This is just a rough draft of Chapter 1 (hopefully I'll finish Chapter 2 eventually.) Any comments or critiques are welcome.
Ice Blue Eyes on a Rainy Night
(or Blue Eyes, Grey Skies)
Chapter 1:
Rina sat in the window seat, brushing her hair and fuming. The rain had started at about noon and had almost seemed to mirror her mood all day. It was now a mere drizzle, but the weatherman predicted flooding all across the Kyoto area. Who trusts the weatherman anyway, she thought and petulantly threw her brush across the room in a sudden flare of anger. She sighed deeply and went to pick it up. That was really dumb, she thought, it only made me work more. What do I care?
She flopped down on Shumei’s bed trying to sort out her emotions, which had been raging since yesterday. She was glad she’d gotten away from Kohona, even just for the weekend, even for a few hours. She needed time to think, and she needed time to be by herself, away from everyone else. Maybe I should go back and talk to him some more …. No that’s what started this whole problem – too much talk. Rina rolled over onto her stomach and leaned her face into Shumei’s comforter.
Her "Ane" [big sister], really just a close friend but better family than her own (not that that was saying much), was currently at class at the University downtown, but she’d be home soon. Rina thought, I don’t even want to deal with her right now. I don’t even know why I came here … yes I do … I didn’t have anywhere else to go. Sigh. Shumei wasn’t really the person to talk to if you were in a really rotten mood. She’d always try to cheer Rina up. She sighed, I really don’t need that right now, but she’s sure to think that all I need to do is go have some fun, do something, ANYTHING. Sigh, whatever. Maybe she’s right, Rina thought, I could try to have some fun. Maybe watch TV or read a book, anything to avoid thinking. She was so confused. Rina wanted to think, but as soon as she started replaying the events of the past few days, she wanted to cry. And she couldn’t do that. Maybe I will just stay in and read something, tell Shumei to go out with some of her friends and get some dinner. I can make ramen or something.
As Rina lay there contemplating the wonders of dehydrated food, she heard some heeled boots clomping down that hall toward the room. She sighed, and braced herself for the onslaught of joy that was her Ane. The handle turned and the door was flung open as Shumei backed into it, her arms full of pizza boxes. “Ane, what are you doing with those?” Rina exclaimed. “Oh, I just thought I’d have a few friends over for dinner, you know, have some fun.” Rina sighed. She knew it – ‘fun’. “Shumei, I’m not really in the mood. I was thinking that maybe you could go out and do something, and I could stay here and … sort of” Shumei looked at her sharply. “Sit around? Do nothing?” “Well, no…” “You know that’s what you meant, Rina.” Rina shrugged, “So what? Maybe it did.” Shumei sat down on the bed next to Rina and rolled her little sister over. “Rina, it’s really not healthy to dwell like this.” Rina glared at her. “I don’t care, I’m still going to.” Shumei glared back and said, “Imouto [little sister], you do realize you’re only staying here because I like having you around.” Rina looked up at this. “What are you talking about” “I mean, that I don’t want to have some gloomy little girl for a houseguest, who just sits in her room all day and cries -” “I don’t cry!” “Fine. Who sits in her room and mopes, only coming out for meals and a quick trip to the bathroom!” Rina glared at her “So, it’s not like a really want to be here.”
Shumei sighed, I hate dealing with puberty, she thought. I really wish she had some other friends to go to but … She looked at Rina, who was trying so hard to be tough, and she could just see those tears held in check by her friend’s defiant gray eyes. Well, I guess there’s nothing else for it. Shumei sighed and said, “Well, the pizzas will keep.” Her little friend looked up, something other than blank sadness rising to the surface, as her eyes became speckled with green. Shumei smiled. She definitely wasn’t tough enough to be a parent yet … certainly not Rina’s. Even though her foster parents loved and cared for her, they pretty much let her do her own thing. As for her real parents – Shumei cut off that train of thought quickly. Well, they’re busy … and besides, they probably had good reasons. She looked down at Rina. It still doesn’t mean that I forgive them. And neither will she. Shumei mentally shook off this thought and smiled back. “But, I do have a condition.”
Rina’s smile vanished, and she began to look suspicious. “What sort of condition?” she asked, although she knew full well what a “condition” from her Ane meant. “Oh, just that, maybe, you and me could go out somewhere.” “Out?” “Well, yeah, since you made me cancel my plans with my friends and all, maybe we could all go out somewhere” Rina sighed “I don’t want to be around people right now. I don’t even really like being around your friends normally.” Shumei looked at her, “Rina, you need to do something. You sitting there rotting in your sorrow and you need to get over it.” “And what if I don’t want to?” Rina shot back. Shumei leaned back and said, “Well, that’s your own problem. But I’m here because I love you and I want to make sure you’re ok.” Rina turned away again and said, “I’m fine,” her retort slightly muffled by the coverlet on Shumei’s bed. Shumei stood, went to the phone, and dialed a number from memory.
“Kaeko? Hey, it’s Shumei. Are you on your way? Oh … well sorry, but I can’t have you guys over tonight. I know we already got the pizzas but … something more important came up. I’m sorry. Alright, well I’ll see you guys next week. Ok. Bu-bye.” She hung up and realized that Rina was watching her. “You didn’t have to do that you know.” Shumei shrugged and said, “Of course I did, you need me.” Rina glared at her again, “I don’t need anyone.” “Keep telling yourself that and you will be very, very lonely for the rest of your life.” Rina sighed, “please don’t psycho-analyze me, everyone else is already trying.” “I’m not analyzing you; I’m just giving you advice, from personal experience too. Look, just cause you don’t want to be around people doesn’t mean that you should just shut yourself off. And just because you had a little fight, it doesn’t mean that you should be alone for the rest of your life. Life is pain – I hate to break it to you but it’s true.”
Rina snorted at her, “Fat lot you know about it.” Shumei looked at her, and could just see the faintest traces of the scars which made a fine web across Rina’s face. She looked away. “You’re right. I don’t. But when it comes to things like this, I have more experience than you. Come on, let’s talk.” Rina turned away, again. “I don’t want to talk. I just want to be by myself.” Shumei stood, slapping her hand down on the bed as she did so. “Why can’t you just talk to me? That’s why I’m here. I thought that’s why you came here.” Rina stood as well, and began to walk toward the bathroom. “Rina, don’t walk away from me right now.” “You’re not my mother.” “Your mom’s not your mother either!” Shumei shouted at her back, then immediately regretted her words. Rina froze and turned around slowly, her eyes no longer grey, green, or that beautiful Hyuuga purple, but ice blue. She glared with an intensity that seemed to stop Shumei’s blood in her veins, and said in a low, dangerous voice. “Never say that again.”
Shumei looked away, shame coloring her face for striking such a sensitive spot. “I’m sorry; I don’t know why I said that.” Rina’s eyes began to settle, a tiny bit. “Ane, I know you’re trying to help but you can’t. You just need to accept that this is something I need to work out for myself.” “And what if you can’t either? Are you just going to live on in pain for the rest of your life?! You can’t get this upset about one little thing.” “It’s wasn’t little.” Rina retorted. Shumei sighed and turned toward the kitchen, “Well, we’re going to need some food. I don’t keep much on hand; I’m used to only feeding myself most of the time. We’ll break into one of these pizzas, and then have the rest for breakfast tomorrow.” Rina smiled. One of the best things about staying with her ane was that Shumei didn’t have many rules; not that Rina didn’t impose them on herself. But it was nice to know that you didn’t have to make your bed everyday or that you could go into the kitchen at any time and make yourself a peanut butter and pickle sandwich. Things like that made Rina smile. “Pizza it is, then.” Shumei got out plates and cups and poured their drinks: water for Rina, and Red Bull for her. Rina sighed. Her ane lived off that stuff, even though she kept telling her how horrible it was for her. Shumei would only shrug and say “Whatever.” It was at times like that that she realized how annoying her favorite phrase could be.
While Shumei got dinner ready, Rina went to the bathroom to clean herself up. Despite her best attempts her eyes were puffy and her throat was sore. Holding back tears could be almost as hard as letting them out. As she washed her face and hands, she heard Shumei singing something in the kitchen. It was nice staying with sister, even if she was annoying. She came into the kitchen just in time to see Shumei spreading butter on her pizza. She sighed and said in a resigned tone, “Ane, don’t do that. You know that stuff is already death on a plate.” Shumei shrugged and smiled. “Whatever.” Rina’s teeth ground together, but she just smiled back, knowing her sister was just doing it to annoy her now. They sat down, said their prayers, and got ready to dig in. However, just at that moment another call came in and Shumei stood up to go answer it, muttering something about telemarketers and dinner.
“Hello? Oh hey! It’s great to hear from you. Really?! Well how long are you staying? Just … oh. Then you’re moving on to Tokyo. Well, good luck, you’ll do great. Tonight? … I’d love to but … no I can’t, sorry. But, um I’ll see you next time, okay? Alright, well, bye.” She hung up the phone and sat back down. Rina glanced at her curiously and said, “What was that all about?” Shumei looked at Rina and realized that now Rina would feel even guiltier about ruining her ane’s plans. Then she realized that she could use this to her advantage. Shumei felt a small, mischievous look come over her face, and tried to quell it, but Rina noticed. “What?” “Oh, nothing. It’s just that one of my friends is in town. He’s going to DJ a big gig in Tokyo and he just got back into the country early this morning. He came the long way, so that he could see us before hand, and he’s going to play for us at this club downtown before he leaves tomorrow.”
Rina sighed exasperatedly “You know I don’t like to go clubbing. It’s loud and annoying and there are drunk people everywhere!” “It’s not like that. This club is where we always hang out and it’s completely clean. I promise.” Rina looked at her. “There’s still the noise and the people and the …” “The what? Fun?” Rina’s glare was her only answer. Shumei stood looking down at her, hands on hips. “Now Rina, we both know you don’t really mean that. Now come on. I gave you some time to sulk, but now you really need to move on.” Rina sighed, “We’re going in circles again.” “Imouto, I’m telling you that you need to go.” “Why can’t you go alone, he’s your friend after all?” Rina retorted. Shumei looked at her. “I could, but what fun would that be?”
Rina looked at her hands. “I’m no fun.” “No, but you’re interesting. And let me just say, you are the funniest person I’ve ever seen get hit on-” “Shut up.” Rina glowered. Shumei only laughed. “I still think you should come” “I won’t.” “Well, what if I told you that if you didn’t come, I would have to send a brief little letter … to the Hyuugas?” Rina looked up in anger and alarm “You wouldn’t dare.” Shumei smiled evilly, “Maybe I wouldn't , and maybe I would. But if I did, I don’t think they’d like the idea that one of their clan members was staying in another city, alone and unsupervised, with a minor for their only guardian.” “You’re nineteen,” Rina spat back, “You’re not a minor.” “True. But I’m also not old enough to be legally responsible for you either.” Rina glared, “I hate you so much, Ane.” “I know you do, Imouto. But you’ll get over it. Now, come on. Let’s go pick out something better for you to wear than those sweats.” Rina looked down at herself. “Fine. I’ll go. But I’m not wearing a dress.”
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If you want to read more things co-authored by me and Vla go to her journal for "When Invictus met ... Naruto?!"
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~Vla (aka Rina)
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