Chapter 2
It was dark; there was no noise, only emptiness and coldness welcomed her and surrounded the room. She was afraid; she could felt her heart beating rapidly in her ears. Her breath was tortured. She ran and ran without thinking where she was going. She went to the kitchen, then into the living room but no one was there. It was as if no one lived there, it was as if death itself surrounded the place…
She rushed upstairs and fell loudly back down. The pain in her heart was worse than the pain in her body. Tears became an avalanche, her small body shaking in an unstoppable frenzy... She desperately shouted her name like a poor baby animal that was alone searching for her mother, but there was no response to her torn begging.
She rose slowly from her position of weakness; she was no longer a crybaby. She went to the bedroom and bathroom but nobody was there. She opened the other doors, and found nothing. Nothing…. tears slid down her cheeks like a light rain on her beautiful little face; she tried to remove them because she couldn't continue to search in her state. Now, she only wanted to roll into an invisible ball. She couldn't believe it. She wouldn't do that, would she? She had promised she wouldn't go away. She had lied…everybody had lied to her…and she was stupid enough to believe in empty words again. First it was her mother, then her father…and now Natsuki….
"Noooo!" Shizuru screamed, finally outside of her traumatic nightmare. She felt something moving below her, and saw Natsuki startled and searching everywhere for the reason of the commotion. In one of her hands there was a remote control, and in her other hand a cushion.
"What happened? Who is here! I-I know how to fight…I have a dangerous weapon…." Natsuki tried to frighten her potential enemy with words, although she knew she had no chance against a thief or an adult. Her mother taught her to call the police for when she was alone and in danger.
Then, just in case, she tried to find the phone. But now she realized she wasn't in her home. She was on Shizuru's couch and her best friend was crying in her arms. Confused, she finally realized Shizuru had had a nightmare. It was a moment that she had not really experienced, but only dreamed.
"Zuru...hey…breathe…or you will die, so don't die…what's wrong?"
"I…I just…remember…when my mu…mum…left…me…" The little girl with chestnut curls gasped hiding in Kuga's neck. The latter rubbed her friend's back, but it didn't seem to help, and her anxieties only worsened. Natsuki searched for an asthma inhaler for Shizuru in her dress. The little asthmatic breathed better, and Natsuki was sad, because she also remembered that horrible moment evoked by her friend's nightmare.
Flashback
It was a day like any other; nothing had indicated what was going to happen. After school, Natsuki accompanied her friend home, and Shizuru was so happy. The blunette was laughing at her friend's enthusiastic demeanor. She had won a prize in a drawing competition. Proud of herself, she wanted to show her parents, but when Natsuki saw Mr. Fujino in the kitchen, alone, drinking some strong alcohol, she recognized his behavior, and was afraid. She remembered her own father, for Natsuki also had a dark past. Her father beat her mother, and Natsuki was too young and naïve to understand. Her mother suffered in silence, and the blunette loved her father who was nice with her.
But one day, they ran away. Saeko didn't tell Natsuki the truth, so Natsuki didn't understand, and was upset. She wanted to stay with her father, and her mother had no choice to tell her the truth about the person she used to idolize: he was a bad man. Natsuki promised herself not to be blind again, and to protect those she loved.
She grabbed Shizuru before she could reach her father. The man noticed the child's presence and stood up unsteadily, visibly intoxicated by his lonely drinking. He laughed hysterically and slowly approached his child. For the first time, his daughter stepped back with fear. She found Natsuki's stiffened body there to prevent her from collapsing.
"It seems your whore of mother ran away. She abandoned us for another man and she took all my money, that bitch. Next time I see her, I will kill her!"
"No…mum…wouldn't do that…she-she will…she…" the ruby-eyed girl stuttered, trying to protect her mother. Her father looked furious and suddenly grabbed her chin. The girl began to cry. Natsuki tried to escape, but knew it would only provoke the drunken man. If something bad happened, she would fight with her teeth and with her hands.
"I forbid you to protect this bitch, she does not like us, she never liked us, she hates us. This is not your mother! If I hear you talk about her, then you'll join her! I will not keep you in my home! Do you understand me?" Mr Fujino didn't wait for an answer and left the house, slamming the door loudly.
"Su…suki.. it's not true r-right…mom is here…she love me…you said everything will be fine. You promised me." The latter didn't know how to answer; it was the first time she broke one of her promises. And she already felt guilty. Her best friend waited but she only met silence.
"You are a liar! Why? I hate you!" The little girl went upstairs and desperately called for her mother.
End of Flash-back.
"Please promise me again…y-you will…nnn-never leave me like my mum…" Shizuru begged her friend.
"Yes,"
"I want a pinking promise."
"Pinky promise?" The blunette smiled at the mispronunciation and offered her little finger.
Shizuru didn't know it then, but that promise would become something that would separate her from her best friend.