Chapter 2: A Weak One
She glanced at her backpack, filled with necessities, small clothes, a plain pink toothbrush, and a cellphone.
"You'll have to live with my uncle; I'll show him to you. I can't live with you, unfortunately, since I have to continue my research here. I want to know more about the Aogiri Tree, but I'm afraid I'd get killed…" He said.
"Wait, you're not going to be with me?" The girl mumbled. Her brows furrowed stressfully, discontent with her early departure.
"I'll visit you every week, how does that sound?"
Other than her parents, Michi never had people caring for her; she was forced to scamper in the streets as a homeless girl. Scavenging inside the empty bins and leftovers, the girl reeked of rusty, melted plastic and a garlicky stench most of the time.
This time, a caring man dropped her off to the 7th ward. He tightly held the girl's hand, showing her the path to his uncle's house.
They stopped upon a house in Sumida, Tokyo. It had a wooden porch with a rocking chair near the edge, its glass doors felt strong and she could glance at the busy furniture in the house. Glimpsing at the red tiled roof, she was amazed at its greatness, the windows peered at her.
A man, with patches of hair upon his head, swung the doors open happily. A bright smile he had, as the man of about forty greeted the young girl.
"Hello there! I'm Eichii Hayate, I've been expecting you. My nephew told me everything, it was horrible. How could she do that to a young girl? Anyway, pack your bags…starting tomorrow you'll go to Sumida Elementary Academy."
Every step Michi took in the house, there was an eerie creak, but she dragged her mush of items to the attic. Hayate apologized, as there was renovation in the guest room, but she was content in having a roof upon her head. The attic, frigid and quiet, had a window peering out to the whole view of Sumida. From the bustling cars vanishing in a second, to the school children like her returning, and even the stray cats meekly strolling…she was finally at peace.
No more days of misery, of isolation and the constant fear of ghoul investors. Michi peacefully slept in her heavy futon, awaiting the comfort of the cool, silent nights. She could hardly hear the footsteps of her uncle, rummaging about the hallways.
The orangey rays embraced her face once more, its arms touched her flushed cheeks. Michi woke up panting, gasping for breath, a nightmare she had.
Shuffling to the kitchen, a single coffee cup was placed on the table. Hayate poured the muddy liquid to the brim of the cup.
"Good morning Michi! Are you ready for your first day? I know you're a little too young for coffee but, that's the only human thing you eat right?"
"Yeah, I guess so; I wish I could eat more. I always wanted to taste sandwiches, chocolate, or even pieces of candy…" Michi sighed. When she was five, she took a small piece of a banana, shoving it in her tiny mouth. Michi remembered the bland, spongey taste which made her almost puke.
The television was turned on, blaring news coming from a reporter. The young lady continued to speak, in a loud nonchalant voice. Before she could speak, Hayate closed the screen, and then tapped at his watch.
"Shouldn't you be somewhere?" He said.
The girl ambled to the school, glancing at the metallic gates and the large lump of a structure. She weakly pushed the doors with her trembling, nervous fingers.
"We have a new student, Michi…what's your last name? I'm sorry…" The teacher said.
"Just call me Michi…" Nervously, she laughed.
"Take a seat next to Tatsu, the boy with the glasses."
She felt a dozen eyes peer at her; an uncomfortable air of silence. There was a loud, obnoxious ticking on the clock, its arms slowly circling. The teacher, , tapped back and forth, with her high pointed heels. There were neon posters hung on the walls, the white, dusty chalkboards and the large gazing windows that lustered with blends of colors. They melted on her arms like warm butter. Michi had a tiny smile, finally feeling normal; since this was the first time she had ever been to school.
The lunch bell rang, as the boy took a quick side glance at Michi. He edged his body around, leaning to the left.
"What are you looking at?"
Her eyes switched from the ceilings to the boy, who stared at this foreign girl.
"Um, nothing…" She mumbled.
"I'm Riku." He grinned. The boy pushed his glasses with his right finger. "What about you?"
"Michi. This is lunch, right?"
"Yeah…" He said. "But don't go to the rooftop, or else the clown man will eat you!"
Never hearing about this nonsense, she quietly snickered.
"What clown man? I never heard of him." She inquired.
"It's in the news everywhere…apparently some sicko ghoul has been killing kids. My mom is so paranoid right now, it's not even funny. I hope he doesn't get to you!" He said. "When I do meet him, I'll swing him with my left-then my right-and he'll fall straight to the floor!"
Amused by his story, she would think it impossible for a human to defeat a ghoul. Unless he had a quinque which matched his strength.
Suddenly, she sniffed out a trace of something suspicious, it was behind her. A massive amount of power inside a body of a child, she thought that was impossible. Never the less, Michi slowly turned her head to glimpse at a boy who propped himself to the girl.
He had streaks of blonde hair, and a grey vest, there was a dreary atmosphere about him.
"I know you're a ghoul, a weak one. Fight me at sunset, tomorrow." He whispered to the child.
"Hey, what are you saying, Darius?" Riku said.
"Nothing, I just wanted to introduce myself to the new kid!" He smiled. "Hey there, Michi right? Nice to meet you!"
She felt her knees trembling, her eyes jolted back and forth, as if her heart pulse quickly shot up escalating. This feeling she felt before when the girl met the woman…it happened again. Michi tightly clutched at her chest, heavily breathing as her nostrils flared in surprise.
"Hey, Michi, are you okay?" Darius said. He pressed his palm against her shoulder, like her father did.
In a second, she collapsed. Her body plunged to the floor, a loud thud…
A/N: Well that escalated quickly :[! There are a lot of problems right now, concerning about that mysterious boy. Thanks everyone for reading this :D I won't update the next chapter soon because of tests x_x.