Journey toward Love

Chapter 6

Guess what, everyone! Yusuke's stalking me! No, it's not a lie. If you don't believe me ask Satoshi. He's been coming to my school everyday, on the weekends he goes to Satoshi's house. It's freaking me out!

"Who is that guy that's always visiting you, sis?" whoops. I forgot to tell everyone about my past…

"…uh…remember when I told you mom was murdered?" I said trying to tell Kaname and the others.

"Yeah…you said she was murdered when you were about 9 or 10."

"Well…that guy's her murder and he also…" I paused and reached for Satoshi's hand.

"That same day…he raped me…" I held Satoshi's hand tighter and began to cry. Everyone came around me and tried their best to comfort me, but the only one who could, was Satoshi…

After school Kaname, Satoshi and I left to my house. I was gonna sneak back to my house without Yusuke seeing me or my sister. Everything went well until the moment we got home… my father had returned drunker than ever.

"…where have you two been and who is this boy?" my father said between hiccups. You old drunk…

"…he's a friend of ours…he was walking us home…" I said trying to get Kaname behind me before father could get a hold of her.

"Friend, huh? …he looks kinda fishy to me…get rid of him!" I knew he was buzzed pretty bad…seeing as he could barely stand…I grabbed Kaname's arm and had her leave to her room and lock the door. I walked Satoshi out and went back to my father. At this moment I was ready for a beating of a life time.

"…that boy…do you love him…?" what? Why is he asking me that?

"…yes…" my father walked toward me and raised his hand ready to hit me. I flinched and stiffened my self ready for impact. Nothing. I opened my eyes and saw me father crying.

"…my baby girl is growing up so fast…I … I… I'm sorry for what I've done in the past to you and your sister."…I shouldn't trust him…he's still drunk… I tried to walk away, but father grabbed me arm and threw me at the couch. He came toward me and pulled out a pocket knife. I got up and tried to run away, but there was no where to go. I was cornered.

My father ran at me and tried to cut me. I ran past the table and fell in front of my dad's chair. I grabbed the closest thing and hit my father with it. I hit him hard enough to cause him to drop to his knees. Now's my chance to run for it! I got up and ran for the door, but before I could get past the door my father grabbed my leg end caused me to fall again. He got up and pulled me by my hair, throwing me at the coffee table. I tried to cry out for help, but for some reason I couldn't. I heard Kaname's bedroom door open and then her footsteps running down the stairs. I heard father chuckle and run toward Kaname. I can't let him hurt her!

"You bastard! Leave her alone!" I quickly grabbed the closest thing by me and threw it at his head. I knocked him out. Kaname. Who had fallen on the stairs, had began to cry. I ran past my father and grabbed Kaname's arm. I was not going to live in a house with a drunk and I wasn't going to leave my sister.

Kaname and I ran away from our house and arrived at Satoshi's house. I knocked on the door, but no one answered. I dung into my pockets for my cell phone but soon found out the battery was dead.

"…What are we gonna do, Kyoko? That guy's still around and dad's probably looking for us."

"I know that idiot. Just shut up so I can think!" I looked back at Kaname and saw tears fall from her eyes. She was scared and I knew I couldn't do anything to protect her…

"…come on let's look for Satoshi…" I grabbed Kaname's hand and guided her into town.

The only place I could think of Satoshi being at was his mom's. But how the hell am I gonna know where that is! We continued to look for a lead to her house, but the only thing we could find was Rika.

"Rika, do you remember how to get home?" Kaname…I know you've always wanted a little sister but don't treat a kid you just met like one…

"Yes…but I don't want to go alone…can you come with me?" Kaname looked at me and I just nodded to let her know it was ok to follow Rika, but I didn't tell her it was Satoshi's little sister.

We arrived at Rika's house and heard yelling. It sounded like a teenage boy, probably Satoshi, shouting at someone and a baby crying, more or likely Su. I peeked through the window and saw a woman crying. We continued our way to the door and knocked. The woman answered the door and continued to cry. I looked at her as Kaname talked to her. Something about the woman was familiar, but I don't know what…

"Rika! My baby girl! Where have you been!" the woman shouted as she held on to Rika. As their loving mother-daughter moment continued I began to remember my mom again. The time I went missing and returned to her and we both cried in each others' arms… I quickly snapped out of it after the teenage boy came shouting at Rika. I looked up and saw Satoshi lecturing Rika about leaving home alone. He turned toward Kaname and me and saw the cuts on my arm begin to bleed again. He quickly brought us inside and cleaned out my wound. I continued to stare at the woman until I finally remembered her. Mrs. Sakura Hio, my mother's best friend and the woman that introduced me to Satoshi.

"Mrs. Hio…do you remember me…?" I asked trying to get her to remember.

"…no, dear… I'm very sorry…" I looked down at my hands and opened my mouth to tell her my name.

"I'm Kyoko Maeda…Ayumi Maeda's daughter…"…after I announced mom's name, Mrs. Hio jumped out of her seat and hugged me. I began to cry knowing I'd have to tell her about mom's death…

I let go of her after a while and had her sit back down. I looked down and tried to hold back the tears.

"Mrs. Hio…my mom…she was murdered almost 5 years ago…I'm sorry…" Mrs. Hio looked at me and was confused…I nodded my head to let her know I wasn't lying. She began to cry and hugged me again.

"…Mrs. Hio, I'm really sorry that your best friend was murdered… I know how you feel…"I hugged her back and tried to comfort her like my mother would… but I can never be as great as my mom…she pulled away.

"…Kyoko, I'm so sorry. You've had a horrible life ever since your mother died…"she paused before continuing her sentence.

"…I heard you were raped…" I looked up at Satoshi then looked back at his mother.

"…yeah…I was raped by the same guy that murdered my mom…" I looked down at my hands and tried to hold back the tears. I felt Kaname embrace me into a hug and began to cry. I lost my mother and I was raped. My whole world is falling apart. What more do I have left to live for…?

"Kyoko…let's go home…." I looked up at Satoshi as he held out his hand.

I do have something to live for; and that something is Satoshi…