GoddessofMeka once again is amazing. She helped me improve the summary for Caged Bird. It actually fits well for how the story will go in the near future. Thank you, girl. If you see this, You are AWESOME!
In the last chapter, Rin dealt with a whole bunch of stuff thrown at her: starting a new school, dealing with being in a new city that's not home to her, and students who she just met that put her in a mood. Did you think Rin was hurt? Do you know what Rin's secret is? You'll have to read to find out more.
Chapter Two
I jolted awake to clashes of thunder outside my bedroom window. My heart raced rapidly, and I had a hard time catching my breath. I feared this nightmare was actually real and I was being gunned down right in front of Tashi. I fear that will happen one day. Just thinking of Tashi just now, the bathroom door swung open, slamming against the wall, and he came inside my bedroom. I saw the fear in his brown eyes. I wiped any tears I had away and whispered, "it's okay, Tashi. Come get in bed with me and I'll protect you." I scooted over towards the wall since I have a large full-sized bed. He remained quiet by shutting the door and crawling into bed with me, with his teddy bear.
Memories came back from that first night he lived with us. It was storming heavily out, and we were sharing a bedroom together in a little apartment we only lived in for a year. He went from sleeping in his little toddler bed, to cuddling up in bed with me in my big girl bed. He cried for his parents, and me being a young child didn't know how to comfort him at my age. But the only thing my young mind could think of was covering him with my quilt and wrapping my arms around his little frame.
"I guess the storm woke both of us?" I spoke softly and covered him with my light blue fluffy quilt and we both laid back down together.
"Yeah. Was it because you had a nightmare again?" He asked, laying his head along my shoulder. Placing his bear between us.
I held him tighter to me and brushed his brown hair behind his ear, "yes." I usually only tell Tashi about my nightmares. I won't mention this one to him. I looked over to my alarm clock and it was just after midnight. I've only been asleep for two hours. Stupid homework kept me up way later than I like to stay up on school days.
"Rin?" I had a feeling what he was going to ask me.
"Yes?" I closed my eyes, hoping I could fall back to sleep.
"Do you want to talk about it?" I was right.
"It's the same as always, Tashi. Just a repeat of seeing everything unfold that day," I had to lie. If I told him I was shot this time, he wouldn't let me go. I wanted to change the subject, "I know it's pretty late, but would you like some hot tea?" It's the only way I'll be able to go back to sleep.
Tashi sat up so fast with a gentle smile on his face as he said, "yes please!"
Our home was once again quiet as mom and dad were asleep after working a long shift. They are emergency dispatchers who put the calls out for fire, police, and medic for whoever needs it during the night. They have been great at their jobs since before I was born. My adopted mother was the one who got the call when I was found in the metro bathroom sixteen years ago. She still tells me that she can't get the custodian's voice out of her memory. It was after that day my adopted mother did everything, she could do to adopt me. She and father had been wanting to adopt a child for the longest time. I'm grateful for that. If it wasn't for my mother stepping in to take me as her own, I would most likely be a foster child, and a troubled maker at that. I probably would have joined one of the many teenage gangs in Tokyo.
I made Tashi and myself some raspberry tea. The best type of tea to help get back to sleep. "Rin, what should we plan for dinner tomorrow?" He asked after taking a few sips of his own tea.
"I'm not sure, what are you in the mood for?" I asked, looking across the table towards him. Mom and dad love it when we give our input for dinner. Saves mom the trouble of asking us.
"This may sound weird, but I want breakfast for dinner. Fluffy pancakes are what I'm craving."
I couldn't help but smile, "anything for my little brother. That does sound good." Dad would love that! But knowing dad he'll add Ice cream on top of his pancakes.
"Thanks."
The heavy storm still crept over the city. Rain pounded against the metal roof above us, and thunder crackled non-stop. Tashi still wanted to remain by my side. I still had no problem with that. Once we were comfortable under the same blue blanket, we both fell asleep, holding each other close.
The same school bell rang for the beginning of the day. It was Thursday and the weather was lousy. Rain and thunder pounded outside for the last several days. The weather report said it should clear up this afternoon. I hope it does. But I'm usually wrong and it will continue to rain.
I sat at my desk that was placed at the back of the classroom. It was near the huge glass windows. I could see the track and field that was used on sunny days for gym. My least favorite class. I already made a fool of myself and tripped over the hurdles and scraped both my knees on the pavement my second day here. Some of the kids laughed and some tried their best to give me encouraging words. I ignored them all. Nothing can make me cry.
I must have been in a daze when I heard the same girl from days ago call to me, "Rin?"
I looked up to see the girl Koharu standing in front of my desk. What the hell does she want? "What?" I spat out.
"I was informed that you love photography and I wanted to invite you to join…." didn't she get the picture on my first day. I don't care to be around others right now.
"No, thank you." I went back to looking out the window.
"Please, consider it. We take trips up to Yamanashi before the new school year…"
No! No, I can't go back there. Though I miss my old hometown, I can't go back. I know now not to join. "I said no, and I mean it. Please leave me alone!" I don't care if I'm hurting her feelings. I don't care that I'm being disrespectful in front of this whole class. I wished they would all stop asking me to join their stupid clubs.
Koharu didn't say anything else, and I just heard her walk off. I threw my head back and let the air that was built up inside of me out. I just want this day to end. Scratch that I want this whole school week to end. It was this weekend that I would be getting my new camera. I knew when I got my hands on it I would be going out taking pictures. There's just one problem… Where do you go in this freakin city to take photos? Maybe I'll pick up one of those tour guide pamphlets and find something that catches my eyes after I pick up Tashi from school later today.
I could feel the eyes of all the students in here looking at me. They were speaking with one another in a hushed tone. They think I can't hear them, but I could. Though I've been here for just four days, they couldn't understand why I was this way. I heard them say I must be unloved at home. Wrong! I am very much loved at home. We do everything a family does together, mostly on weekends. We put puzzles together, watch movies, and communicate about everything. The only time I feel unloved is because I want to know why my birth mother decided to give me up the way she did. It makes me want to hire a private investigator in hopes of finding her. But that would be like finding a needle in a haystack. The only thing I have of hers is the tethered jacket I was found in as a newborn.
Lunch came and so did the sun, finally. The sky was crystal clear, so I decided to eat outside, along a white bench, under a shaded tree by myself. I packed my own lunch this time: a typical American lunch of just a turkey sandwich, garlic potato chips, a couple things of celery sticks, with peanut butter, and two tangerines. For my drink, a large bottle of water.
I noticed most of the students came out to enjoy the sunny weather like me. Even the teachers and the principal, Mrs. Sakamoto. I noticed she saw me by myself and made her way over. "Good afternoon, Miss Agawa. How has your first week been?" She kindly asked, taking a seat next to me.
I swallowed my food and answered, "it's okay. I'm still not used to the change."
She just smiled at me, "it's okay. It will take some time to adjust to being in a new place. I remember when my husband's job had him move out here. It took me a few months to adjust from one city to another. I miss my students back in Tokyo. They were the sweetest kids. Anyways, tell me something about you. What are your favorite hobbies?"
"Umm… I love photography. I'm going to be getting a new camera this weekend. I was hoping to find some places to take pictures. I just don't know where to start."
"That's a wonderful hobby. Have you thought of joining the photography club?" She had the biggest smile on her face.
"No, I actually don't have time for clubs. I have a little brother to take care of after school." I actually do have time. I could run down to his school, grab him, and bring him back here with me… Wait! He has his soccer club on Thursday's.
"Oh, that's too bad. Hmm… I could ask my stepson Sesshomaru to show you around Kagoshima. He loves to get out and explore on the weekends," she happily announced. "I think he was planning to visit Sakurajima. It's an area that has an active stratovolcano not too far from here."
Volcano?... Uhhh… I don't think so. I rather it just be me and Tashi doing something else. "Thank you for the…"
"Oh! Sesshomaru. Can you come here for a moment please." I really need to stop thinking and just spit it out that I don't need him to be my tour guide around the city.
"Yes, Mrs. Sakamoto." So, he doesn't call her mom while he's in school?
"I was wondering if you could give Rin a tour of the city this weekend. Since she is new and doesn't know much about it. I thought it would be nice if you had her tag along with you to Sakurajima," she looked up to him and smiled brightly.
"No, please I don't want to…." I stood up fast trying to decline the offer, but I got cut off quickly.
"What's your address?" He quickly asked. Won't his girlfriend be pissed off? I looked up at him to see he was looking down at me. His face was calm. Just the other day he didn't seem thrilled to talk with his stepmother.
"I'll be fine… I live off of Shikon street. It's the new housing development that were recently built." Did I just agree to go with him? "My little brother might be joining too." Tashi, I know would be excited to go. I looked in the corner of my eye and I could see Mrs. Sakamoto was really happy.
"What's your house number?" He quickly asked.
"It's two hundred." I don't even know this dude and I'm hanging out with him? What am I thinking? I told myself that I wouldn't be doing this. He's a total stranger, though he's just two years older than me.
"I'll be there around nine. What did you say your name was again?"
I wasn't thinking when I said, "Tomiko… It's Rin." I want to kick myself for that. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking and gave you my middle name." I hope they buy it.
"Are you okay, Rin?" Mrs. Sakamoto asked, with the look of concern in her eyes.
"Yes, I'm fine." I need to come up with a lie. "Rainy weather throws my mind off." They have to buy it.
"It's okay, dear. The weather always throws someone off. Thankfully the weather this weekend will be sunny and warm. Well, I'll leave you two to chat if you want. Sesshomaru, I'll see you at home," she patted his arm and walked off.
After Mrs. Sakamoto left, I sat back down to finish eating, and forgot that the dude, Sesshomaru, was still here. "Are you eating alone?"
"Huh?" He kind of spooked me when he asked me that. He was looking down at me, with my bento lunch box in my lap.
"Are you eating alone?"
"As you can see, yes I am." Can he not see that there is no one next to me?
"Hmm, mind if I join you?"
"What?" Wait! What did he just ask me?
"Would you allow me to join you for lunch?"
I looked around to see that he was actually talking to me. "Why me? Won't your girlfriend be mad?" I asked, taking small bites of my celery stick dipped in creamy peanut butter.
"Sara can eat with her friends. So, is nine on Saturday okay for you?" Is it wrong to cancel?
"Yeah, I guess. I have to ask for my parents' permission first." Of course, they would be hesitant about me going out without them. I was only allowed to walk to the store for food and to school. I'll just have to keep my guard up if they say it's okay to go. "If they do say yes, my brother, and I have to be back before sunset."
"Are your parents military strict?" What kind of question is that?
"No, not even close to that. Their emergency dispatchers. They just like us to be home before they leave for work."
"Do you think they'll allow you to…" he was cut off when I heard his girlfriend's catty voice.
"There you are, Sesshomaru! What are you doing talking and sitting next to the underclassmen?" Her heavy brown eyes were on me. She went back to looking at him, "you promised to watch me perform before my recital this weekend. You are still coming, right?" The girl was literally pulling on his wrist to pull him away. She's one of those desperate girlfriends.
"I told you I made plans for myself, and I have my diving competition this weekend," I watched as he ripped her hand away. If he has a competition this weekend, shouldn't he be practicing? Wait! I forgot he's a demon and he's probably very talented.
"Diving competition… diving competition, that is all I hear from you! When are you going to see me perform? I want you there to see me perfect all the love songs I chose." She looked like she was on the verge of tears. "Sesshomaru, please!"
This is my que to leave. I could tell things are about to get heated between them both. I didn't even bother to say excuse me. I just got up and walked off. I already could feel the dog demon Sesshomaru's eyes on my back. All I can think of is that he can do so much better.
By the time I left school for the day, the weather had become lousy again. It hadn't started raining yet, but the dark clouds looked like they would produce a storm any minute. I need to get Tashi home before it starts. He's probably scared and waiting for me by the front gates. I hope he is! I wonder how he's going to react when he finds out that we have plans this weekend? Plans that I wanted to turn down.
I wasn't paying attention to where I was walking when loud screeching of tires were coming towards me. I turned my head and saw the lights of an oncoming car heading right for me. I knew right then I was doomed. This was the way I was going to die. I saw the white light coming towards me before I blacked out from fright.
Yep! Another cliffhanger. Will Rin pull through? Please Review.