Big Sisters Can Cry {Renji Abarai One-Shot for IamZeki}

Picture by Dilleniidae

 



Sacrifice those you love and the life you lived to bring forth the life you want.

I don’t want to say good-bye. I’m afraid to. It’s something I have done too many times. I always feel like crying.

“Captain Fujiwara,” someone calls.

I turn to see Renji running up. “Hello, Abarai-san. It’s nice to see you again.” In truth, I saw him about three minutes ago.

“Ah, I forgot to tell you that Captain Kuchiki is looking for you,” he says. “Sorry.”

I smile. “It’s fine. Thank you for telling me. Where is he?”

“My squad’s barracks.”

“Thanks, Abarai-san.” I wave good-bye before heading in the directions of his squad’s barracks. Turns out Captain Kuchiki wanted to complain about telling Yachiru-san where I had stumbled upon a secret entrance. Yachiru-san now is always in his house. I tell him I’ll offer to give up my stock of candy to her if she stops.

I head to the entrance to the human world. Today is my day off, and I figure it’d be fun to draw in various forests. No one can find me in one of those. When I arrive at my first one, the air is thick. I quickly wrap my white scarf around my face to allow for breathing. My eyes and ears are uncovered so I can keep track of anyone that comes near me. I make sure the scarf does not mess up my hair by only wrapping it along the lower half of my face. My pigtails are as neat as ever.

After drawing a bird sitting on a branch and singing, I start to become tired. Before I realize it, I’m asleep. My dreams are filled with my sisters. Our parents were never home, so I always helped them with their homework. I was the genius of the family. Uinde, despite being my twin, preferred watching anime and manga. I did it too, but I still studied. And then there was Hanako...

“Hey, Yasu Onee-chan, why do you never cry?” she had asked.


“I’m the oldest. I’m even a few minutes older than Uinde. So, it’s my job to be the strong one,” I replied. “If I cry, who will comfort you?”


She smiled. “I still think you should cry once in a while, Yasu onee-chan. Even strong people cry sometimes.”


I ruffled her black hair. It was always a length between Uinde’s short bobs and my long pigtails. “I’ll think about it.”


And then the dream turns sour. Before I realize it, I’m standing in her room, trying desperately to get the ambulance there. I keep shouting, “I don’t have a car! I’m underage! Why would I know how to drive?” She’s dying. She’s gasping for air, and her inhaler was left at school. The world is shaking and blurring. Why can’t I do anything?

“Hanako!” I scream.

I’m no longer in her bedroom. I’m in the forest again. Renji is looking at me. Concern is in his eyes.

“Captain Fujiwara, you were screaming,” he says. “Are you okay?”

“How did you find me?” I ask.

He smiles. “You always come here. Now, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I say.

He puts his hand on my face, and I flinch. He wipes at the corner of my eye. “You’re crying.”

My eyes widen. “Ah, I’m sorry.” I quickly get up. “Please forget you saw that.”

He stands up. “What’s so bad about crying? You should cry once in a while.”

I smile. “It’s nothing. Anyway, let’s go.” I turn to leave.

“Captain Fujiwara, can I ask who Hanako is?”

I freeze. “How do you know that name?”

“You screamed it when you woke up. Plus you kept screaming it in your sleep.”

A tear streaks down my cheek. “She’s no one. Just someone I once knew.”

“Yasu onee-chan, Uinde onee-chan, let’s go!”

Her face was always a smile...

“You can tell me, Captain Fujiwara.”

“If I do, I’ll cry. And I don’t want to cry. A big sister should never cry.”

“I thought you didn’t have any siblings.”

“I don’t. But I did.” I sigh. “Hanako was my younger sister. She died of an asthma attack.”

I get ready to use flash-step to leave, but a strong arm pulls me back. Before I realize it, I’m being held close to Renji. My eyes are wide, and before I can blink I’m in tears. I can’t stop them. I miss her so much. And then I ended up taking a deal that led me to a role that only dead people can take. I’m so stupid. What about Uinde? How is she dealing with this?

“Remember, those you love and hold dear to you will not know you. Those you call your family will not exist.”

My eyes widen. The tears start to flow even faster, and I’m crying into Renji’s chest. I feel so stupid. I miss my sisters. I miss both of them. Uinde never died, but I made it where she never lived either. I’m so mean.

“If you want to go back, you can. Just say so. But I suggest waiting until your memories of why you took the deal come back.”

I can’t wait. I don’t want to. I want to see Uinde’s smiling face again. I want to see her laughing. My life was never bad before I took the deal. There was nothing harmful happening, and I had so many friends. Miyako and Uinde were the best friends I could ask for...

“Abarai-san, how would you feel if I left?” I whisper. The tears are slowing down, and I can breathe easily.

“I would be sad, of course.”

“Why? Just because I’m your friend?”

I have to know before I ask to return...

“No. Because I love you.”

The tears start flowing again. I look up, press me lips into his, and whisper, “I want to see my sister again, Abarai-san. But that requires leaving.”

His arms tighten around me. “Well, it’s okay if you see her, right? I’ll just wait for the day when you can return.”

I smile. “Thank you, Abarai-san. I love you.” I take a deep breath and whisper, “I wish to take the deal back.”

I can feel myself fading. Renji’s arms aren’t something I can feel anymore. The memory of why I took the deal returns at that moment. The red-headed lieutenant with the cool tattoos. Even after taking the deal, I still loved his tattoos. He always made me laugh when he argued with Ichigo. The episodes of Bleach with him in them were always my favorites...

I open my eyes. I’m in my bedroom, under my large black comforter. The white pillows under my head feel so nice. A girl in a pink nightgown with a matching ribbon in her short black hair runs up and jumps onto my bed. “Get up, Yasu!”


I sigh. “I am up, Uinde.”


I climb out of bed and place my feet on the black carpet of my bedroom. It feels so nice. I look at my bedroom walls, covered in Bleach posters. When I took the deal, I was lying in bed, half-asleep. I wanted desperately to escape the pain of Hanako’s death. It only happened a week ago.


“Yasu, you were sleeping so quietly! Were you actually asleep?” asks Uinde.


“Yeah,” I say. “I just had a really nice dream.” Every night since Hanako’s death I had been overwhelmed with nightmares. “I really, really nice dream. I think you would have enjoyed it. Only if you replaced Renji with Shuuhei, though.” I smile sadly. “I was captain of squad 9. I was such a fantastic captain. I had many friends and I was there for a long time. The dream covered an entire year. The only catch was that my family never existed.”


She giggled. “Not sure I would sacrifice my family for that.”


“That’s why I chose to come back.”


She wraps her arms around me. “I’m glad you chose not to live without us.” She pulls away. “Now, what interesting thing happened?”


“Renji said he likes me. Oh, and I kissed him.”


She smirks. “Anything else?”


“I cried. But that’s it.”


“No way! Yasu crying? It was definitely a dream!”


I giggle. “Big sisters can cry.”

Picture by I-Am-Kokoro

Don't Be Afraid to Cry {Alphonse Elric One-Shot for IamZeki}

Sacrifice those you love and the life you lived to bring forth the life you want.

I fear the tears that will fall from my face. I fear them. If I cry, I get hit. That’s how I was raised. Once I took the deal, my scar remained and there was a story to it. It was still caused by my father, just not the same one.

“Xiaolian, there’s someone you should meet.”

I look into the brown eyes of the blonde boy. His smile is so large. My father nudges me. “Well, say hello.”

I feel nervous. “H-Hello,” I manage. “I’m Xiaolian Ts’ao.”

“I’m Alphonse Elric,” he introduces.

A boy that is slightly shorter walks up. “Al, dinner’s ready!”

I quickly bow. “Thank you for helping my father get his papers,” I say in a rush.

I don’t dare to look up. I just wait for him to leave. After the sound of his feet has faded, I hear my father say, “Good job, Xiaolian. You did it so politely.”

“Yes sir.”

---Seven Years Later---

“What do you mean you can’t find it?” I yell into the phone. “It’s important!”

“We lost it,” says the man on the other line. “I’m sorry.”

“That was my only inheritance, you idiot!”

Usually I am not this cold. I can’t help it, though. That katana was my father’s, and he promised I could have it once I became a State Alchemist. Well, here I am. The problem? The people who my father entrusted it to after his death lost it.

In truth, my feelings for the sword are not that strong. I did not grow up with my father. Even so, I figure it’s best to at least fake anger. Besides, I hear it’s a really nice sword.

“We will check again and call you if we find it,” the man says. “Please be patient with us.”

I sigh. “Okay. I will try my best not to show up with my alchemy blazing.” I smile. “Sorry for losing my temper.”

“I should be the one apologizing, Ms. Ts’ao!”

“It’s fine, really. Anyway, I have to go. I’m expecting company soon.”

I hang up the phone, and at that moment the door opens to reveal a boy with golden hair and brown eyes. Next to him is a large suit of armor.

“Hello,” I say. “I take it the one not in a suit of armor is the Fullmetal Alchemist?”

The boy blinks. “Yeah.” He actually looks older than me. “I’m Edward Elric.”

“Yes, yes,” I say. “I’m Xiaolian Ts’ao. Foreign Alchemist. Anyway, before I tell you the information I have, please stand right here.” I point to a spot in front of me.

Edward stands there and looks down at me. My eyebrows knit together in anger. Why is he taller than me? No fair!

“What?” he asks.

I can’t take it anymore. I jump back, point at him, and shout, “I thought they said you were short and not to point it out! I’m shorter than you, dang it! No fair! I thought there were people in the world who were shorter than me!” I sigh and collapse into a chair. Edward looks like he’s about to burst into laughter. “Shut up. Mind introducing your companion? And you both can come in and take a seat.”

“I’m Alphonse, his younger brother,” the suit says. “It’s nice to meet you.”

I blink. If there’s one part of my made-up past I remember more than anything, it’s the small blonde boy introducing himself to me as Alphonse Elric.

“Are you the same one that helped Heng Ts’ao with the paper that stated he owned a certain katana?” I ask. Those papers are now in my desk, locked away tightly for when the sword is recovered. “I remember you! Then a boy who was shorter than you ran up saying that dinner was ready!”

“I’m sorry,” Alphonse says. “I’m not sure I remember that.”

“I do,” Edward says. “You were talking to a short girl with dark, dark brown hair put into two braids. She was dressed kind of odd. Sort of like how Ling dresses.”

“Ling? As in the one that came here in search of the stone? I’m from the same clan as him!” I pause. “Well, my father was.” I feel my chest clench. Why? It’s not like I ever cared for my father. Either of them.

The door opens and a girl with blonde hair and green eyes pokes her head in. “Ms. Ts’ao, you have a phone call.”

“From who?” I ask.

“I think you should learn yourself.”

I sigh. “Excuse me, Erlic brothers.” I walk out the room and grab the phone. “Yeah?”

“We caught a man with black hair and brown eyes. He was almost starved and on his way to Xing. He says his name is Heng Ts’ao. Could he be your father?”

I clench my fists. I feel like smashing the phone. “So that pathetic man is alive? I’ll come to identify him. Give me the location.” After writing down the location I say, “Okay. I have guests at the moment. I should be there in an hour.”

I hang up the phone and walk back into my office. “Edward, Alphonse, this folder has the information I wish to supply you with. I’m sorry I have to leave so suddenly. They found an acquaintance of mine.”

“It’s fine,” Alphonse says. “Thank you for the information.”

“Yeah,” Edward says. “Thanks.”

Upon arriving at the jail, I’m really mad. The police hand me over a katana that the man had with him. I now feel like killing the man. “Let me see him,” I say as I position the katana across my back.

The man has caved in cheeks and sunken brown eyes. He is wearing clothes that are mere rags of the nice clothes they previously show signs of being. Even so, his hands still show signs of the fury he once had.

“Xiaolian,” he says with a smile. “So nice of you to come for me.”

I look the police. “Can you keep him here? This man has no place with me, and if you release him he’ll just flee again. Of course, I’ll be keeping my katana.”

“Xiaolian, why won’t you take me with you?” His voice is so raspy.

I turn at angry brown eye on the man known as my father. “Should I show you the scar you left on my back?” That quiets him, so I say farewell to the police officer and head towards home. I’m in no mood to head back to my office.

“Ms. Ts’ao,” says a familiar voice.

I turn around to see a large suit of armor. “Alphonse Elric, so nice to see you. Where is your brother?”

“He went somewhere. I’m waiting for him.”

“What a nice brother you are.” I smile. It is so fake, but I have mastered making them look real. “Anyway, I should be going. It was nice to see you so soon.”

I turn to leave, but I hear Alphonse say, “It’s okay to cry once in a while. I can’t cry anymore, really. I miss being able to let tears flow. So, don’t hold it in. Because one day, you may lose your chance.”

The tears have been threatening to come. I will admit that. Even just thinking of the pain my real father caused me frightens me. The pain caused by my fake father, though some may think intense, was no more intense than that of my real father. I can’t hold it in anymore...

Tears start to flow. I’m so sad. I can’t help but feel upset. I leave me life to be away from my cold father, and I still get one. It’s unfair. I am reminded everyday that I can’t escape cruelty whenever I look at my back in the mirror. The large scar. In my old life, caused by my father when he hit me once. I don’t remember what with. In this life, caused by my father with a whip.

“Isn’t it better when you let them out?” he asks.

I nod my head. It is. Even so, with the cruel life I’ve been dealt, isn’t it reasonable that I fear them?

-

Alphonse spent a lot of time talking to me. It made me feel better. By time I have to head home, I’m happy.

“Hey, Al,” I say with a large grin. “Make sure I’m the first one you tell when you get your body back!” I feel my cheeks go red. “Then I’ll make sure I give you a big kiss! Just so you know what it feels like when someone who likes you kisses you!” I quickly turn around are start running.

When I get home, I am panting for air. The next day, there’s a note in my office that from Alphonse. It says, “Does this mean you like me? Because I really like you too.”

My heart flutters. Then I force myself to ask one question: What type of like does he mean? He seems a little innocent to realize that there’s a major difference...

Inspired Happiness {Tamaki Suoh One-Shot for XxXZuruiKitsuneXxX}

Sacrifice those you love and the life you lived to bring forth the life you want.

Happiness. Joy. Felicity.

Whatever you want to call it, that is what I like to see. Happiness when the world is collapsing. I want to be optimistic. And I was as optimistic as I could be while struggling to get by in the world.

"Hasegawa-san, what could you be up to outside the clubroom like this?"

I turn to see Tamaki Suoh looking down at me, a large smile on his face. I feel my face go red and getting caught. "I was looking for someone," I explain. "Then I forgot that they had to go home when school ended today. So, I'll be leaving."

I turn to leave, and I refuse to give him a chance to answer.

When I get home, I am greated by my father. Apparantely he has another boy he wants me to meet. His name was Yukio Yamamoto, and he is supposed to be inheriting his family's company since his twin brother doesn't want to take it seriously.

"It's nice to meet you," I say.

He's younger than me, but he is a rival for Haruhi Fujioka as top of the class.

"I'm sorry you have to be put through this, Hasegawa Mika-san," he says. "In all honesty, I have no intention of getting married."

"That makes two of us," I say.

My father is angry now. I bite my lip. I probably just unlocked all of his fury. Hopefully he doesn't unleash it.

So, we go through with the dinner and say our farewells. We don't plan on meeting again. Even though I refuse to admit it, I actually have someone I already like. Someone who is happy and lights up the room.

"I'm going to bed," I tell my father. "Goodnight."

He is obviously angry. In truth, I this is the third guy this month that I have rejected. He is probably reaching his limit.

The next day, I arrive at school and take my normal seat. Tamaki Suoh is next to me, but I try to keep my eyes glued to my desk.

"Hasegawa-san, I saw you yesterday," Tamaki suddenly says.

"Huh?" I ask. Then it clicks. "Oh, yeah. I really wish I could have just skipped that entire meal."

"Why?" he asks. "Did you not enjoy yourself?"

"Not really," I admit. "If I start to date and eventually marry a guy, I want it to be because I love him."

"That's an eccelent viewpoint," he says. "Marriage that is picked for you is never good."

I nod. "I'm glad someone at least agrees with me."

After school, I walk towards the exit. My father just called and is really angry. I'm reading to run away to a park or something.

On my way out, I get stopped by the blonde prince, Tamaki. "Hasegaway-san, why not come to the club?"

"Ah, thanks for the invite," I say. I think for a moment. Tamaki's smile always cheers me up. "Okay, I'll go."

The host club isn't that bad. Tamaki flirts with everyone, but he doesn't flirt strongly with me. It's as if he's handling a fragile rose which will bruise with the slightest movement. After the club has ended, we walk out together.

"I enjoyed myself," I say. "Thank you."

He smiles at me. "I did too. Thanks for coming, Hasegawa-san."

I nod. "I needed to relax."

"Is something bothering you?"

I nod again. "My dad. He's always bothering me. He's upset since he recently found out I've been looking into medical school. Is it so wrong to not want to inherit the family business?"

"I think it's actually fine to want to be a doctor," he says. "Someone like you helps people naturally, though."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you realize it? When people are around you, they can't help but be happy."

I laugh. "I think you've got it wrong. You're the one that keeps people happy."

"Well, then how about it's that way with both of us?"

"I like that idea."

We have reached the door. We stop, and turn to face one another. Before I realize it, his lips are against mine. For that moment, I feel happy.

Many images pass through my mind. Images of being upset but cheering up the moment I see him on television. His happiness was always something that kept me going...

When we pull apart, my cheeks are deep red. He says, "I love you, Hasegawa-san."

I nod my head frantically. "I love you too."

In My Past {Sasuke Uchiha One-Shot for MikaYukiko}

Sacrifice those you love and the life you lived to bring forth the life you want.

It is tiresome being a ninja. Of course, it's not as tiresome as my old life. Adoptive parents that hated me, a brother put up for adoption, a life where I was forced to keep high grades. I hated it.

"Mika, did you forget we were supposed to be training?"

I turn around to look at the dark eyes of Sasuke Uchiha. "Yeah," I admit. "I guess I got distracted."

"I understand if it's eating, but how did you get distracted if you're in a tree?"

I shrug. "It's a nice way to take my mind off of my past."

He obviously thinks I'm talking about the past given to me upon my arrival here. The one where everyone in my village was killed when I was five and I was taken to the leaf village and placed under the car of Kakashi, my squad's leader, until I graduated from the ninja academy and became a ninja.

I head back with Sasuke, and upon arrival I'm told to spar. Sasuke and I are sparring partners today. As we fight, I find my mind slipping away. I am seeing the anger of my parents as they slap me and lock me in my room for getting a B on a math quiz.

I snap back to reality when my kunai flies from my hand and I am pinned against a tree with a kunai at my neck. My chocolate brown eyes are wide.

"What happened?" Sasuke asks. "Your moves were sloppy. Usually it takes a while to disarm you."

"It's nothing," I say as I push him away. "I'm just tired."

"Then maybe you should rest," Kakashi says.

I shake my head. "It's nothing that rest will help."

"Is it about your past?"

I nod. I know it's not the past that they think. Even so, I am thinking of my past.

"It's not like you to get distracted," Sasuke says. "What part is bothering you?"

"It's nothing," I say, my voice raising. "I think I'll take your offer and rest, Kakashi-sensei." I quickly run off.

When I'm in my house, I curl onto the couch and hug my knees. In truth, I've been wondering what would have happened if I had refused the deal to come here. It's not like I even remember why I took the deal. I just took it. After a dream where I graduated from high school, got a scholarship to a good college, and raised a fantastic family with no contact with my adoptive parents at all, I've been thinking of it a lot. All I've done here is put my life in danger. Being a ninja is an honor, I know. But why did I take this deal?

I change out of my training clothes and put on a pair of shorts with a black cami. I then tie my brown hair up into a ponytail. I feel my right shoulder without realizing it. I cringe. It's still tender.

"Maybe that's why," I tell myself. I received this scar the day I was offered the deal. It was from getting the second highest test score in my science class. I think that's why I decided to take it. I was tired of abuse for failing. They spat words like "failure" and "pathetic excuse for a human being" at me. And I just took it.

Now I'm in tears. I don't even hear the door open. In walks Sasuke, though I don't even notice. I'm too absorbed in crying. Ninja aren't supposed to cry. I know that. So why can't I stop?

A warm arm wraps around me, and before I realize it I'm crying into Sasuke's chest. Normally I wouldn't do that.

"What happened to the laid-back, carefree, lazy, and sarcastic girl I knew so well?" he asks. "The girl with brains that rival my own. The girl that never lets others see her pain and flips out if someone else is in pain? The girl I fell in love with?"

I feel my cheeks go red. "She's still here," I say through tears, though it's quiet. "She just needs to let it out once in a while."

"She can tell me her pain," he says. "I'm sure I can help her out."

I look up at him. His eyes are actually sad. It hurts me to think I caused him sadness. I lean up and press my lips into him, but it's only for a moment. I quickly pull away, my cheeks now an even deeper shade of red. "I love you, Sasuke," I whisper.

He smirks. "I love you too."

"Yeah, you already told me that." I press my lips back into his. This moment replaces all the ones in my pasts, and I suddenly remember why I took the deal.

"I'll really get to meet Sasuke? And I'll get to be with him?"

So, I sacrificed it all for this one moment of happiness. I don't know about you, but I think I took a pretty good deal.

 

❤ What Are You Thinking? ❤

 

Sacrifice those you love and the life you lived to bring forth the life you want

I took that deal a month ago. I don't remember why. All I know is that I accepted it, and next thing I knew I was waking up in a completely different world. The thing is, my past life stayed with me, though I knew every detail of my new one. I knew that I grew up with Gin and Rangiku. I knew that I graduated from the academy within a year of entrance. I was top of my class, too.

As I remember all of that, I also remember the majority of my actual life. Some parts are filled with emptiness. For example, at times I'm watching a fuzzy television screen. I think it has to do with the deal I made.

"Good morning, Mika," says a cheerful voice.

I turn around to face Gin Ichimaru, the love of my life. As far as I know, it's one-sided. As far as he knows, I have no feelings for him. Oh well, I'll get there one day.

"Good morning, Captain Ichimaru," I say, adding a laugh as I say his name. I wish I was in his squad. Although it's nice to be with Rangiku, I'd get to be closer while in his squad. "Out for a walk?"

"Yes," he says. He holds up a dried fruit. "Dried perssimon?"

I smile and accept the fruit. "Thank you." I tilt my head to the side. "Mind if I join you?"

He nods. "Go ahead."

So, we start to walk. I can never tell what Gin is thinking, though I spend as much time as possible with him. It's a bit frustrating. Kind of like how he never shows his eyes.

"What are you staring at me for, Mika?" he asks.

My cheeks go red. "Nothing at all." I quickly turn away.

He pokes my cheek playfully. "Come on, tell me, Mika. Your cheeks are all red."

"It's nothing," I say again. He keeps poking, so with a sigh I say, "IwasjustthinkinghowIcanneverunderstandwhatyou'rethinking." I take a deep breath so I can say another flurry of words. "AndalsohowIneverseeyoureyesandthereforedon'tknowtheircolor."

I pray deep inside that he has no idea what I said. That would require a lot of speed, I know. I just hope I put in enough.

I feel Gin's hand in mine, and I can tell the red in my cheeks, which was just starting to fade, has returned. Great.

"You want to know what I'm thinking?" he asks as he turns to me.

I nod my head. "Yeah."

We stop and he turns towards me. His lips press into mine. In that moment, I remember why the deal was accepted. It was for Gin. I had loved him so much. He had filled the void my parents left while they were gone.

When he pulls away he says, "I'm thinking I love you."

 

Happiness {Hikaru Hitachiin One-Shot for MikaYukiko}

Just pretend her hair and eyes are brown and she's not crying.

Sacrifice those you love and the life you lived to bring forth the life you want.

It's true that the sky is blue. It's true that I attend one of the most prestigous schools around. It's true that I have a father who is often away because of work. However, there are many things that are not true.

It is not true that I belong in a world where I attend Ouran Private Academy. It is not true that the man that is often away at work is my biological father.

"Mika-san, are you coming to the host club today?" asks the cheery voice of Yasu Watanabe. She happens to be a regular there.

"I can't," I say with a sigh. "My dad's making me practice ballroom dancing."

"Don't you already know how to?"

"Not really," I admit. "I never learned."

In truth, I never had a chance to learn. I was living the life of a commoner before I took the deal offered to me. I never really had reason to learn to dance. Lucky me, the deal doesn't make it where your life makes you learn skills you didn't know before. Sadly, my new father was holding a business party. Many rich people were invited. I didn't notice most names, but some I recognized as students in the school. That includes the Suoh family and the Ootori family.

"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow, then," she says.

I smile. "Yeah. See you then."

After a long dance class, I feel like my feet are about to fall off. However, I actually manage to perform the dance without flaw. Just in time, too. I manage to have time for a shower and to change into my black dress. The black string around my neck is tied with precision, and people compliment my outfit as I great them at the party.

And then he shows up. Or rather, they, I guess.

"Oh, Holt-san, I didn't know you'd be attending the party."

"Of course I'd be," I say with kind smile. "I'm heir to the family business. What kind of heir would I be without practice?"

"True."

"Well, enjoy yourselfs, Hitachiin twins."

They walk away, and I notice one glance back at me. However, I pay little mind. I have more guests to greet.

After greeting guests, my father gives me permission to chill out and enjoy myself. After a while of chatting with the children of business owners, I find a hand on my shoulder. I turn to see one of the Hitachiin twins facing me.

"Hello, Hitachiin-san," I say with a smile. "Are you enjoying yourself."

"Yes," he says. "I was wondering you wanted to dance."

"Okay," I say. "However, I need to know which one you are first."

"Hikaru."

"Okay, Hitachiin Hikaru-san, I'll dance with you." I turn to the people I was talking to. "Please excuse me."

"Of course," says one. "Enjoy yourself."

We dance, and I feel happy. This is a happiness that truly overwhelms the life I led before. The life with my bipolar mother and younger brother. The life where I dropped out of high school but graduated at 16 because of my GED.

"Holt-san, what are you thinking about?"

"Huh?" I had forgotten where I was. "Oh, I'm sorry. It's nothing. Just a dream I had."

"Oh? Was it a good dream."

"Yeah," I admit. "It was."

We walk onto the balcony and look out at the stars. I had looked at stars like these many times with Sam, my younger brother.

When I think about it, do I miss my family? My relationship with them was so much better than my current one. Even so, I don't even remember why I had traded them in. Our relationship had been so good at times.

A finger brushes at my eye, and I realize that a tear had escaped and Hikaru was wiping it off. He leans in close and presses his lips into mine. When he pulls apart, I can tell I'm blushing.

"Hikaru-san," I whisper.

"It's fine if you don't like me back," he says. "But I figure I might as well tell you rather than hold them in."

"Yeah, I like you back," I say. My eyes widen, and I see a flash of happiness. Happiness that I had forgotten about. Whenever my mother was in her angry mood, I would lock myself in my room and watch anime. I would always smile at the faces of the Hitachiin twins, and their humor would take away any anger I had from my mom's mood swings.

Why did I forget such happiness? The happiness that I now had back with me, and it had me. The happiness that I was never supposed to forget. Forgetting my past was never part of the deal...

 

Hard Life {Naruto Uzumaki One-Shot for XxXZuruiKitsuneXxX}

Sacrifice those you love and the life you lived to bring forth the life you want.

I spit onto the ground, barely looking at the red that is now there because of me. I have a goal.

“Are you seriously all they sent after me? What a joke.”

I look at the man standing in front of me. He’s obviously unhappy that I fell for the trap he set. Of course, he set so many I’d have to fly to get past.

“What if I am?” I ask.

He chuckles. “What’s your name?”

“Sayuri Takahashi.”

“Well, Sayuri, I don’t think you realize that I’m a very dangerous man.”

“I can be just as dangerous,” I say.

Where are my squad? They can’t really be held up by those traps, can they? I disabled most of them.

The man takes a step closer, his shadow now touching my feet. His black hair is shaved really short, and I can see his deep brown eyes easily.

“You don’t realize how useless a girl like you is, do you?” he asks. “A girl like you is futile in the presence of strong man. You are a complete waste. Your poor squad must have already left, deciding I’d probably kill you. Maybe they’ll just say you killed yourself. After all, you are obviously useless.”

My dark brown-red eyes widen. Don’t you realize we bought you on a whim? Consider your lucky we haven’t gotten bored of you yet. Useless girl.

“Useless girl.”

I bite the inside of my mouth. All of my fury is suddenly released. I punch his stomach, making him double over. After varius jutsus and violent attacks, he is on the ground. I realize afterwards what I have done.

“You took him down alone?”

I look up to see my squad standing a few yards away from me. Our captain has his hands crossed across his chest. Next to them is another squad assigned to help us.

“Yeah,” I say. “I’m sorry, but I just lost it.”

“What happened?” he asks.

I bite my lip. “He just said something that plucked a nerve.” I look at Naruto, Sakura, Sai, and Yamato standing next to my captain. “We should get going.”

Once back in the leaf village, I go to the roof of the tallest building I can find. I look at my hand. “A hand that would have never killed before this,” I whisper to myself. I sit down and hug my knees, stilling holding my right hand out before me. “What a pathetic excuse for a ninja I am. I thought ninja are supposed to be able to hold in their fury.”

“Not really,” comes a voice from behind me.

I turn around, shocked to see Naruto standing there. “Naruto! How long have you been there?”

He came over and crouched down next to me. “You aren’t alone in getting angered easily. I get angry easily too.”

“I don’t get that angry usually,” I say with a sigh. “I just...he said something that brought back some bad memories.”

“Want to talk about it?” he asks.

I sigh and shake my head. “No. It wouldn’t make any sense to you.”

“Try me.”

So, I tell him about my life before coming to the leaf village. I point out that, while absolutely everyone believes my father is my father, I actually was adopted into a mean family at the age of six. I talk about how they verbally abused me, saying how I was “bought” on a whim and how I was useless. I feel tears creaping into my eyes as I tell him about my younger brother, Kyoya, being their actual son but being put up for adoption instead of me.

“Wow,” he says. “You’ve had a hard life, huh?”

I nod. “But you can’t tell anyone else about it. Okay?”

“Yeah, I won’t tell anyone.”

“Thank you.”

He nods. I watch as a gust of wind blows his blonde hair back. His deep blue eyes seem to be somewhere else. Almost as if, while his body is here, his spirit itself is flying above everyone else.

“Sayuri,” he says suddenly.

“Yeah?”

“Do you have someone you like?”

I bite my lip. “Yeah.”

“What’s he like?”

“He’s stubborn and loses his temper. He works hard and will fight until he dies. To him, friendship is very important. “ I don’t know how I know all these things. They’re just suddenly spewing from my mouth. “He’s had a hard life. He can be serious when the situation calls for it, otherwise he’s really funny. He’s really fantastic. He’s come a long way from when he was younger and in the Academy.”

“Sounds like someone you really like,” he says.

“Yeah,” I say. “But you know what? Even if he doesn’t know I like him, I will keep liking him until I can tell him I like him.”

“Can I ask his name?”

I bite the inside of my mouth. Should I say it? I decide I might as well. I watch him from the corner of my eye. There are tears in his eyes. “Naruto...Uzumaki.”

His eyes widen. “Wait! Me?”

I nod my head. “Yeah.”

A smile breaks on his face and he jumps into the air. The tears are gone. “Wahoo!”

I giggle. “What?”

He pulls me to my feet and wraps me into a hug. “I love you, Sayuri!”

My eyes widen. So...that’s why he was crying. He had thought I didn’t like him back...

“Yeah. I love you too.”

My eyes suddenly widen as I remember why I took the deal in the first place. I loved Naruto so much when I watched him on television. I had written about him most of the time since my “parents” never wanted to see me. Why had I ever forgotten? Of all the things to forget, I forgot the last thing I would have wanted to...

“Thank you for returning my feelings, Naruto,” I whisper.

Maybe I won’t get over the anger of my “parents.” Even so, Naruto will be there. I can stay happy.

Serenity {Kaoru Hitachiin One-Shot for Zeki4Ever(Me)}

Sacrifice those you love and the life you lived to bring forth the life you want.

If you were to look into my past, you would see a blank slate. I remember the life I once lived, but to everyone else it never existed. That is the price I paid to live my dream life.
“Okay, class, let’s begin on page 30. Fuji-san, if you’d please pick up.”
I went to class like everyone else. No one really paid attention to me. After all, the man known as my father became rich through anime and manga. I don’t really know the man that is now my father since he is always away because of work, and apparently my mother died when I was three. I do not know any of this from personal experience. It is just how my life was chosen.
After school was spent at home. I never went to any clubs. I do not know why, but for some reason I never felt the urge to join one. I felt as if I had come here for a different reason.
“How was school?”
I look at Rima-san, the woman in charge of my care. She is supposed to substitute for both parents. Do not ask how my father came up with this idea. I would be unable to tell you.
“It was fine,” I say with a shrug. “I’m going to take a bath.”
“Okay. The water is already warm.”
“Thank you.”
I deposit my belongings in my bedroom and grab my bath stuff. I soak in the tub, allowing my mind to drift into serenity. I see two young girls laughing and talking loudly. I also see a large man talking to a woman who is similar to my appearance. Finally, I see an older girl in a wheelchair, smiling and holding out her arms as if for a hug.
This is what my family would be like if I had not left them for this world...
Why had I left them? I do not recall, honestly. But I feel as if I will remember one day. I just have to wait long enough.
After my bath, I slip on red silk pajamas and white slippers. I blow dry my hair and put it up into a bun. I then proceed to my bedroom to complete my homework. There is never that much.
Once I complete my homework, I spend the remaining time watching anime and playing video games. About an hour after I start on a game, the phone rings. I pause the game and listen to the conversation.
“Yes, Yamamoto-san. I understand, sir. Yes, I’m sure she will be very pleased to meet him.”
What were they talking about? I already figured it had to do with picking a suitable husband for me. Most of the times they had tried, the boy chickened out. I don’t understand what’s so bad about an otaku.
Rima-san does not bring up the conversation. So, I ignore it. I eat dinner and then proceed to bed. As far as Rima-san is concerned, at least. I really slip on a pair of jeans and a gray T-shirt. After putting my feet into a pair of lace-less tennis shoes, I sneak onto the balcony of my bedroom and climb down the rope ladder I positioned over the garden. After climbing out, I make my way down the street. It’s nice to be out of my house. I know I used to hate it back in my past life, but now that I am a prisoner in my house, I enjoy being outside.
I walk on for a while. The sun is still high by time I reach the super market. I enjoy going here. I often buy small snacks. Once inside, however, I end up bumping into a red-haired guy from my school. In fact, he’s in my class.
“I’m sorry,” I say politely. “I should have been more careful.”
“It’s fine,” he says as he stoops to help pick up my items.
Once all my items are back in my basket, I tilt my head as if in thought. “Why are you at the commoner’s supermarket, Hitachiin-san?”
“I felt like buying coffee,” he says simply. “Haruhi ran out.”
“Ah, Fujioka-san lives nearby? I never knew.”
“Yeah. Do you?”
“Not really. I walked quite a while.”
“Walk? Why not just get a ride?”
I smile and hold a finger to my lips. “Secret.”
I then walk to the checkout and purchase my items. Whichever twin that was, his brother couldn’t have been far behind. And while one alone may be nice, the two together are horrible.
“Yamamoto-san, I didn’t know you shopped here.”
I smile. “Fujioka-san, it’s nice to see you. I only shop here for treats. My father doesn’t really like them.”
“Well, it’s nice to know not all rich people have food ordered for them.”
“I actually hate it when that happens,” I admit. “I never know how the food looks until I purchase it.” I look at the setting sun. “Well, I should get back. I don’t want Rima-san to discover my absence.”
And so I run off. Who would have thought I’d run into two people from Ouran Academy at a commoner’s supermarket? I mean, I understand Fujioka-san since he’s a commoner, as I was before my arrival in this world, but Hitachiin-san’s presence can’t be normal.
-
The next day starts the same as ever. All my classes fly by, and I eat alone as usual. I buy my lunch, of course. My father does not allow me to pack my lunch as I had in my past life.
After school, one of the girls from my class approaches me.
“Why are you always alone, Yamamoto-san?” she asks.
I smile at her. “I don’t really do well when it comes to starting conversations,” I explain. “So, I don’t start friendships very well either.”
“Well, if you want friends, you should hang out with us sometime. We were about to visit a club, actually. Want to join us?”
“That depends on the club,” I reply simply.
“Ouran High School Host Club. It’s really a nice place.”
I feel something in my mind click, and before I can help it I say, “Yes. I’ll go.”
“Great. Let’s head there together. Ah, and you can call me Yasu-chan.”
“Well, Yasu-chan, you can call me Miyako-chan.”
“Okay, then it’s settled. I hope we become great friends.”
-
The club, it turns out, is the home of seven boys. These boys entertain girls as they come. Three of the boys are first years in my class. They are the Hitachiin twins and Fujioka-san. Two others are second years Kyoya Ootori-sempai and Tamaki Suoh-sempai. The final two are third years Takashi “Mori” Morinozuka-sempai and Mitsukini “Honey” Haninozuka-sempai.
“Let’s sit with the twins since I always visit them,” Yasu-chan says. “Though Tamaki-sempai is good for first-timers, I don’t think you’re the kind to enjoy much flirting. Am I right?”
“Yes, you are,” I admit. “I’m not the best with flirting.”
One of the twins talks about how he saw me at the commoner’s supermarket, and I carry on a conversation with him about why we were there. It turns out he is Koaru, who is actually said to be nicer. By time the club closes, I feel happier.
When I get home, I am greeted by an upset Rima-san. “Where were you, Miyako-sama?”
“I was at a club,” I say with a shrug. “A girl from my class wanted me to check it out.”
“Well, your father called. You have a half hour to change into something nice.”
“Why?”
“It does not matter. Just hurry up and dress.”
So, I do as I am told. I slip into a small black dress and strap on black heels. They always make me taller, which makes me happy since I have a height complex.
I step into the car, my red shoulder-bag in hand. I slip it on and step out of the car once we arrive at a fancy restaurant. We are shown to a table where my father sits with three other people. One is a boy with black hair and brown eyes, and the other two I figure to be his parents.
“Miyako, this is Takahashi Yukio,” my father explains.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say as I take a seat.
“Same,” Takahashi-san says with a smile.
I look at my father. “So, what is the occasion?”
“The Takahashi family just sign on to partnering with my studio, so I figured we’d celebrate by treating them to dinner.” He smiles at me and whispers, “If all goes well, you will have yourself a fiance.”
“You mean Takahashi Yukio-san?” I ask, my voice also a whisper.
“Yes.”
This is hurtful. I hate the idea of arranged marriages. Even so, I behave myself. I am polite, but I can’t help but withdraw from conversation. They talk about things that bore me. I would much rather talk about video games and the characters of anime, not of business and the voice actors that would work best for an anime.
After dinner, my father seems thoroughly angry as he gets into a car and leaves. I get into the one I came in and look at Rima-san. “What did I do?”
“You were shy as ever,” she explains. “The Takahashi family said they are not interested in a wife who does not force her way into a conversation.”
I roll my eyes. “Whatever. I disliked the idea anyway.”
That night, I sleep with dreams of my old life. Without realizing it, I slip into serenity. My lovely home and large list of pets. My friends laughing around me as I sit down in class. This is serenity.
I am awoken rudely the next morning by Rima-san. “You were not waking up,” she says, worry in her voice. “I was about to call an ambulance.”
“Sorry,” I say as I start to get dressed. “I was having a good dream.”
She sighs and rolls her eyes. “Get to school.”
My class lacks life. One of the twins seems to be in a bad mood, and the other twin is trying hard to cheer him up. Even though we were grouped on projects with Fujioka-san often, I still am unable to tell the two apart. Oh well, nothing to be done. Instead, I decide to ask them.
“Hitachiin-san, is something the matter?” I ask. I feel butterflies in my stomach. I hate talking to people.
“It’s nothing,” he says coldly.
“I’m sorry, Yamamoto-san,” says the other twin. “Koaru’s been like this since we went to dinner last night. We can’t get him to cheer up.”
“Well, I hope you feel happy again,” I say to the grouchy twin. “I really enjoy seeing your smile around the classroom.”
At lunch I decide not to eat. Instead I walk out to the rose garden. Surprise. One of the twins are there.
“Which one are you?” I ask.
“Koaru,” he says simply.
“Ah, sorry. I wasn’t sure. Anyway, I’ll go somewhere else since you’re already here.”
I turn to leave only to have him grab my arm. “Wait, Yamamoto-san. I-I want to talk. Hikaru wouldn’t understand since he’s never been in love. Or at least, been in love and realized it.”
“Oh? Well, then talk away. I’m surprisingly good with advice.”
So he tells me of the girl he likes who he saw with another guy. It was obvious that the guy was up as a fiance option. The girl was participating in conversation and acting happy, and it made Koaru-san happy. But the thing was, he liked the girl and didn’t want to let the guy have her. He couldn’t get the courage to tell her, and he needed a girl’s advice since they were very confusing.
“Well, I think you should tell her that you saw her there,” I say. “And then ask if they ended up getting engaged. I mean, I was at dinner with a guy who was an option as my fiance. Even so, he rejected me.”
“He did?”
“Yeah. I’m not good at being social. I faked the beginning well enough, but I ended up drifting away near the end.”
A smile lights up his face. “I’m sorry, but that makes me happy.” He walks past me and back to school.
I sigh and shake my head. And then something hits me. “Hitachiin Koaru-san, do you like me?”
He freezes, shakes his head, and says, “Who knows?”
“But why else would you be happy that I got rejected? Only a completely heartless person would be happy unless they liked the person that got rejected.”
“I don’t know what to say to that idea,” he replies simply. “So,” he turns around and looks my directly in the eye, “I’ll do something.”
Then, before I can even blink, his lips are against mine. When he pulls apart, his eyes are filled with tears. “Don’t ever accept someone else.”
I feel my heart flutter, and I say with a smile, “Of course not.” And then I realize why it was I traded in my life. I remember that I had idolized the show and Koaru. He was the nicer twin and I found myself one of his many fans. Without realizing it, I had forgotten it and lived a life where I ignored him. I wouldn’t make that mistake again.
I have my new Serenity...