the cabinets. Pulling open her drawstring sack, she began taking random items out and stuffing it into the confines of the fabric. Guilt pricked at her insides for stealing, but she pushed it down. She wasn't taking much, just enough to last her for a few days, and it wasn't as though she was really stealing. She was only taking what she would have been fed anyways. None of the other children would suffer for her thievery. That still didn't quell the feeling in her stomach. At least she now knew that the old her had a conscience. That wasn't something that she could have formed during just the six months that she had been here. It was something that she had to have had before the invasion and occupation.

The fabric made a small zipping noise as she yanked on the strings, closing the bag. She felt a tiny smile grace her face and spun on her heel, exulting in her moment of triumph. She weaved her way around the table and various chairs, her footsteps quieter than ever. She was leaving, it wouldn't be long now. Escape was only two doors away.

Her hand reached out for the doorknob, but before she could take hold of it, the door opened. A dark shadow fell on her, and her eyes widened to the size of saucers. Her hands started to tremble, and a gasp made its way out of her mouth. No. This couldn't be happening. Brownish blonde hair filled her vision as the boy leaned into her face. "Up for a little midnight snack, now are we?"

"Ern," Rene gasped through her dry mouth. The wiry boy took a step towards her, and Rene backed away from him. Her mouth was hanging open, and the fear that she had experienced earlier took hold of her again, drowning her, threatening to totally take her over. She could barely think through the piercing feeling. Ern continued his advance until she had backed into the table. "Or is it possible," he whispered, "that you're going somewhere?"

Rene forced her mouth to work. A metallic taste gathered on her tongue, and she tried to swallow. Come on! It's not that hard! "O-of course not!" she cried, her voice a bit higher than normal. She laughed nervously and hugged her bag and shoes around her for protection as she tried to ease her shaking. Her entire body was quivering now. She'd gotten caught. Maybe she could hit him with the shoes?

The boy smirked, and she knew that he didn't believe her. "Well, that's good then. Because you know what would happen to you if Biru ever caught you, yes?" A hand reached out and took hold of her wrist, pulling her closer to him.

She pulled against him, but his grip only tightened as he pulled her to where their faces were only inches apart. He grinned down at her with a sadistic gleam in his eyes, and she glared at him, loathing leaking out of every pore in her body. "Let go of me," she growled through barred teeth.

Ern laughed menacingly. "I don't think you're really in a position to make demands, priss," he mocked leeringly. She gritted her teeth and struggled against the hand, but she was just too small. The wiry boy towered over her and leaned closer so that she was forced to hold herself up on the table with her free hand as she leaned back from him. "You really are very pretty," he whispered cruelly as he smirked, his canines making him look like some kind of predator. Rene nearly gagged on the stench of his breath. "I can see why Jakkusa is so interested in you." He forced a knee between her legs.

Rene gasped as panic went into overdrive. Ern wouldn't toy with her like Jakkusa. He wasn't as patient. He was going to outright rape her! Rene could practically hear the blood pounding in her ears. No, this can't be happening! her mind screamed.

Suddenly, a tiny, high pitched voice called to her from inside her head. A very familiar one. "No, no! You're going to hurt yourself if you do it like that!" the voice said. Rene furrowed her brow. What the hell? What was this? A memory? A flashback? The voice sounded so familiar. Like cake and sweet, fluffy things. It stunned her, making her freeze in place. The voice continued to say, "This is how you do it. Don't tuck your thumb in and start with your knuckles vertical. Then thrust from your hips, spinning the hand so they're horizontal. See? It's not hard." There was a smile in the cute voice. Encouragement.

Rene clenched her fist. Then, without warning, she threw it forwards, punching Ern solidly in the face. He stumbled backward, clutching his face. "Whab da hell?" he cried thickly. He pulled his hands away from his face, looking at them in astonishment. Blood was running down from his nose, splashing all over his shirt and staining it. His hands were covered with the substance. Rene's eyes widened in horror. "You bibth, do bwoke by dose!"

Rene ignored him, listening to the sounds upstairs. Her eyes widened.

"Who yelled?"

"What's going on?"

"Where are Rene and Ern?"

The pounding of feet increased. Rene drew in a sharp breath. She stepped around Ern and tried to run to the door of the kitchen, but a bloody hand once again grabbed hold of her wrist, once again stopping her short. The wiry boy leaned back, planting his feet in the ground as he clutched his nose. Blood ran down his arm, and his menacing eyes glared at her from an angle. The grip on her wrist tightened to the point of painful. Creaks and groans from the stairs met her ears, and Rene's eyes met Ern's. She knew from that look that he wouldn't let her go. She bit her lip. She really didn't want to do this. But he was such a bastard. Shooting him a look full of hate, she brought her leg back and quickly slammed her foot into his groin.

The boy let out a cry of shock and pain and fell to the ground. Adrenaline coursing through her body, Rene leapt over the cursing boy and threw the door open. At the foot of the stairs, all the orphans had gathered and were staring at her in confusion. Biru lumbered from the top of the staircase, wearing a heavily stained shirt and holding a brown bottle. "Wha' the hell is going on 'ere?" he slurred, his eyes red and unfocused.

Rene shot past them all faster than she thought possible. Normally she was very slow, but the adrenaline pushed her on, spurring her much too thin legs to rapid speed. Jakkusa dove for her, and his hands latched onto her tiny ankle. "No way," he growled, and in her panic, Rene brought her other feet back and slammed her heel into his eye socket as hard as she could. Jakkusa immediately dropped her and let out a agonized shriek that pierced the night.

Terrified and scared, Rene scrambled back to her feet and threw the front door open and flew out into the night. The cool night air whipped through her hair, making it fly behind her as she ran. The stones and the weeds scratched at her bare feet, but there was no time to put on her shoes. She'd do it later. Seizing the metal of the rickety gate, she violently yanked it open. A sudden pain registered in her mind as a stray piece of metal cut open the palm of her hand, and she could feel a sticky liquid start to leak out. There wasn't much time. She could hear the quick, heavy footsteps of Biru behind her. His labored breaths seemed like thunder in her ears, and she shot through the gate like a bullet, slamming it behind her. Metal against metal clanged in the night, and a heavy "Oomph!" followed. Rene didn't look back, but it sounded like the caretaker had ran into the gate.

She drew in her first few breaths of freedom. Free, she was free! For the first time that she could remember, an exhilarated, genuine grin spread across her face and she let out a wild laugh. She relished the feel of her cracked feet against the dirt path and the wind caressing her skin. Her bruises ached, but she didn't care as she spun around and gave a cheeky wave to the occupants of Orphanage 3. She would never have to see them again, never have to deal with them, never be hurt by them again. The feeling was incredible, and she felt like she was on top of the world. Nobody could touch her. She twisted back around and let her feet guide her. She didn't really know where she was going, just so long as it was away from there. The pendant on her necklace bounced against her chest as she ran. And she'd figure out who had given her that necklace and whether or not there was somebody waiting and hoping for her. All the answers to her questions lay ahead of her, and she was leaving all her misery behind.

Behind her, a deep voice called out, "Run all you want, bitch! You think you can get away with this? We'll find you! We'll hunt you down like the dog you are, and then, I'll kill ya myself!"

Rene giggled. "Go ahead, Biru," she said, even though he couldn't hear her, "the world is a pretty big place."

Rasputin straightened the cuffs of his Armani shirt as he gazed out at the water of the harbor. The water churned beneath his position on the dock, smacking against the wood and sloshing up it. Flicking an invisible piece of dust off the sleeve, he raised his head, observing his surroundings more out of boredom than anything. The guards around him stood at attention, ready at any moment to attack or defend. The moonlight shined softly off of the black metal. Gomon stood slightly behind him, tapping his foot impatiently. His pale, cold blue eyes seemed to stand out in the darkness, contrasting against his black hair and black cloak. It was warm out, but he never shed any of his multiple layers of black.

The man rolled his eyes in exasperation and made a point of checking his watch. "They're late," Gomon said, ice freezing along his voice.

Rasputin nodded, turning his attention back to the water. "Yes, but they should be sailing in any moment now." He folded his arms behind his back and allowed a small smirk to grace his face. "Don't tell me that the weather is getting to you?" he mocked.

Gomon snorted. "Of course not," he said in a gruff, irritated tone. "What I don't understand is why we have to stand here and greet the brat."

"He's the Emperor's nephew," Rasputin drawled reprimanding yet amused. "It would be rude to not welcome him to my providence." The last word came out with a laugh, and one of the guards in the line stiffened. If Rasputin noticed, he didn't show it as he stood straight and proud. It was almost regal in a way, but it was also fake and guarded, as though he were trying to hard to complete the image.

It appeared that Gomon didn't notice either, for when he continued on, Gomon's voice got even more exasperated as he argued, "He was banished."

"But," the Rasputin said, raising a finger, "he is still the Emperor's nephew. We've been entrusted with his care and refinement, given the task of shaping him into a man capable of serving in His Majesty's court. We'd be slacking if we didn't start off properly."

Gomon looked in his direction with suspicion in his glare. His brow furrowed as the icy man said, "You're awfully enthusiastic about this."

An amused grunt left Rasputin's lips. A cruel smirk wormed its way onto the man's face, and Rasputin turned his gaze upward to look at the sky. "There are many ways to benefit from this situation," he murmured in a calculating tone that made all the guards surrounding him shiver.

Gomon didn't react to the statement, clearly used to the man's dramatics and sadism. The blue eyed man pulled a cigarette and a lighter from his pocket and lit it before placing the lighter back in his pocket. He inhaled deeply and blew out a dark cloud of smoky vapor. "You're the boss here," he said in a slightly sarcastic tone. Another puff of smoke. "By the way, I received some very interesting information this morning."

Rasputin raised his eyebrows. "Oh?"

"Yes." The man flicked some ash onto the ground. "Word has it that those brats in France got some rather unfortunate news yesterday." He looked up, and although his companion wasn't looking at him, it was obvious that all of the man's attention was on Gomon. "Can you guess?"

"Aren't you going to tell me anyways?" Rasputin said quickly, but with anticipation.

The man rolled his eyes but continued on. "Something about a certain brown haired girl being murdered in the Tokyo Ootori hospital, interestingly enough." A cruel, soft laugh made its way through his mouth. It echoed around the near empty docks. "They are absolutely devastated."

Rasputin crossed his arms and frowned, thinking. "So the Fujioka girl never made it to France," he said after a few moments of silence. He wrinkled his nose as a plume of smoke crossed in front of him, but he didn't pay much attention to it. He frowned in thought. "And yet the hospital certainly didn't dispose of her. I inspected the subjects themselves. So our question is this: where did she go?"

Gomon, finished with his cigarette, tossed it to the ground and twisted his heel over it, grounding it into the wood. He looked up, a cold, anticipating smile twisting his face. "Launch an investigation?" he questioned.

"Of course." A dark ship suddenly sailed around a group of buildings, making it visible as it pulled into the harbor. Rasputin watched it calmly. "My bet is that the girl never left, and if I'm right, which I usually am, then a world of opportunities have just opened up to us."

Horns blared through the night as two tug boats sped out into the water, ready to guide the huge ship to it's resting place. A tall figure could be seen leaning against the deck railings, peering down at the Japanese docks below. Pulling his hood over his head, Gomon enshrouded his face with darkness. "Things have suddenly gotten a lot more interesting," he murmured, and Rasputin nodded.

"Very interesting," he confirmed.

Rene crossed her arms behind her head as she stared through the canopy of trees. Sunlight fell through the leaves, sprinkling the ground around her. Bird song rung throughout the small area of vegetation, their soft chirps light and breezy. The grass beneath her was soft, and she felt so comfortable laying down in it. She let out a soft sigh as she stared up at the canopy. It was rather nice. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling the morning air. The blurry image of red on black flashed behind her closed eyelids, and she tried to not let the disappointment take her. Just another dream that she couldn't remember all the way. Straining her mind, she tried to grasp for any more details to the dream, but all she could determine for sure was that there were two blobs of red and that they were people that she had known before and cared about.

Rene opened her eyes and sat up. "Whatever," she mumbled, irritated. She pulled the gold chain of the necklace out from underneath her shit and held the pendant in the palm of her hand. "Now what am I supposed to do about you?" she asked quietly. "I started all of this with a goal, and I'm going to follow it through. But where do I even start?" She leaned back on her free hand and twisted the pendant so that the sunshine reflected off of it. She regarded it almost carelessly, not expecting any clues. She had been meticulously inspecting it for months, and she wasn't about to find anything new about it now. She let it fall against her chest and hugged her knees, frowning. When she had planned her escape from the orphanage, she hadn't really thought of what she was going to do afterwards. She only had the broad goal of finding her family, but she'd never really considered how she was going to go about that. Now I'm on my own, she thought. In a war zone. With no place to stay. No money. And about a few day's worth of food. She hit herself in the head. "Great. Just great, Rene. You utter and complete moron." Now I'm talking to myself…

This was not good by any means. She needed a plan, and she needed one quickly. Somewhat reluctantly, she rose to her feet, wincing at the aches in her arms and legs. "One thing's for sure," she said, "I can't just sit around here." Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she started limping out of the woods. The road was only 50 yards away from the place where she had camped out. She hadn't wanted to stray too far from the road in case she got lost. Losing one's memories did present that possibility after all. It turned out to be a very good idea as she got her feet on the asphalt. Walking on a smooth surface was much more comfortable for her than trying to trek through bushes and other sorts of vegetation. Standing to the side of the road, a bright green sign rose out of the ground. "Tokyo 5 kilometers," she read. She shrugged. "I guess I'm going to Tokyo."

This is not what I'd expected…she thought as she stood on the sidewalk, staring at the city. Or what was left of it at least. She looked around her in disbelief and amazement. This wasn't what Tokyo was supposed to look like. Tokyo was supposed to be a bustling city, a metropolis overflowing with people rushing left and right trying to get to their jobs or run their errands. It was supposed to be vibrant with customers hurriedly running from store to store, and bright signs should be everywhere advertising some kind of product or service.

There was no way that the sight before her was anything like the Tokyo that she remembered riding through on the way to orphanage. Only a few of the shops were open, many of the rest boarded up with plywood. There were people in the streets, but not nearly as many as there should have been, and they moved slowly as though it pained them. Faces down, they trudged along the sidewalk, avoiding any contact or communication. Others were leaning against the buildings, moaning from injuries or begging for money or food. There seemed to be a dark aura over the place, and it made her feel uneasy. It was as though all the life had been sucked out of the city.

"Hey!" a voice barked, and Rene whirled around. A man in a dark black military suit was walking towards her. He wore a black helmet on his head with the visor up so that she could see his cold suspicious face. On his hip, a gun rested in its holster, and Rene's body stiffened as he rested a gloved hand on the weapon. "What are you doing?" he barked sharply, narrowing his eyes at her. "Don't you have something better to do than just stand there all day?"

Rene shook her head and took a nervous step back. "S-sorry," she stammered, holding her hands up, palms facing outwards. "I was just looking, sir." She could feel the sweat starting to form on her forehead.

The soldier rolled his eyes and gestured with his hand. "Well, get out of here then. Didn't you pay attention to the announcements? The governor is coming today."

"The governor?" Rene asked, but the soldier had already moved on to scolding the beggars leaning up against the wall. One of them was yelling at the black clad man in a crazed manner, and slightly scared, Rene turned away and started walking down the cracked sidewalk. She didn't really have a destination in mind, but she didn't want to stick around there anymore.

As she walked, she craned her head to look at all the gray, cold buildings and the utter lifelessness of the place. The air was so tense and just…hopeless. She couldn't remember ever seeing something like this before, and chills ran up and down her back. These weren't from being cold though; these chills were from her unease. The city felt dangerous, and she sent nervous glances in every direction, trying to make sure that nothing jumped out at her. It seemed likely in this place.

A soldier on the street glared at her as she walked by, and Rene cast her eyes down at her feet, avoiding eye contact. They were everywhere! Standing on every corner, watching the people with cold, suspicious eyes. How do they live like this? Rene wondered, as one soldier's sharp gaze followed her, making the hairs on the back of her neck stick up.

Not watching where she was going, she bumped into the back of some suit clad man. He quickly spun around, and Rene squeaked a bit from surprise. It seemed that she had surprised him too, for his eyes were wide, and his expression was nothing short of terror. "Sorry!" Rene exclaimed, a bit shocked at the man's state of alarm. Instead of acknowledging her, though, he faced forward again and picked up his pace, leaving her very confused. That man…he looked terrified, Rene thought. What kind of place was this?

She continued to walk, and this time made sure not to make contact with anybody. She needed expand on her plan and quickly. Wandering around this city was dangerous, she knew it. The few people that were out here weren't just aimlessly wandering around, and there had to be a reason for that. She cringed at the thought of the armed soldier that had scolded her earlier, and something told her that they were part of the reason. Cautiously, she lifted her head and turned her attention away from her feet. Her brow furrowed as she considered her options. Although it was broken and dilapidated, Tokyo was still the capital of Japan, and there had to be something useful somewhere. Some kind of records office. Although, it would be rather difficult to use a records office if she couldn't even remember her own name. Or maybe a clothing store. She had been told that she had been wearing boys clothes when she had been found. Maybe she'd be able to recognize them if she found them in a shop? Or maybe something to look at the possessions that she still had like the shoes or maybe the…

Rene stopped in her tracks at the storefront next to her. Or maybe the necklace, she thought, reading the sign above the door of the shop. It was chipped, and it looked like some of the edges of it had been burnt, but it was still legible. "Shizuya Jewelry," Rene read aloud as she peered through the window into the shop. There wasn't much in there, and nothing was placed in the display, but that didn't surprise her. Burglaries couldn't be too uncommon in such a desolate city. The store matched that image though, for it looked like it hadn't really been cared for. From what she could see, dust was making itself very comfortable on many of the items, and the place just looked dilapidated in general. But there was an "Open" sign hanging from the window, so maybe there were people in there. And she didn't really have any other plans at the moment. Maybe if she went in and asked about the necklace, they'd be able to give her some clues about it like who made it.

Looking over her shoulder to see if anybody was watching her, she opened the door and slipped into the shop. It was messier than she had thought. Dust literally coated everything, and dirt was scattered around the ground as though it had blown in. Spider webs and cobwebs alike dangled and hung from various objects and surfaces, and there was a musty smell like nobody had been in there for a long time. Below the counter, the empty display looked lonely as though it were once well cared for and then abandoned, left like trash. Very little light entered the room, and the whole place just seemed unused and abandoned.

Thump.

Rene frowned at the sound and walked further into the shop. Or maybe it was not so abandoned. She turned in a circle trying to remember where she had heard the noise. The idea of rats crossed her mind, but she quickly dispelled that theory at the next noise she heard. It sounded like whispers, fast and furious. Based on the tone of the voices, it sounded like people arguing. Rene strained her ears and barely made out the words, "You big lump! They're going to find us!"

"Not if you don't shut your trap," another voice said, a man's voice. He sounded embarrassed and sort of distressed. "You're being louder than I am!"

No, rats did not make noises like that. Rene spun around in a circle trying to tell which direction the voices were coming from. "Hello?" she called out uncertainly.

The voices sudden stopped. "I told you…" one of them hissed softly, and there was another thumb followed by a pained grunt.

Rene looked over the counter, not finding anything. "I'm sorry to intrude," she called out loudly as she pulled away from the counter. "But I really need some help. The sign outside says that this is a jewelry store, and I have a necklace, and it's really important that somebody looks at it for me. It's my only clue to finding out who I am." She listened carefully, hoping that her plea would be heard. Silence, and she tugged on her hair, slightly disappointed. "It's true," she continued, praying that she could convince them. "I don't know who I am. I lost all my memories during the invasion six months ago. I don't even remember my own name," she admitted sadly.

She thought she'd heard a small "Aw" of sympathy.

"This is the only clue I have," she called out. "One of the only things I have left before I lost all my memories. I think somebody gave it to me, and maybe if you looked at it, you'd be able to help me figure out who."

One of them whispered, "Aw, listen to her. Maybe we can help her."

"What if it's a trick? I wouldn't put it past those dogs…"

"Please!" Rene cried out, begging. She knew that the likelihood of them helping her was dwindling rapidly. Her tone was urgent as she said, "I'm not trying to trick you, I swear! I just want to go home." The last sentence she said more softly and to her shame, rather pathetically. She wasn't quite sure what else she was going to do if she couldn't get some help. Getting help from the whispering jewelers was the only idea she had that could work.

To her despair though, there was silence.

Rene sniffed and straightened her back. "Fine. I apologize for disturbing you. I'll figure something else out," she said, trying to hold back the tears. Back to square one. Who knew how long it would take for her to find another jeweler in this messed up city.

Her footsteps were silent thanks to the layers of dust on the floor, and rubbing her eyes, Rene grabbed hold of the door. She was about to pull it open when there was suddenly another thud.

"Wait!"

Rene turned her head, her long brown hair brushing her shoulders. At the back of the store it seemed like the wall moved as a large rectangle piece of it opened like a door. Rene's eyes opened wide as a woman with light brown hair stood on the threshold. A slightly taller man with salt and pepper hair stood behind her, regarding Rene cautiously. The woman, on the other hand, had a soft, warm expression on her face, and she gently smiled at the girl. "Come on, dear, we'll help however we can."

"So you're trying to find your family," the woman said, handing Rene a warm cup of tea. She sat down across from her at the table as her husband was pulling a magnifying glass out from a desk. He sat next to the woman, whose name turned out to be Suki and who happened to be his wife.

Rene gratefully wrapped her cold hands around the cup and took a sip, enjoying the brief relief that the warm liquid brought to her cold body. The steam fogged her glasses. "That's right," she said, placing the cup back on the table and taking off her glasses to wipe the steam off with her ratty shirt.

It was much nicer in the room behind the shop than the shop itself. Everything was meticulously placed in an orderly, yet decorative fashion. A large bed was placed in the far corner of the room, and across from in was a wooden desk where all the jewelry tools were apparently kept. At the corner along the same wall as the bed was a tiny kitchen nook complete with a stove and refrigerator. The table they were sitting at sat at the last remaining corner. It was rather tiny and cramped, but it also felt homely. Suki had already told her about how they had taken to hiding out there after the invasion. Of course, the government knew about their location, but it kept them safe from the other less savory characters that had taken looting the neighborhoods and homes.

Suki pushed a plate of bread towards the girl. "Eat," she said encouragingly with a bright, enthusiastic smile. "You're way too thin! Did they ever feed you wherever you've been for the last few months?"

Rene felt herself blush at the sweet treatment. It had been awhile since anybody had smiled at her or showed her concern. She was touched but felt slightly guilty. It didn't look like the couple had much in the first place, and she didn't want to take all their food. Although it did look very good…But that'd be rude. Self consciously tugging at her hair, she muttered, "Not too much, no. But you don't have to go to so much trouble. I have some." She lifted her bag to prove it, but Suki shook her head vigorously.

"No, no, no!" she cried, putting her hands up. She almost sounded shocked. "You can save that for later. We don't mind at all, do we, Seishiro?"

Her husband pushed to plate closer towards Rene in answer. "Not at all." He smiled at her but then his expression turned grim, "I apologize, by the way, for our rude behavior. As you can tell, things get difficult here. We thought that you were the Yakuza or a tax collector. They both work for our 'esteemed ruler' now." His voice took on a disgusted tone as he said that, and Rene nodded.

"So that's why the city looks the way it does," she said. All the closed down shops and the guards and the hopelessness and despair…

Seishiro nodded. "Rasputin takes and takes and takes, leaving the country out to dry," he said bitterly. "The people can barely live as it is, and with all the new rules and restrictions, we're prisoners in our own country. Everywhere we go, everywhere we walk, we're being monitored."

Suki whacked the man upside the head. "Then you should watch what you say," she hissed. She rolled her eyes. "Baka." Turning her gaze back to Rene, she smiled sort of guiltily. "It's not that we don't think you're safe, Rene. It's just that you have to be really careful here. Bad things can happen if people find you suspicious. You understand, right?"

Rene nodded, and Seishiro clapped his hands together once. "Well, then," he said with an sheepish smile, and changing the subject, "all that depressing talk aside, let's take a look at this necklace of yours."

"Of course." Rene pulled the gold chain over her head and let it pool in the palm of her hand. The vase pendant shined in the light of the lamp, and Seishiro held out his hand so that Rene could drop the necklace into it.

The man took it carefully and held the vase up to the light. Suddenly his eyes widened. "No way," he breathed, turning it this way and that. A sudden light entered his eyes, and his face split with excitement. "Do you have any idea what this is?" he demanded, pointing a finger at the necklace.

Rene shook her head, surprised at the reaction. She loved it, but the necklace couldn't be that shocking, could it? "No," she said in a confused tone.

"This," he said dramatically, holding the necklace up in the air, "is a Hitachiin original!"

Suki gasped. "You're kidding, let me see!" The woman gently took hold of the gold chain as though handling something incredibly fragile. Shock spread across her face. "Oh, my God. I never thought I'd see one of these!"

Meanwhile, Rene pondered over Seishiro's statement. Hitachiin? Who was that? And why did the name sound so familiar? At the word, blurs of red seemed to pop up in her mind, and for some reason, her mind related the word to school. But that didn't make sense, it sounded like a name. A really important name… "Hitachiin?" she whispered, trying to rack her mind.

"Come on," Seishiro cried, still excited. "You have to know about Hitachiin Industries! They're famous!"

Rene frowned. "Famous?" Maybe that was why they were familiar…

Suki nodded enthusiastically, not noticing her guest's distress. "World wide." She brought her face closer to the pendant, observing it with incredulous eyes. "Look at the detail! And the color! I think this is their special paint formula!" She smiled at the girl. "It's beautiful. My guess is that it's one of a kind."

Her husband turned his attention to Rene. "They originally started out in Japan, but after the invasion, they had to totally move shop. They had headquarters in both Paris and Milan, so now that's where most of the work happens. But they've got stores everywhere."

"Of course, not many people can afford to go to them," Suki said, handing the necklace back to Rene, who held it in her closed hand against her chest. "Hitachiin designs don't come cheap. It's not stuff that the middle class would wear. You've got some very rich friends out there somewhere," she said.

Rene tried to process all of this. So this wasn't just any necklace then. "So, how would I find out who bought this for me?" she asked.

Seishiro leaned forward. "Well, it didn't have any marks that would specify that it was part of a collection, so my guess is that that was custom made, which makes your life easier. If it had been part of a collection, then it could have been sold anywhere. The custom items are generally made at the headquarters."

"So Paris, Milan, or Tokyo," Rene said. Suddenly her face fell. "And it was probably made in Tokyo," she said in a despondent voice. The couple's excited faces fell away. They all knew what that meant. If what they said was true, then the Japanese headquarters didn't exist anymore. Which would mean that finding out who had given her the necklace would be next to impossible. Traveling out of the country was forbidden. Suddenly she noticed that Suki and Seishiro were looking at each other. "What?"

They jumped in surprise, and Suki bit her lip. "Can you keep a secret, Rene?" she whispered with a totally different demeanor than before. A new seriousness was etched across her face, and she was looking at Rene with an urgent expression. Next to her, Seishiro was looking at her too with an equally worried expression, as though trying to convey just how important this was.

Slightly shocked, Rene nodded. "Yes."

Suki looked at her husband again, and he nodded. Sighing, she turned back to Rene and said, "We know some people that might be able to help you get out of the country. Now I know it's risky," she said, seeing Rene's alarmed face, "but if you really want to know who bought you that necklace, then it might be your only option."

The woman looked Rene in the eyes, and the girl found herself nodding. "Then let's do it," she said in a determined voice. She had a goal, and she would follow it through. She had promised.

Suki grinned in approval. "Excellent!" She accepted a piece of paper and a pencil from Seishiro, who had risen to get it. "Now you're going to have to follow these directions exactly as they're written," she said, starting to write.