Year of The Rooster ~Shigure Romance~ Info and Part One

Name: Orihime Inku

Age: 21

Looks:

Past/History: You’re the singer in the bar Doku Yume. Your only family is your older brother. Your parents died when you were ten in a car crash. You grew up taking care of yourself and your drunken brother. When you turned sixteen your brother almost died from alcohol poisoning. He’s stopped drinking since then and scolds you when you have the occasional glass of wine or shot of whiskey. You live in an apartment by yourself. You want to be a world renowned author, but have to support yourself by singing. You write, but only every once in a while.

“Come in!” He called.

You went in and put out your hand. He slapped some cash in your hands. You counted it, nodded, and left. You walked the dark streets, making your way to your apartment. You stopped and waited at an intersection. You glanced around and with a start saw a small body slumped in the alley behind you. You walked into it and glanced at it. You grimaced. It was a small girl with tawny hair.*Poor thing. What happened to her?* You bent down and touched her forehead. She was kind of hot. You nodded and picked her up. You put her on your back and walked out of the alley. You waved to a taxi and took it home, the driver looking at you curiously. You glared at him. He kept his eyes on the road. You paid him and took the kid upstairs. You laid her on your bed and tucked her in. You felt her forehead again. She was burning up. You sighed. *This’ll be a long night.*

>>>Fast Forward>>>

6:00 PM Tomorrow

You went back into the room and checked on the kid. She was better now. You were about to leave when you heard her stir. You put down the plate of nira-tama and walked over to the bed. She blearily opened her eyes.

“Oh good, you’re awake.” You sighed. “I’ve been so worried. I thought I would have to take you to the hospital.”

She sat up and stared at you.

“Oh. I am Orihime Inku.” You smiled. “I found you passed out in an alley on my way back from work. Are you okay?”

She blinked and looked down.

You felt your eyes go soft. “I thought so. You don’t talk, do you?”

She shook her head.

“Is it because you’re teased?” You asked softly. Her head shot up. “I see…I was that way too, once upon a time.” She stared at you. “As you can see, both our hair and eye colors are…exotic. When I was little…kids…teased me all the time. I would try to tell them it wasn’t my fault, but…they wouldn’t listen. Eventually they started ignoring me. Then they started laughing whenever I said anything. It made me so sad. I stopped talking and kept to myself. I tried to stay out of everyone’s way so I wouldn’t be noticed and teased. Eventually I stopped going to school…but one day…my mother…she broke down, sobbing. She kept asking me what was wrong. She asked if it was a number of things. Eventually she asked it was teasing…I immediately started to apologize to her, like I was stupid. I felt so…pathetic. I was so ashamed when she started crying all over again. I wondered…if she hated me. I wondered what I would do if she did. I was so scared. So…when mom told me…‘It’s okay’ …I was so relieved. When she told me ‘There’s nothing to be ashamed of’…I was so relieved I started crying.” You stroked her hair. “Our reasons are the same. I’m sure your teachers have told you to ‘like yourself’.”

She nodded slowly. Her eyes were watery and wide with wonder.

“What does that mean? Good things- how are you supposed to find them? I only know things that I hate about myself. Because that’s all I know, I hate myself. But…even if you force yourself to find good things…it feels so empty. It doesn’t work that way. People like your teacher just don’t get it. I think…when you hear someone say they like you, for the first time…then you can begin to like yourself. I think when someone excepts you for the first time…you feel like you can…forgive yourself a little. You can begin to face your fears…”

“…Yeah.”

You blinked and looked down at the child. She was crying.

“Yeah. Yeah.” She said, tears streaming down her face.

“What do you want to do now? Do you think it’s okay to stay like this?” You asked softly.

She shook her head. “No…never…I have to…try my best…or I’ll…become…worse and…worse. Even if I can’t make up with them…even…if they all ignore me. I still have to…try my best.”

You hugged her close to you, stroking her hair. You murmured, “That’s right. You mustn’t give up. Ever. It’ll all work out…”

You let go of her and dried her tears. “Do you want some nira-tama, sweetie?”

She nodded. You handed her the plate. “Thank you.”

You smiled. “You’re welcome.”

She hesitated before saying. “I’m…Kisa Sohma.”

You smiled at her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” You stuck your hand out.

She giggled it and shook it. You watched her eat her food. You took it to the kitchen and put it in the sink. You walked back into the room.

“Kisa-chan?” You asked softly.

She looked at you.

“Do you have anywhere to go?” You asked.

She looked down. After a while she looked back at you. “Yes.”

You sat on the edge of the bed. “Do you think you’re ready to go there?”

She nodded hesitantly. “Yes. It’s…Shigure oji-chan.”

You smiled at her. “Alright, sweetie. I’ll call my work and then I’ll take you there.”

She nodded. You got up and walked into your small living room. You dialed your work number. You twirled the cord and leaned against the wall. Kisa clung to your side.

“Hello?” Your boss asked.

“It’s Sakura. Listen, I can’t come in today.” You told him.

“What?”

“Something’s happened.”

“What? Listen, I don’t care what it is. If your parents stopped by or something, just leave them home or bring them along. You have to sing.”

“I don’t think so. I found a child. I have to take her back to her family.”

“Who cares? It’s just a useless little brat!”

Your temper reached it’s boiling point. “Excuse me? Listen you self-centered, brainless bast-retard, you can go f-screw your business! Find yourself another singer! I QUIT!” You slammed the phone down.

Kisa looked up at you.

You ran a hand through your hair. “It’s okay, hon.” You sighed.
“Can you write down the address?”

She nodded. You gave her some paper and she wrote it down. You looked at it. “It looks like we can walk to it from here. Is that okay?”

She nodded. You grabbed your coat and keys. “Come, sweetie.”

She grabbed your hand and you guys walked. The sun warmed your back and you smiled. You looked down at Kisa. She smiled back. It started to get dark. You bit your lip and suppressed thoughts of finding work. You were in deep thought when you heard Kisa scream. You jolted out of your thoughts to see six thugs standing in front of you and smirking. *Shit.*

“Hello sweetie.” The alpha male sneered.

“What do you want?” You asked sharply.

“Aw, baby, why so cold? All we want is the pleasure of your body against ours.” He leered at you.

“I don’t think so.” You let go of Kisa’s hand. She whimpered.

“Oh really?” He advanced toward you. You kept a stony face and didn’t move a centimeter. “Well we just might have to persuade you, won’t we?”

Kisa gasped. You whirled around. Another guy held Kisa by the throat. “Kisa!”

You heard laughter behind you. “Now do you wanna?”

You clenched your fists and glared at the ground. They laughed again. Your head shot up and you punched the guy holding Kisa in the gut. She fell to the ground and hit her head. You spun around and kicked one of the dudes in the neck. They attacked you and managed to get a few punches in, but you kicked their asses. The alpha male lunged at you, but stopped short when the cold metal muzzle of a gun touched his forehead.

You looked down at him and growled, “You guys make me sick.”

His eyes widened in fear. “PLEASE! Please don’t hurt me!”

You lowered the gun. He let out a sigh of relief. You smirked and shot him in the arm. He screamed. “You ever do that again and I will make you wish you were dead.”

You turned your back to him and walked over to Kisa. She was unconscious, but looked okay. You packed her on your back and made your way to Shigures. After a while you felt a stirring.

“One-chan?” She whispered.

You turned your head to her and smiled. “Good. You’re awake.”

“What happened?”

“Some thugs tried to hurt us, but I beat them up.”

“Are you okay?”

“Of course, sweetie.”

She was quiet for a while. You could tell she had something on her mind.

“One-chan?”

“Yes?”

“I-I-I-is it m-my fau-fault that you don-don’t have a-a j-j-o-b-job anymore?”

You gasped. “Of course not, honey! It was high time I quit that
place anyways. You had nothing to do with it. My old boss is just a jerk. Don’t feel guilty.”

“O-o-okay.”

You smiled. “We’re almost there.”

You guys reached the place quickly. You took her off your back.
She clung to your side, like a chick. You knocked on the door politely. The door opened and a brown haired guy looked at you curiously. His eyes widened when he spotted Kisa. “Oh my.”

“Does this sweetie belong to you?” You asked and pulled Kisa in front of you.

“Haru!” He called behind him. A boy popped up in the doorway.

“What?” He growled.

“Kisa.” The man said.

The boy’s eyes widened and he looked at Kisa and you. “Kisa?” He took a step towards you.

“Listen, I know you must have been extremely worried about her, but now is not the time for an emotional scene.” You said. The boy glared at you. “Please. When I was bringing her here, we were attacked. Kisa-chan was knocked out. I didn’t take her to a doctor, because I’m not sure if you would like that. She needs to see one though.”

The man smiled. “No need to worry. We’ve got our own family doctor.”

You nodded. “Call him now. We need to make sure nothing bad happened. The skull is very fragile at this age and might have cracked.”

The man nodded and went to call the doctor. The boy motioned you into the house. He took you into a bedroom. You made Kisa lie down. The man popped into the doorway.

“Hatori, our family doctor, will be here soon.” He said.

You nodded. “Might I stay? I want to make sure Kisa-chan is alright.”

“Sure! You can stay as long as you want!” The man said.

“Thank you.” You said and sank down on the bed by Kisa. You stroked her hair. “Are you okay, Kisa-chan?”

“Yes. Thank you for taking me here.” She said softly.

You smiled. “No prob.” You kissed her on her forehead. “I’m going to a talk to Shigure-san, but I’ll be right back, okay?”

Kisa nodded. You stood up and beckoned Shigure to follow outside the room. You closed the door behind you softly.

“Shigure-san…why didn’t she give me her mothers address?” You asked, leaning against the door.

Shigure sighed. “Well…lately here mother has been harsh about Kisa’s actions. She is frustrated at Kisa’s inability to talk and is giving her the cold shoulder. Kisa is very sensitive and this has affected her deeply.”

“I see…what will happen now that she has been found? And now that she’s talking?” You asked.

“I don’t know…” Shigure shook his head. “I’m sure her mother will come around and take her back. If her mother refuses to see her, I’ll keep her until she cools off.”

You nodded. “Good.”

“Shigure?” Someone called.

“Up here.” He called down. “That’s Hatori-our doctor.”

You nodded and went into the room Kisa was laying in.

“Your doctor’s here, honey.” You told her and pushed some hair back from her face.

Kisa smiled. “Harii-oji-san is nice.”

“That’s good.” You smiled.

The door opened and Shigure and a man with brown hair and an intense auracame in. You stepped back from the bed. The man went to work on her immediately. He glanced at you while he was checking Kisa’s pulse.

“I assume you’re the woman that brought her here?” He asked in a deep voice.

“Yes. I am Orihime Inku.” You said and brushed some hairs away from your face. “Will Kisa-chan be alright?”

He sighed. “Yes. It only knocked her out. There will be no problems.”

You almost sighed in relief. “Thank you, Doctor Sohma.”

Hatori turned to Kisa. “You have a bit of a fever though. I want you to take it easy.”

“Yes, Harii-oji-san.” She said in an adorable, but tired voice.

Hatori blinked in surprise. “Very well. Inku-san, would you mind accompanying Shigure and I downstairs.”

You kissed Kisa on the forehead and went down into a study. You sat down in a chair and crossed your legs smoothly.

“Gentlemen?” You prompted.