Summery: A story about a young girl named Keiyma who runs away from her home, sick of the abuse she's faced, and is rescued by the YYH gang. However, the years of sorrow have left her terrified and loveless. She struggles to trust again, wanting nothing more than happiness. When she meets someone with a similar past and attitude, will they be able to overcome it all, together? Hiei/OC
Story Type: Drama/Romance
Rating: M
Warnings: Contains violence and suggestion of physical and sexual abuse.
Chapter: The Escape
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the following characters except for Keiyma Suriei.
"Goodbye." Keiyma Suriei stared into her mother's bloodshot, unfocused eyes. She stood her ground, but just barely. The sudden courage that had inspired her was slipping past, and she feared that she would never find it again.
She walked over to the front door of their house and threw it open, running outside outside.
This was it.
Her mother yelled out to her, her voice a harsh slur, "Don't esh'pect me ta' come runnin' after ya'. If ya' want ta' be a shtoopid idyit, tha'sh fine by me." Keiyma stopped in her tracks and turned around to face the thin, scarcely clothed middle-aged woman.
"Why don't you just go back inside to tonight's 'special friend'? I wouldn't be surprised if you found this pig passed out on the floor of a bar. That's where you usually are."
Had she really just said that?
"Shut up, ya' ungrateful mutt!" her mother screamed, breathing heavily. "Why shouldn't I have any company? You're gonna be a sh'crew-up no matter what I do. I might a'sh well at leash't have a life my'shelf,"
"The only screw-up around here is you," she whispered, amazed that she had dared.
"You sh'tupid little—"
Keiyma heard no more. She turned away and walked with a stiff briskness from the undersized, horrendously shattered excuse for a house.
O—o—O—o—O—o—O—o—O
Keiyma ventured down the pitch back street, the cold biting at her skin and the wind blowing around her long hair. She paled in fright and cold, her skin stark against her dark hair and eyes.
She glanced behind her. There was no sight of the moldy shack which she had grown up in, nor any sign of vile mother and her stinging voice. Though she felt relieved at her newfound freedom, Keiyma was also wrought with sudden terror and a helpless realization of how very alone she was.
She checked her pockets and looked through the bills she had hastily grabbed from her dresser before she fled. It was all she'd managed to take with her. Ironically, her life's savings weren't nearly enough to save her life. She'd always been proud of her savings, but the amount seemed so little now that she had nowhere to sleep, nothing to eat, and nothing to wear but the clothes on her back.
Keiyma started to get nervous, flinching at the slightest sound. She found herself kicking at garbage bins the wind had merely cause to rattle. She realized that she was walking in circles and stopped for a second to try and think of what she was going to do. Her ears perked up at the sound of footsteps walking up to her. She sped around fast.
"Well, well, well. What's a little thing like you doing out here on her own?" Three tough-looking men began approaching Keiyma, snickering. It didn't even matter that it was too dark to see their faces; she could feel their malevolent grins.
"Nothing… leave me alone!" Keiyma yelled out, trying not to show fear.
"We would, sweetheart, but, you see, this is our ally. We own everything here, and since you're here..." they started to laugh viciously and walked even closer to her, forcing her into the corner. Keiyma put her hands up, shielding herself.
She froze when she heard a sudden crack. The three men approaching her yelled out in pain and fell straight onto the ground. She looked down at them, overwhelmed with confusion.
"They're knocked out," a gentle male voice said, its owner stepping out of the shadows. "Are you okay?" He was quite taller than her, with gleaming green eyes and long red hair. He was wearing a magenta school outfit and didn't look much older than sixteen, Keiyma's age.
"I-I'm fine... I didn't need your help." She tried to stop herself from staring at him.
"Maybe not, but it's not safe to be out here so late at night. What's your name?"
Her throat seemed to tighten. She had momentarily forgotten all about her fight with her mother, how she was homeless and helpless. She winced as that evening's events came flooding back to her.
"Keiyma. I'm, looking for a place to go... I've lost my home," she said cautiously, her voice slightly raspy.
"I see. My name is Shuichi, but you can call me Kurama." He noticed how upset she was decided not to ask her anything more. "I might know of a place you can go. That is, if you're willing to accept my help."
She just met him. Was this really safe?
He did save her.
Besides, what other choice does she have?
Keiyma nodded and Kurama motioned for her to follow him.
O—o—O—o—O—o—O—o—O
They walked for half an hour in uncomfortable silence, neither knowing what to say.
"Kurama... those three guys that attacked me... I only heard one hit, but they all were knocked out. How did you do that?"
She didn't really care. She just wanted the quiet to go away.
"What? Oh... you must not have heard properly. Probably scared out of your senses," he said nervously.
"I was not!" That was a lie. Keiyma had been terrified. She knew that if Kurama hadn't been there, she would have failed miserably on her own in any attempt to fend off her attackers.
Kurama didn't respond. He was staring up at a dark brown house ahead of them. It was quite a large house, but looked horribly worn and beat up. Duct tape secured the white windowpanes in place and random splotches of lighter, mismatching paint attempted to cover where the old coat had chipped. Obviously, someone was trying to keep the house in living condition.
"We're here," Kurama said, peering over to further examine the house. He inhaled the night air serenely. "I've forgotten how good it feels to be home. I haven't been here since..." He didn't finish his sentence, but instead walked up to the mahogany door of the house and gently knocked on it.
"Just a second," a woman's voice called out, strained by fatigue.
Keiyma watched as a woman ran out of the house. She looked as though she was in her mid-thirties, her black hair was held up loosely in a bun. Her and Kurama hugged each other tightly.
"Oh, Shuichi! Goodness, isn't it a bit late? Oh, that doesn't matter. I'm so glad you're back!" she said, smiling gleefully.
Keiyma looked at the pair with slight sadness and envy. She had never shared such a loving relationship with anyone.
"Keiyma, this is my mother, Shiori," said Kurama, penetrating her thoughts.
The woman turned her attentions to Keiyma. She looked at her with a confused expression, which then turned into a knowing grin.
"Hello. Are you Shuichi's girlfriend?"
Keiyma was completely taken aback; her eyes went wide as she watched Kurama's face turn, if possible, redder than his hair.
"No, no!" Kurama answered quickly. "You see, I found Keiyma walking along the alleys. She doesn't have anywhere to go, so, I thought maybe she could stay with us, if that's all right with you, of course."
"Oh! Well, you can stay here as long as you'd like, dear," Shiori said to Keiyma, smiling kindly.
Shiori led them into the house, giving Keiyma a tour and telling her to 'help herself' to anything she needed. After the tour was done, she took Keiyma up the stairs to a small room that held a large, rickety old bed and a huge, long window viewing a colorful backyard.
"You can sleep here for the night. I'm sorry it's not very comfortable; I haven't had a guest in some time. But, we'll fix you up tomorrow. I'm sure you're very tired," Shiori said, yawning. "I know I am." She grinned. "Goodnight, dear."
Keiyma walked into the now empty room and turned to look around it. She found herself face to face with Kurama. They stood there for a moment, Keiyma giving a look of thanks to the handsome redhead. They finally wished each other goodnight and he left the room.
Yawning, Keiyma crawled into the bed. The covers were thin, but she didn't care. Sleepiness overwhelmed her, masking the cold. She closed her eyelids and drifted off into sleep.
Though her body was unconscious, Keiyma's mind was awake, actively replaying memories, robbing her of the much-needed rest.
FLASH A middle-aged woman in a low cut dress, drunk, cackles as she rolls a pair of bright red dice. Her mother, indifferently gambling away money needed for food and clothing.FLASH A young girl shakes her head, apologizing. Her friends abandoning her when she needed help. FLASH A tall man with strangely tidy hair. Her father, taking his last leave. FLASH
Keiyma rose up suddenly in her bed, terrified to see any more of the memories she had worked so hard to forget. She wiped off the sweat that had dripped down her face. She rubbed her temple and pulled the blanket off of her. Her throat was hot and scratchy, so she decided to get a glass of water.
She tiptoed across the kitchen towards a cupboard that she guessed held the drinking glasses. Opening it up, she found a bag of sugar and some other spices. Keiyma sighed and walked over to the next cupboard. She was about to reach up to open the door when she was startled by a voice behind her.
"You couldn't sleep either?" Keiyma turned to find Kurama leaning against the doorframe.
"I was just getting a glass of water," Keiyma replied softly.
Kurama walked up to her and raised his hand right next to her face; instinct caused Keiyma to flinch, but his hand only continued along to open cupboard.
Kurama noticed her reaction and stopped his movement, looking at his hand. He turned back to face Keiyma and opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it, looking sadly at her.
He knows.
Keiyma's lip trembled and she began to hastily walk toward the stairs, but Kurama got in front of her, forcing her to stop.
"Wait…," he said pleadingly. Keiyma looked up to him. She tried to get aside him and go back up the stairs, but he moved with her.
"Please, move aside."
Kurama paused for a second then stepped to the left, allowing her to walk freely. He watched as she made her way up the stairs and to the door of her room. He then sat down at the table and rested his head in his hands to think.
O—o—O—o—O—o—O—o—O
"ARE YOU CRAZY?"
Keiyma had slept dreamlessly after the incident in the night. She was very reluctant to be awoken by loud screaming. She rubbed her eyes and stretched, leaving her room to find out what was going on.
"She could mess up everything!" came the same angry snarl that had woken her up. Keiyma peered into the living room. She saw that the speaker was very short, but undoubtedly handsome. His hair was arranged in tall black spikes, highlighted with white and he wore all black.
"What does she look like?" boomed the voice of a uniquely handsome man sitting in a chair at the other end of the room. He had orange hair and was wearing a light blue school uniform.
"Keep your voice down, you'll wake her up," Kurama warned softly.
"Too late," called out a voice from behind Keiyma. She turned to see a boy with short dark in a green school uniform was stopped behind her, staring.
Keiyma turned back and forth, nervously, to meet the four pairs of eyes now on her.
"Keiyma!" said Kurama, jumping up and walking over to her. He led her into the living room. "This is Hiei, Kuwabara, and Yusuke," he said, pointing to each one in turn.
Hiei merely grunted his greeting, Yusuke said a pleasant 'hello', and Kuwabara bolted up from his chair, excitedly, and shook her hand. Kurama motioned for her to sit down and she obeyed.
She sat silently, squirming awkwardly in her chair. She noticed Hiei, still looking angry, stared at her.
"So, how long are you planning to sponge off of Kurama?" He asked cruelly.
"She's not sponging. She's my guest, Hiei," Kurama defended.
"Well, she wouldn't need to be if she wasn't stupid enough to lose her home in the first place."
"Stupid? You know nothing about me, jerk!" said Keiyma suddenly.
"Don't insult those stronger than you, little girl."
"You're one to call me little," Keiyma muttered, causing Hiei to spring up fiercely.
"HIEI! Can't you go a single day without fighting?" Yusuke yelled, rising to his feet as well.
"Hn," Hiei said, sitting back down.
Keiyma shook off what Hiei had said. She had been insulted, yes, but at least that meant Kurama had not told of her abuse.
Kurama suddenly perked up and smiled brightly.
"Keiyma, would you like to go to a fair with us today? It's just outside of town."
"Uhhmm..." said Keiyma, appearing to be thinking intensely.
"We were planning to go anyway, so we'd all be honored if you joined us," he added, elbowing Hiei who just glared at him.
"You should come, it'll be way more fun than hanging around here," said Yusuke.
"Yeah, you can ride with me on the tunnel of love," Kuwabara suggested with a wink.
"Uhhmm..."
"Well, will you come?" asked Kurama.
"What's a fair?"
O—o—O—o—O—o—O—o—O
After much persuasion, and of course explanations, the boys—excluding Hiei— convinced Keiyma to accompany them. They decided to go in the evening, so that Shiori could take Keiyma clothes shopping.
The two returned around 5:30, holding a few light bags. Shiori had insisted on paying for everything, so Keiyma refused to buy much. She felt bad taking money from a woman who didn't seem to have much to spare. Though, she could not say no to the offer altogether, seeing as she could barely afford anything own her own.
Keiyma brought the clothes up to her room and tried, somewhat successfully, to fold them neatly into the small bureau in the corner of the room. She changed into a purple, long-sleeved, turtle-necked shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans. The outfit was exactly like everything else she bought, but in a different color. She needed her clothes to cover her completely.
She was brushing her hair when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," she said, setting the hairbrush down. Kurama opened the door and stepped inside.
"You ready to go?" he asked cheerfully.
Keiyma nodded and walked down the stairs with him to where Yusuke, Hiei and Kuwabara were waiting.
Keiyma felt strange, she'd never been treated so nicely before. She wanted to let down her barriers, to just smile and enjoy herself. But she had tried that so many times, and so many times she'd been hurt.
She'd escaped that, though, didn't she? It took sixteen years, but she's away from it all. She finally fought back. And… it worked. Unless, somehow, the pain comes back...
Awareness – that was the only way. She had to keep her guard up and not let anyone in. She'd be alone, but safe from all the pain, the tears, the anger, and the shame.
She has to be strong and keep fighting. She has to keep away the bad, even if it means losing the good. Whatever the good may be…
Kurama opened the front door and they began to walk down the street, towards the next city.
The roads were dead, dark and deserted. The eeriness of the empty street was almost calming. The wind blew harshly, ruffling their clothes. Their footsteps, surrounded by silence, echoed along the pathway as they treaded down the deserted road