ᗯᕼIᔕᑭEᖇIᑎG ᖴᒪᗩᗰE [ Brothers Conflict ]

Chapter One [edit sorta]

"Gross, look at that!"

"Ew, kill it before it lays eggs!"

Rurijo ignored the rude snickering as she slipped her way through the hoard of kids, expression cold and void of any emotion whatsoever.

You would think that they - orphans, like her - would have a little respect for others, but apparently not. They judged just as quickly as anyone else, spewing cruel words without a filtering thought.

Not that Rurijo cared, however. She was too used to this sort of treatment, to this discrimination; just because she looked different from everyone else.

And strangely, this difference wasn't the fact that the fourteen year old towered abnormally at 176 cm. The prospect of height added only a scrap of fuel for the fire.

The real reason why she was constantly teased, constantly made fun of, was because of her scars.

Burn scars, to be exact. The worst kind.

Jagged blotches of all sizes, varying shades of faded lobster to deep pink; all marring her arms, legs, neck - even the pinkie toes on her feet. They were everywhere. Permanent trophies to remind Rurijo, haunt her, of just what it takes to survive.

Her face took an especially big hit.

Well, the left side, at least.

Rooting at her forehead, firmly branching puckers around her left eye, and soon thinning out into one thick, ugly line across her nose to her jaw; Rurijo knew the scar was hideous.

It was the most noticeable scar of the bunch, hence why the self-conscious youth kept it hidden underneath thick messy bangs, swept to the side for that very purpose. She would rather hide behind a face of hair than show that face so full of scars.

Rurijo gripped onto the railing with rough dry hands as she headed down the stairs, thin backpack swung familiarly over her shoulder. She carried her backpack around with her everywhere; it didn't matter whether it was the park, the grocery store, or even their own kitchen. She had it with her. Just so she could leave at any time she wanted.

Jumping two steps away from the ground, Rurijo landed with a swift thump and turned to go into the main orphanage office.

The overhead had called her down a few minutes earlier, and though it was annoying to have to go to such a place she didn't want to be further annoyed when the speakers started screeching for her to get down immediately.

Straightening her lanky form, the brunette pressed her hand against the wood and pushed open the door. There were strangers inside and she gave them all blank looks.

"You called." It was a statement, Rurijo stepping into the room.

The head of the orphanage - a middle-aged woman with permed hair and bulky glasses - watched the girl with cautious grey eyes.

"Yes, I did in fact call, hun," she answered with a sniff, her golden hand motioning to the couple seated on couches in front of the desk. "You have visitors."

One of the two 'visitors', a blonde woman dressed expensively, piped up from her spot, flashing the teen a bright smile. "Hello there! You must be Rurijo Kagami, correct?"

She stuck out her hand, each fingernail donning gleaming french-manicures. Gazing into her eyes one could see she was very friendly.

"I'm Miwa Asahina. Pleased to meet you."

Rurijo stared at the hand, showing little to no intention of returning her shake. She didn't respond.

"Um, ahem," Miwa said a bit awkwardly, retracting her palm as she was left hanging. She smiled. "You're probably wondering why we're here, yes?"

The woman gave a pat to the shoulder of the black-haired male sitting next to her, who had kept a blissful silence the whole time.

"My husband, Rintarou, and I - well, I know this may sound strange, but ... we believe you to be a blood relative of our adopted daughter.. and..."

Rurijo furrowed dark brows.

"We did some research. Though your background is vague, there is still a possibility... you have her birth family's last name," Miwa said, giving the file in her hands a little shake.

Dull in appearance, Rurijo cut in, not looking all that impressed. "So, you're basing this all off of my last name?"

What a bunch of kooks.

Rintarou was the one who replied, lightly shaking his head. "You bear a slight resemblance to her as well," he said, looking down.

'What, kid covered in scars too?' thought Rurijo, sourly rolling her eyes.

Miwa cleared her throat and smiled again.

"So for our daughter's sake ... and yours, we want to give this a chance. After all, if our assumptions are true, you belong to the family as well."

So she was a guinea pig?

In the case she wasn't related to that daughter of theirs, would these people send her back to the orphanage too?

There was no way Rurijo was going to cooperate with this garbage.

" ... If you think I'm going anywhere with you, then you're mistaken," she grit out, eyes coldly staring into the faces of the somewhat-shocked couple in front of her.

The first to recover, Miwa gave a gentle sigh. "Oh, but, dear - " she murmured, giving Rurijo an apologetic look. "We've already signed the adoption papers."

"That's right," added the orphanage head with a smart nod, shuffling the papers neatly in her hands. She placed them in a folder. "The Asahinas have full custody over you now."

The teen felt her hands crunch into a ball.

"Rurijo-kun," Miwa started gently, trying to be helpful. "How about you go pack your belongings?"

Answering icily, Rurijo thrust a thumb in her backpack's direction, "I already have them."

"Oh," the blonde paused, as if weirded out by this and then trying to find something nice to say. "Well that's convenient!"

Rurijo stayed quiet, turning away as the couple stood up. Miwa took Rintarou's hand and entwined her fingers with his, the two exchanging awkward, then lovey-dovey glances.

The fourteen-year-old rolled her eyes, standing near the door without much fucks to be given.

"Let's get going, alright?" Miwa cheered, planting a light kiss onto her husband's lips. She turned to Rurijo, "You ready?"

"Nope." The answer was blunt.

"Fantastic~. To Tokyo then!"

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