A New Found Heart

 

 

Kurama sat down at the table.  It was a nice cherry oak. “Tonight we’re having a nice big steak,” said Sam, a tall lovely maiden with tanned skin, bright blonde hair, and bright blue eyes who was also KuraYami’s mom. Kurama had gone to their house as Shuuichi Minamino, an exchange student from Japan. 

 

Kurama looked down at his “steak.” His mother had been vegetarian and he rarely ever ate meat, and never had had steak at all!  “Uh, thank you,” he said unevenly. Kurama splashed some “57 sauce” on and stabbed a silver sharp utensil in it. He smiled with his eyes closed and then looked at KuraYami, who was staring at him coldly but couldn’t help but show a smile. Kurama blinked a few times. “Apparently,” KuraYami began, “you have never eaten steak.” She tried to hold it in but burst out laughing. Kurama didn’t get it; he looked down at his sauce covered steak and twirled the metal utensil. “First of all, that’s called a knife and you use it to cut the steak not eat it.” She took his hand in hers and continued, “You must be used to chopsticks. Here use the fork,” she put a silver three-pronged utensil in his hand and kept the knife in his other. She held his steak still with the fork and cut with the knife. “You’re supposed to dip the steak in the sauce, but oh well.” Kurama felt very embarrassed but then remembered what had happened in the room, and felt very confused. Is this the same girl who willed the shadows to become malformed? Or is that unseen power beyond her control?

 

KuraYami couldn’t help but see him staring. “Uh…Are you okay? You’re kinda just staring into space.”  Kurama shook his head and started to eat the steak the “American way.”

 

 

Later that evening, it was approaching bedtime, and Kurama’s stuff was all in Kura’s room.  “So,” he said to her, “where’s my room.” She seemed rather cheery and it reminded him of Botan, which reminded him of the group over in Japan. He sighed loudly, and KuraYami looked at him. “Home sick I take it?” He smiled, but she could tell it was just used to mask depression. “If you want to put your stuff away and go to sleep, your rooms back there.” She pointed a finger to an oak door.  Kurama grabbed his things and opened the door. He was surprised to find his room extremely small compared to Kura’s, but at least it had its own bathroom. However the bathroom was part of the room and there was no bed!  He looked around: a door most likely a closet, a mirror above a sink, a toilet, a gigantic bathtub, but no bed. Maybe this is the only room they could spare. Maybe me coming over here was sudden and unplanned!  Kurama took a pillow out of his duffle bag and fluffed it. I’ll just have to make the best of it. He yawned and tried to sleep.

 

It was about midnight when he awoke. Kurama’s mouth was dry so he walked into KuraYami’s room to get to the door. How inconvenient, he thought as he covered his eyes and blindly made it to the door. He mad his way to the steps and opened his eyes. Someone’s awake, he thought to himself, and the TV’s on. Kurama crept down the stairs, careful not to make a sound. “Come on down, I don’t bite!”  It was KuraYami’s mom, Sam. Kurama stopped tiptoeing and just walked down the stairs. Sam starred at him like he was some saint ascending the holly stairs. She faltered and talked on, “I couldn’t sleep either.” Kurama noted once he had reached the bottom of the stairs that she was watching a very dramatic movie that he had seen dubbed in Japan.  “I would like to thank you for what presence you have brought here with you.” What is she taking about, presence? “My little girl; her name means “never ending darkness.” It was meant for her hair, but eventually it described her heart as well. She has always been, well, different. Our whole family resembles me in the color of our tanned-looking skin, bright eyes, and fair hair, but then I had her. Black jets of fine hair, white skin, and almost unnatural shade of blue for her eyes.” The mother bowed her head and starred at the couch. Kurama began walking towards her and sat down. “Many people are like that,” he said trying to cheer her gloomy mood. “Genetics are very confusing.”  “No. It’s not that, it can’t be. It has to be something more.” Kurama thought about what she had said, could it be true? KuraYami…she is a stranger to her own mother, “does… does KuraYami have a… have a dad?”

It took Kurama the longest of time to say it. He stared into Samantha’s eyes and read the silent emotion there. Darkness, there was a blank feeling of darkness in her eyes that only came from unpleasant memories. “Yes, and she was very cold to him as well. His name was KuroNikko, that’s where we came up with “Kura.” It came from his “Kuro.” I loved him very deeply, but… but then…” she faded off. Kurama couldn’t believe this either. KuroNikko meant “black daylight” which he wondered about for a bit.

 

Black daylight usually leads to something about the apocalypse, but then again, it’s just a name. Kurama shifted himself and talked to the mother, “You don’t have to tell me at all Ms. Hawkins,” Kurama said, being especially careful to use formalities. “You should go to bed,” Samantha said rather mother-like. Kurama bowed and said his goodnight, and returned to his surprisingly small “bedroom;” if you could even call it one.  

 

In the morning Kurama woke up terrible sore. He groaned as he slowly crawled out of the big tub. Kurama undressed himself {i wish he really would} and put on some nice and casual clothes. Some khaki pants and a matching khaki top, with a white shirt. He went downstairs, to find a very empty table. “Um? Where is everyone?” 

 

Kurama heard a very familiar voice coming from the kitchen, “Oh damn it! I just lost another one to the floor!”

 

Kurama sweat dropped. “That would be KuraYami, I take it?” KuraYami came out looking rather cute. Her black hair was set back in a headband; she also had an adorable apron that read: kiss the cook. “I, uh, thought that for your, uh, first morning here that I would, um,” the last words came out fast and stressed, “cook you some pancakes!” Kurama was astonished. “Thank you KuraYami-sama!” The girl looked very puzzled and raised her left eyebrow. “Sama better not mean something rude, Shuuichi!” The red haired boy simple smiled and explained that Sama is a suffix meaning someone is honorable or a close friend. After that short conversation he saw the girl beginning to blush. “Uh! It’s just being polite!” he said nervously laughing. “Oh,” she said, sounding rather disappointed. “Oh my god! School starts in 30! I have to get dressed!” And with that the beautiful chef left to put on some school clothes.

 

While Kurama ate his pancakes, which were very delicious, he thought to himself about last night and about the new girl. Her father’s name is Japanese, so why would her mother question her black hair? Maybe he was Caucasian and just had a Japanese name. And is there any link between her father, ‘black sunrise’, and her ‘everlasting darkness’, or maybe…maybe you just think too much for your own good, Kurama!  While Kurama was on that thought, he heard a loud scream. “What!” he yelled out as he stood up, nearly knocking over the wooden chair. He knew the scream was Kura’s. “Oh…My…God! We are so gonna be late for school!” KuraYami screamed once more. Kurama nearly fell over with embarrassment from himself being so worried about her, and also because of her screaming about school! I mean sure, school is everything, but being late once or twice isn’t…or is it? He didn’t know the American teachers very well so he didn’t know what kind of punishment they would use. He looked up at the stairs and saw KuraYami still with the headband in her hair. She had regular jeans on and a long, plain blue shirt. She had a ponytail holder in her mouth and was hurriedly combing her hair. Once she had the ponytail in, she rushed to her shoes near the door. Wow, she sure can move when she has to, Kurama thought and he chuckled to himself. KuraYami looked up, threw the comb on the floor and looked at Kurama. “So are you trying to look good for the new American girls or what?” Kurama looked at KuraYami’s outfit and then at his. It’s true; I do look a bit formal for it just being school. But then again…you never know. “Well are we leaving or not!” She seemed rather steamed as she ran out the door. Kurama walked casually to the door, slipped on his loafers, and walked outside, shutting the door behind him. It’s a nice morning here in Colorado. Kurama put his hand in his hair and sighed.

 

 

The cherry blossoms around here are as pretty as they are in Japan. Kurama shut his eyes and remember the tree by his own home…the one he had climbed as a child.

 

 

Meanwhile, as Kurama was stuck in memories, KuraYami couldn’t help but watch. He seems so…so peaceful. I’d hate just to go and disturb him! Kura looked at her watch. “Oh my God! We are so gonna be late!” With that Kura hit the daydreaming red-head on the back, “Shuuichi, come on! We are so toast if Mrs. Oban catches us late!” Kurama couldn’t help but see that school was a big part in her life. “Well, than…What are we waiting for?” And with that Kurama grabbed KuraYami’s hand and ran down the street. She blushed as they ran down the hill. One of Kura’s neighbors couldn’t help but watch the scene.

 

The couple running down the street laughing. Cigarette ashes fell as she bent over to pick up her morning newspaper. With it in one hand and her coffee filled cup in the other she watched as they reached the bottom of the neighborhood hill and turned left. She heard trashcans fall over and a cat hiss, and nearly laughed. Laughing… she hadn’t done that in a long time, not since that girl moved next door. She then heard the girl’s voice yelling, “Shuuichi! I said right, not left you idiot!” And saw the boy pull her the opposite way he had gone. “Well,” said the old neighbor, “Maybe if she can find happiness… than for a fact, we all can.” 

 

 

 

Cheyo-Vera and Lauren

Cheyo_Vera@yahoo.com

Another one written by me and my friend!