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I waited for him to come around the corner, just as I had seen him do every night for the past three years. But this time it was different. This time the sword that I had held in my hands while I watched from the cemetery was unsheathed. But it would not be the Karamorita blood that would dirty its blade. Tonight, this sword would be returned to its rightful owner.

I am Megumi Karamorita, and this is the story of my life. Or perhaps my death. I'm not sure which. I think I may have been dying for a very long time now...My death began when I was ten years old, but the story must start on this date, October 29th, my seventeenth birthday.

"Come on, Megumi," Rei pleaded, punctuating her whine with one of her famed pouts. "It's your birthday. You have to go out sometime." This may have been the thirtieth time she'd whined in the last five minutes. You see, Rei has always had some trouble comprehending the fact that I don't go out at night. I can't. I'm always busy. Always.

"No, Rei," I replied firmly, maintaining my gaze directly in front of me as we walked to Sasada High School for Girls. If I looked into her watering brown eyes I knew I would give in and make a promise that I couldn't keep. "I'm busy." I wanted to go with her. I wanted to know what it was like to go out on the town and party. But I had work to do. Work that was long, hard, and horrible. But through my work, I would have freedom. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow...but someday, I would be free of Amane Akaike.

"But Megumi--!"

"Cut it out, Rei," I snapped, annoyed. Rei quieted and we walked in silence some more. I didn't like to snap at her. I didn't like to say anything unkind to Rei at all. She was sweet, kind, loving...everything I aspired to be and never would. Maybe that was why I'd stuck by her so long. The pair of us were a novelty among our classmates. None could understand why Rei put up with my moods, my attitude, my dry sense of humour. Hell, I couldn't even understand it. If it'd been me, I would've been long gone after day one. This was why I could not be Rei. I give up too easily. She is not deterred, no matter what I say or do, and in a strange way, I love her for it.

"Megumi," Rei murmured. I couldn't look at her. I would crack. I knew I would. "Megumi." She put her hand on my shoulder and I stopped, turning to face her. It was the kiss of death. "I didn't mean to upset you. I just thought you should have a little fun, that's all..." I could feel my heart changing its mind already, even though my brain screamed at it No...that Akaike would be angry...that I would be punished.

"Alright," I found myself saying, rolling my eyes and walking again.

"Alright?!" Rei echoed excitedly, jogging to catch up. Her jogging had caught the attention of the boys across the street...I'd warned Rei that her skirt was entirely too short, and that she should at least wear some shorts underneath it, but she was determined not to be bothered, flouncing around happily and blinking her perfectly formed almond eyes. "Does that mean you'll come?"

"Yes," I said, but my eyes were not on her. Instead, I had met the hungry stares of those very same boys who were now nearly sprinting to get away from the vicinity. I feel sort of guilty...I could be the reason why Rei has never had a boyfriend. Between me scaring guys away, and rumours going around school that I'm a lesbian... Sometimes I want to just run away...to leave Rei alone to make other friends.

We crossed the lawn onto campus, given wide berth by the other girls. "Oh, this'll be great Megumi," Rei prattled. "We'll go partying and dancing...and we can go out for ice cream! There's this great place in the Square where everyone goes...they'll be so surprised to see you!" Yeah, I was banking on that. Imagine if I actually partied like normal kids. Right. Normal.

The bell sounded throughout the school, indicating that we had 5 minutes until class began. "Guess I'll see you later then," Rei said, still grinning from the idea of a night on the town with me. "I have something after school, so we can't walk home together. I'll be back home around 5, so meet me in the Square at 6, 'kay?" She skipped off, joining another group of girls who also had Psychology, her next class. In the meanwhile, I walked alone towards the Sciences building. Anatomy was my best subject, dissection my specialty in more ways than one.

I shouldn't have said that I would go. Akaike would not be pleased. Maybe there would be no work for me tonight. I continued to tell myself so. There would be no work. I would have the evening off and everything would go as planned. I slid into my usual seat in the back of the classroom which always seemed to be saved just for me, whether by fear or coincidence

The day was pretty uneventful and I was actually procrastinating on the walk home. No, the walk to my house. I wasn't looking forward to requesting the evening off of Akaike. I knew he would say no. I knew he would give me an assignment. I knew I would leave Rei standing in the Square waiting, again. But still, I pushed open the iron gates to my house. They creaked horribly just as they have always done. Withered petals of the Sakura blossoms scattered the pathway to the door. I have lived in this house since I was born, but it is no longer my own. My home was taken from me at ten, along with my parents and little brother. Now it is occupied by criminals...myself included.

Removing my shoes, I passed through the corridor, ignoring the crude men who sit at the kitchen table, and escaped into the empty solace of my room. It is empty and impersonal. There are no pictures of friends or family...nothing to indicate that I had ever slept or cried there, nothing but a silver brush sitting on the dresser next to the mirror. I was immediately suspicious. I never leave that brush out in the open. In fact, I specifically keep it hidden. One less thing for Akaike to steal. But if anyone had found it...why would they leave it there? I examined the brush for anything lethal, but found nothing. I would take it up with him later. Like I do every afternoon after school, I took up the brush and slowly worked it through my hair. My hair was my own personal pride and joy. It was long...to my thighs...and so smooth and black that it approaches purple, just like my mother's.

After a few strokes, I lay on my bed, freshly brushed hair spread out around me like a halo. Staring up at the white ceiling, I wondered if Akaike had arranged this too...purposefully putting me in this room to emphasize how filthy and unclean I was. That man was conniving...calculating. And one day, I would kill him.

UPDATE: 8/2/05