Puppet Strings

Chapter Two

Alluna wasn't close with Aizawa, and stayed silent on the ride to his house. It would be awkward going to live with someone she barely knew. She almost wished Yukimura was coming. Of course, she was grateful, but she just wasn't used to such kindness. Sitting in the backseat of his car, Alluna gripped the tote bag in her lap. A piece of paper fell out and fluttered to the floor. Alluna bent down to retrieve it and found a message in blue ink. It was from Yukimura and all it said was her phone number. Alluna smiled looking at it. Yukimura reminded her of her own mother before his death.

Around ten minutes later the group of two arrived at Aizawa's modest three-bedroom townhouse. Alluna noted that it was larger than her old home, a two-bedroom apartment that was really nothing more than a studio flat.

Aizawa led her upstairs to the guest room, where she would be staying. The door opened to reveal a medium sized room — big for Alluna — with gray and turquoise highlights. A bookshelf, closet, and vanity were on the left wall, and large glass windows on the right.

Alluna wasn't good at expressing gratitude. She knew she sounded awkward thanking Aizawa, but it would seem rude to stay silent. Aizawa nodded in return, told her that he'd leave her alone, and that dinner would be at seven. He closed the door behind him and Alluna's ears followed his footsteps down the stairs.

Alluna let out a breath, sitting down cross-legged on the bed. She dropped her tote bag on the floor, letting it tip over to spill its contents on the rectangular carpet. The window on the other side of the room had its curtains open, letting rays of sunlight flood the room. A large tree branch reached from the left to the right, about right under the window.

Alluna slipped off the bed and walked over to the silver-rimmed window. Balanced on the crook where the branch met the tree, was a small bird's nest with two brown and gray eggs in it. Alluna's eyes widened. She tapped the window, slipping her slender fingers underneath the small space between the window and its frame. It moved without much difficulty. She lifted it open. A light breeze blew in, causing some of Alluna's soft hair to flutter in a halo around her face. She leaned out the window, reaching out a hand to touch the smooth bark of the tree branch. Back at her old apartment, birds had occasionally visited her window, where Alluna sometimes left breadcrumbs. She decided that she'd do the same here.

She glanced down. The guest room was on the second floor, so the ground was around three or four meters below her. She wouldn't die by jumping off, probably just break a few more bones. Not like she wanted to, anyway.

Alluna sighed. She turned away from the window, her gaze meeting the bookcase on the other side of the room. She crossed the room, slide open the turquoise sliding door,

She scanned the bookshelf from top to bottom, examining the titles. There were a few she'd read, and none that interested her.

A knock sounded on the door just as she was about to grab her bag. Alluna wondered how many times she'd heard that sound – a fist against wood – in the past week. Her mother had never knocked. "Come in."

The door swung open and a dark haired woman strutted in. She wore a peach-colored sweater-dress that reached about mid-thigh. Black heeled boots reached her knees and glittery earrings dangled from her earlobes. When her gaze met Alluna's she let out a squeal. "Oh, she's the cutest thing I've ever seen! SO fresh and youthful!" She clasped her hands together and brought them to her face.

Aizawa, who stood at the doorway with his arms full of bags, sighed. "Calm down Nemuri. Let the girl breathe." He turned to Alluna, who had taken a step back. "This is Kayama Nemuri, one of my colleagues. She went clothes shopping for you." Alluna blinked when he muttered something about regretting asking.

Alluna bowed, thanking Kayama for the clothes.

Kayama smiled in return. "You're very welcome, Darling." She took a ruffly blue dress out of the bag and held it up to the younger girl. "This'll look great on you."

Alluna's hands crept to her scarf. Aizawa noticed the gesture and nodded reassuringly at the younger girl. "Don't worry. They're not all like this," he glared dryly at Kayama's back, "I made sure of it."

Alluna fidgeted with her scarf, watching with apprehension as Kayama flung open the closet and started pulling out clothes from the bags she placed on the bed. Alluna and Aizawa walked over, peering over the crazy woman's shoulders. Aizawa pointed to a dark blue cardigan that hung askew on the bed frame. "That looks nice."

"Doesn't it?" Kayama agreed. She picked it up and held it to Alluna's frame. "Try it on!"

Alluna hesitated. Her eyes met Aizawa's who stood a little ways behind. He smiled at her. Kayama offered the younger girl a t-shirt and some jeans to wear underneath, and five minutes later Alluna emerged from the bathroom in her new outfit.

The navy blue button-up cardigan had a V-shaped dip to reveal a white t-shirt with horizontal black stripes. Under her top, she wore blue jeans that actually reached her ankles, and the black sneakers that Aizawa had bought her. It was a simple outfit, but it was new and it fit her — not too big or too small — wholly unlike what Alluna used to wear.

She thought she liked it.

She'd been reusing the same few outfits for years, and finally, she had a new one.

Maybe it symbolized a new start?

~~~

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