Japan - 2 years and 11 months ago-ish
Ri's POV
So, it's been around 6 months since the incident with the Ri-squashing b*stard, and I'm still praying hard that he never finds me. I can remember the look on my mom's face that fateful night, so many days ago, when I'd come racing in through the broken flat door, red-faced and out of breath, sweating like crazy. She had the same confused, unfocused, numb expression she wears every time she's had a bit too much to drink. I had ran into my tiny room, and just sat on my bed for awhile, trying to reclaim my breath. Glancing into my tiny, faded mirror, I'd been shocked by the reflection. My usually calm blue eyes were wide and wild with utter horror and disbelief at what had just happened. My light blonde hair was stuck to my neck, and my pale skin was now tomato red from lack of air. My ribcage was constricting my lungs, and my legs were burning from muscle was, though, yeah the boy was intimidating. Yeah, he was older than me. Yeah, he was stronger than me, probably faster than me, an I'd kicked him where the sun don't shine. But surely I couldn't be that terrified of him. I mean, he was just another human, right?
Anyway, back to present day. I'm sitting in school, bored out of my mind, my gaze drifting from the board, round the room, and out the window. Large birds circle overhead, black silhouettes against the soft, woolen grey of the cloud-covered sky. I wish I could join them up there, flying free, the wind in my face, away from gravity's pull, away from school, and away from the Ri-squashing b*stard, where ever he is. How relaxing and beautiful it would be, to soar through the sky, elegant and graceful, so much unlike my trip-and-fall walking style. With a bird's-eye view of the world, feeling like a God as she looks down upon her people, and-
"Kimura, if your head remains up in space much longer, it will explode. Please return your attention to the maths." A dry voice and a tasteless joke cuts through my dreams like a knife. I turn my head to glare at the teacher. It's the very same b*tch who kept me back a few months ago. The one I blame entirely for me meeting the Ri-squasher. My hatred for her has been slowly been growing, and I am almost 49% certain that she is in league with the red-headed oreo b*tch. I bet she arranged for me to meet him, just to annoy me. Well, b*tch, your plan worked. Happy?! Well, make the most of this feeling, it won't be there after I rip your head off…
XXX
Finally. The bell breaks through the thick noise in the classroom, with its shrill ringing that I hate so much, as it breaks my ears everytime I hear it. However, today I can forgive it, as it's signalling the end of the week, and the term. Holiday time, motherf*ckers! Mom is taking me to Mexico to visit her cousins, Jessamine and Kali, and my little baby cousin, Theodore. Also, in three days, it'll be my 14th birthday! We get to go on a super-awesome Virgin plane, (which my dad paid for) in the f*cking first-class compartment! I love flying, the way you can feel it in your stomach when you're on the runway, or when it hits turbulence. Hell, I love turbulence. People think I'm weird because of it, but to me, it feels like I'm on some awesome rollercoaster.
Anyway, today I'm going back to my dad's place. To be honest, I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing. Dad's super, mega rich, and he spoils me rotten. But even when I stay over at his, I never see him, cus he's working. Even if I do see him, he acts all stiff and formal, like I'm a stranger, not his daughter. If his is the way he acted to mom, no wonder they got a divorce.
Yeah, my parents have split up. I live with my mom, but occasionally, I'll stay at my dad's for a couple of days. I don't really mind this. Despite her drinking problem, my mom is really cool, and super relaxed. She is the eldest of three children, which has taught her patience and responsibility. She is quite intelligent when she's sober, and works in the hospital 3 days a week. She earns enough money to support us, and pay rent for the apartment, and go out, or take the rare trip to Disney-world. Aimi Kimura is actually a very pretty women, with lightly tanned skin and warm hazel eyes. I've inherited her short height, and light gold hair. She never got remarried after my dad, and never had another boyfriend.
My father, Keiji Tsukuda, is almost her opposite. While my mom is a laid-back, open and friendly sort of person, with a slight drinking problem, and a 3 day job so that she can spend time with her precious daughter, my father is a well-mannered, stiff, intimidating person, the silent type, who is married to his job, and almost never has time for me. Rich and cut-off are two words I would use to describe my father. He is respectable, reliable, short-tempered and has no time for fun. He is massively tall with onyx hair, the complete reverse of me and mom. I resemble him in skin-pallor, and we have the same striking blue eyes. My father, unlike my mom, has found another woman, Nori.
I hate Nori. Everything from her long brown hair, to her cold grey eyes, right down to her tiny feet and cruel personality repulses me. The feeling is mutual, though, as she hates me too.
My dad lives 3 miles away from here, and as he and mom are unable to come and pick me up, I have to walk to his. Usually, this wouldn't be a problem. 3 miles is roughly an hour on foot. However, to get to my dad's mansion, I have to go through the forest, which basically means me wandering aimlessly for many hours through thick, dark woods, tripping over everything, and getting covered in mud, until I find the long, winding road, which goes on for ages up the steepest hill in the universe, before finally reaching dad's.
This is one of the reasons I dislike visiting my father.
XXX
I've been lost for 6 F*CKING HOURS! This is the longest time I've ever been stuck in this death-trap, and I've hated every second of stumbling around this overgrown Hell. And guess what? My f*cking phone's out of battery, which means no GPS, SAT NAV, or calling mom/dad. I knew I shouldn't have ome. I should have just told mom I was feelin ill, and stayed home or somethin. But nooooooo, I had just had to go and get myself into this mess, jut because I felt like I owed it to dad. Of course, I don't really know why I'm bothering. He never spends time with me anyway. I bet he hasn't even realised I'm missing yet!
"Come on, you little- SH*T!" I scream, falling over yet another tree root, and face-planting in the dirt. I've lost count of how many times I've fallen over in the past eternity, but I know that it's well over 1000. My uniform and face is covered in mud, and twigs and leaves are caught up in my tangled knot of hair. I have no mirror, but I'm pretty sure that my face is dark red from irritation and breathlessness, and my eyes will be the same bright, icy blue they always are when I'm angered, ignited with that same flame-like fury.
My cussing echoes round the forest, scaring the birds and beasts within the dark borders. Due to it being spring-summer time, it's still pretty light out. Although, the sun is getting dangerously close to the horizon. I swear, if it gets dark before I find my way out of here, I will never find my way out. I'll be forever trapped in the woods, and then I will probably die of starvation, or get eaten by some wild bear of something.
But wait! What's this? People, I've finally find a break in the trees and - no, nope, it just leads even deeper in. F*ck my life.
XXX
"Ha! hahahaha, stupid f*cking woods! Thought you could beat me! Well, guess wha- OW, MY F*CKING LUNGS!" I fall to the ground, curled up with my arms hugging my chest tightly, as if my ribs are falling apart and I'm trying to keep them together. I groan softly, as a fiery pain spreads through my body, rendering me paralysed. "Holy sh*t." I whisper, my voice practically a squeak.
I'm a right mess, probably looking like some hobo or whatever, with my ripped-up clothes, and dirt-smeared face. I lie still for awhile, at the side of the road, as the moon rises, casting a silvery light over me. My eyelids flicker, as the warm breeze of early summer evenings washes over me. Despite the ache in my muscles, and the hardness of the tarmac, it's quite peaceful and relaxing, alone here by the roadside. Feeling a little drowsy (it's been about 21 hours since I last slept, and I've just had a tiring 7 hour walk in the labyrinthine forest of doom), I rest my eyes, and even out my breathing. 5 minutes, and I'll carry on…
XXX
"G'day, M'lady. May I be of any assistance? " Huh? I force my eyes open, and stare up in confusion at the person standing besides me. What's going on? Who is he? "Uh…. I'm, no, it's okay." I say hurriedly, pushing myself to my feet. The burn and ache of my muscles has died down considerably, thanks to the little (haha, no) sleep. Slightly embarrassed that the person found me in such a state, I brush down my legs in an attempt to dislodge some of the dirt. Seeing that it's a pointless endeavour, I give up, and stand up, facing him for the first time.
I have to tilt my head back to see his face, as I am a midget 13-almost-14 year old girl, and he is a lightning rod probably-18 year old male, who towers over me. He makes me feel small, and I'm not just talking about height. Like my father, he has this powerful air that makes you feel insignificant to such a great presence. He seems cold, and looks the part of a well-off gentleman. Perfect posture, dark-blue-purple-almost-black-I-don't-know-how-to-describe-the-colour-WTF hair,that reaches the bottom of his neck. His intimidating dark, yet oddly fascinating, dark red eyes are hidden behind a pair of professional-looking glasses, and his uniform is perfect, without a speck of dust on it, and -uniform? But school ended hours ago. Unless he goes to night school, which is always a possibility. Kami, Ri, you shouldn't just assume things, honestly.
"If I may ask, M'lady, what exactly were you doing asleep at the side of the road? It's a very dangerous place for a beautiful young women, such as yourself, to sleep, numerous things of unfortunate consequence could have happened to you." My cheeks tint pink. I'm embarrassed, but I'm not entirely sure why. "On, um, I was walking in the forest and I got lost for a few hours. When I found my way out onto the roadside, I was very tired, and, well, just fell asleep. I apologise if my thoughtlessness caused you any trouble." I say bowing my head in respect. He waves his hand in dismissal. "It has caused me no trouble, I was merely concerned for your well-being." I bow again. "Thank you for your concern." I raise my head, looking him in the eye as I voice my thanks, which caused extreme strain on my neck as I attempt to tip my head far enough back to be able to see his gorgeous ruby orbs.
For some reason, the look in his garnet eyes reminds me of Ri-squasher, although I'm not really sure why. Also, that strange aura that seems almost... Inhuman, oddly enough, is unsettlingly similar to that of the red-heads. He seems to sense my discomfort, and I could've sworn that a tiny smirk formed at the corner of his mouth for a millisecond, before dropping back down into buisness-like emotionlessness.
"Pray, do tell, M'lady, why in the name of Heaven where you wandering about the forest? It's a dangerous place for fragile little things such as yourself. Many monsters lurk in the shadows." His speech is starting to remind me of some period-drama, or Austen novel. "Well, it's been arranged between my parents that I should spend the weekend with my father before I fly out to Mexico, and he lives at the top off the hill. The easiest way to get to his house is to cut through the forest until you find the road, and then follow it until you reach him. Usually, I can make it within a couple of hours, however, this time, it appears that I took many wrong turns..." My voice fades to a whisper as I finish, embarrassment at my missing sense of direction creeping up on me. His eyebrows raise slightly, as if he is surprised. "Your father lives at the top of the hill? Interesting... That would make your father Keiji Tsukuda, correct?" I nod, biting my lip. How does he know my dad?
"OI! TABLEWARE OTAKU! GET YAR ASS IN THE CAR! ORE-SAMA IS GETTING BORED!" An unmistakable voice hits my ears, and my eyes widen. No. F*cking. Way. Ri-squashing b*stard? It's only then that i notice the ridiculously-expensive looking car from before. I mentally face-palm. Of course they would be together. Just my luck. Apparently, the blue haired teen besides me is about as pleased as I am to hear cookie's voice. The tall boy sighs, closing his eyes and massaging his temples with two fingers. "I am coming, Ayato. Honestly, you have about as much patience as you do manners, you irritating boy." Oh, snap! Cookie just got burned!
"HAAAAHHHHH?! WHAT WAS THAT, YOU TEA FREAK?!" The older bluenette sighs, before looking back at me. "My apologies, M'lady. My brother is very impatient, and is very rude. I will have to teach him some manners when I arrive home. I hope I do not appear to rude at cutting our conversation this short." I shake my head. "Not at all. It was very nice talking with you, you seem like a lovely and well-mannered young man. It has been a pleasure making your acquaintance." I say, bowing my head once more. In all honesty, I have no idea what half those words mean, but he seems pleased with my response.
He turns away from, striding towards the link, before sliding in, shutting the door behind him. The car drives off into the night, leaving me behind, alone with my thoughts and the stars.
I hope this chapter wasn't too Sh*t. I've made some changes to the first chapter as well, as there were some grammatical errors, and I accidentally deleted several sentences.