Fan Fiction ❯ Scions of Shinwa ❯ Associations with Death ( Chapter 1 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: kaseiyl 
MATURE LANGUAGE WARNING!
Foul Language and Insults
Verbal Fighting
Orphaned on the day of her sixteenth
birthday, Jennie finds herself in
the police station after her parents'
murder. What is to become the girl
who has nothing left in life?
Anime/Manga: Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Hentai / Drama | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 06.13.2006 | Updated On: 06.13.2006 | Pages: 6 | Words: 5.3K | Visits: 133 | Status: Work In Progress
MATURE LANGUAGE WARNING!
Foul Language and Insults
Verbal Fighting
Orphaned on the day of her sixteenth
birthday, Jennie finds herself in
the police station after her parents'
murder. What is to become the girl
who has nothing left in life?
Anime/Manga: Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Hentai / Drama | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 06.13.2006 | Updated On: 06.13.2006 | Pages: 6 | Words: 5.3K | Visits: 133 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter One
Associations with Death
---
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Martinsburg Police Station
Saturday, August 10, 1996
6:17 PM
---
“What’s with the girl sitting on the bench?” a middle-aged man asked as he came out of a windowed office and placed his hands on his hips, “she’s been there all evening.”
His eyes were on a small, lone girl who sat in the middle of the station with a dazed expression on her face. Blood soaked her clothing and clung to her face and arms. It appeared that she had gone through a very traumatic moment.
“Sir, that‘s the Nisewarner girl,” a young woman said as she walked up to the older gentleman with folders in her arms. A troubled expression was plastered on her face.
“What the hell is she doing here? Shouldn‘t she be with the next of kin?” he asked in a stern voice as he peered down at the female worker.
“I’ve been checking up on that, but I can’t find anyone,” the woman replied in a faint voice.
“Grandparents?”
“No,” she said, “but it’s pretty strange. They were murdered two years ago.”
“Alright,” he replied, “how about aunts or uncles?”
“The only ones I could find were either deceased or have gone missing,” the woman said as she looked through some files.
“Sir!” came a shout as a young man rushed up to the older gentleman, “we just got word that we found the family‘s attorney.”
---
"Jennifer?"
Peering upward from where she sat, Jennie found a middle-aged man with short, dark-blue hair staring down at her with solemn, purplish-blue eyes. All she could do was gawk at him for a moment before turning her attention away.
“Would you please follow me?” the man asked, “your attorney is here.”
“Why do I need an attorney?” Jennie asked as she stood up, “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“No, no,” the man said, looking back at her for a moment, “this is about your family’s estate and your guardian.”
Quietly letting him escort her to a small room, Jennie paused for a moment when she entered. The area was vacant except for a small table and a few chairs.
“Should I take a seat?” she asked, looking to the man who was standing near the table.
“Whatever makes you comfortable,” he replied as he began to leave.
“Where is this person you were talking about?” she questioned before he could vanish.
“He’ll be in shortly,” the man stated, disappearing around the door.
Staring down at the ground, she chewed on her bottom lip nervously for a moment then turned to take a seat. Just as she sat on one of the chairs, an odd-looking man entered the room in a hurried rush with a briefcase in hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Jennifer,” the man said with a warm smile, “although I’m sorry that the circumstances couldn‘t be better.”
“Hmmm,” she whispered.
“It might not be the right time,” the man said, “but I need to speak to you about your parents’ wishes in the event of their death.”
Even though he was speaking to her, his words didn‘t reach her as her attention was on the lawyer’s appearance; from his dark green hair that was medium in length and pulled back into a ponytail to his amber-colored eyes. All she could think about was how the man didn’t appear to be someone her parents would’ve hired.
“Who are you?” she finally asked after he had stopped speaking.
“The retainer of your family’s last will and testament,” he said as he placed his briefcase up on the table while taking a seat.
“I meant your name,” she said with a sigh.
“Hiro Caspian,” he stated while fumbling through the case until he pulled out a manila folder that was overstuffed with paperwork, “I’m sure your parents have mentioned me before.”
"Nope," Jennie said, staring at the man with somber eyes, “never heard of you."
"I see," the man said with a weak smile, “well, that‘s okay."
“When did you meet my parents?” she questioned, peering across the room toward the green-haired gentleman.
“A long time ago,” the lawyer said, “they even introduced to me my wife.”
"You're married?" Jennie questioned, noting that the man looked to be in his early twenties.
“I was,” he said quietly as he began to go through the paperwork that was in the folder, “she passed away eleven years ago.”
"Eleven years ago?" she asked with a stupefied expression, “when did you get married? When you were fourteen?"
"No," the man chuckled, giving her an amused look, "I was seventeen."
"How...how old are you?" she questioned as she felt her throat go dry.
"Forty-one," Hiro said calmly.
"You've aged..." she started, but paused for a moment, "...fairly well."
"Suppose so, let’s get back to what I was trying to say," he said, flipping through the paperwork, “after I married my wife and we had our first son, I decided to go to college in order to make something out of my life. Eventually I graduated from Yale with a law degree and your parents had me transcribe their last will and testament."
He slid a pile of paper toward Jennie that had been stabled in the top, left-hand corner. She reached out and quickly retrieved the papers, staring down at the words on the page.
"Guardian?" Jennie read aloud as she skimmed the paperwork, “I don‘t get it. Why would my parents hand me over to someone that‘s not even part of the family?"
"There isn‘t anyone left in your family for you to go to," he replied, pulling the paperwork from her, “when your grandmother died a few years go, your mom and dad came to me."
A taxing heaviness loomed overhead the two as both sat quietly, staring at each other with vacant eyes. She then focused on his hair again, taking note that even the roots were green. Her eyes narrowed in uncertainty.
"Why is your hair green?" she suddenly asked, breaking the tension.
"What was that?" he choked out abruptly, sitting forward.
“Your hair,” she repeated, “why is it green? Do you dye it or something?”
“No, no,” he said with a shake of his head and a small laugh, “it’s naturally this color.”
"Seriously?" she questioned as he nodded, “are you trying to tell me that there are people in this world that have actual green hair?"
“Well, yeah, it‘s a pigment disorder,” he said as he looked away with a stifled laugh.
“Do I look like an idiot to you?” she said as she crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him suspiciously.
"Come on now, I know a few people with this disorder," Hiro said sternly, “like my children. All three of them have the same disorder."
Jennie blinked, staring solemnly at the man. I give up.
"So you‘re taking me to your house?" she asked, standing up, “well, let‘s go, I’m hungry.”
She fingered her bloody clothing as she made a dismayed face. My favorite cat shirt. Ruined by my parents’ blood. I should feel bad, but I just feel cold. Does that make me a monster?
“And I stink…”
"Alright," he said, breaking Jennie from her thoughts as he started to collect his belongs, "make sure you have all your things and we can go."
“I don’t have anything,” she muttered.
Looking down at the tabletop for a moment, she followed behind the tall man as he left the room. Both walked through the station quietly, but the lawyer stopped for a moment in front of a desk. Behind it sat the same man who walked her to the room earlier.
“This is Lieutenant Jurei Byrant,” the lawyer said, “he’s the one in charge of your parents‘ case.”
"I‘m very sorry for your loss," the man said, standing up slowly, "I will do my best to putting your parents‘ killer to justice."
“Thanks,” Jennie whispered, nodding her head in the police officer’s direction.
“Jurei and I have known each other for some time,” Hiro said, “since we were kids, so he knows your family as well.”
“I see,” Jennie mumbled as she peered at Jurei, staring at his hair, “you have blue hair?”
"Good eye," Jurei said with a slight nod, “usually it just gets mistaken for being black.."
"That's so weird," she stated, staring between the two, “and it‘s a rare disorder? You sure you don‘t have some funky blood type?"
"Nope, I'm type O positive," Hiro said.
"And I'm AB positive," Jurei stated, “just like you.”
"Just like me?" Jennie questioned to herself, “somehow I seriously doubt that."
Heading toward an expensive-looking luxury car, Jennie’s new guardian began fumbling through the pockets of his slacks until he produced a set of keys. He peered over his shoulder to the small girl who seemed a bit distant in form.
“Go ahead and hop in,” he said quietly.
As she rounded the car and reached the passenger door, she waited for a moment until the car became unlocked. Once the door was opened, she slid into the passenger’s seat and reached back to grab the seat belt.
“So where are we going?” she questioned after he sat down.
“Hedgesville,” Hiro said as he looked over to Jennie, “I own about two acres there, there’s plenty of room for you.”
“Great,” Jennie said in a low tone.
“Well, how about you tell me about yourself some,” he said as he started up the engine.
“I‘m an orphan,” she mumbled as her eyes went to the window, watching as the car pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main road.
"How about your hobbies?" he said, looking her over for a brief moment, “maybe we have some things in common."
"Maybe I don't want us to get to know each other," she said with a grunt.
"I know today has been pretty bad, but maybe you could open up a little," he stated, "I'm going to be your godfather from now on and it would be nice to be able to talk to each other."
"Who ever said I wanted you as a godfather?!" she screamed as Hiro cringed, “whoever killed my parents should‘ve taken me with them."
"Don‘t say that!" he suddenly shouted as Jennie's eyes widened in alarm. The man who seemed peaceful and overly friendly had become very loud and overbearing.
"You have friends that need you, too."
"Looks like you're taking me away from what friends I have," Jennie mumbled. “What am I suppose to do in Hedgesville? Go to Hedgesville High?"
"No, you'll be going to a private school," he said.
“Look, see! You are taking me away from my friends,” she stated, “I’m happy going to a public school…at least I don’t have to wear one of those stupid uniforms.”
"What grade will you be in?" he asked, ignoring her last outburst.
"Eleventh," she stated.
"My youngest son is a junior, too" Hiro said with a smile.
Looking out of the corner of her eyes to him, she saw his pleasant expression. "How old are your kids?" she asked as he seemed suddenly pleased that she asked him a question.
"Well, my oldest is twenty-three, the next is nineteen, and my youngest is sixteen," he stated as he gave her a quick look, "I believe he's a couple of months older than you."
"Oh, I almost forgot," he said with a loud laugh, "Happy birthday, Jennie. You just turned sixteen today, didn't you?"
He reached up to the sun visor and pulled out a cell phone. "I'll have to call everyone at the house and let them know."
"No, don't do that," Jennie shouted, grabbing a hold of Hiro's arm suddenly. He gave her a simple gaze as she looked back with pleading eyes. "I don't need anything else happening today."
"Okay," he whispered as his eyes dimmed, “I suppose you just need some rest when you get to the house?"
"Please," she said, leaning her head against the window.
I'll probably have nightmares, but I just want to sleep the rest of the day away. Closing her eyes, she felt herself drift asleep with the motion of the car ride.
---
Hedgesville, West Virginia
Caspian Residence
Saturday, August 10, 1996
8:34 PM
---
Step-by-step, inching her way toward a door that was beckoning for her, Jennie felt a coldness rush through her body as a sudden pulse shattered the stillness in the air. Around her the walls began to bleed, soaking the floor in a thick, red substance. Her feet sloshed through the blood, splashing it against the bare flesh of her legs. Her hand reached out for the doorknob, gripping the metal tightly as another pulse shook the air around.
Opening the door and allowing the blood from the hallway to stream past her, she saw her parents sitting in what seemed to be their living room. Her father sat on a recliner with a newspaper in his hand while her mother was sitting on a couch with a magazine. Stepping into the room as her foot sunk into the bloody carpet, the familiar stench of burnt flesh caught her senses as the door closed behind her and locked itself.
"Momma?" she called out, taking a step toward her mother while leaving bloody footprints in the parts of the carpet that wasn‘t already stained.
"Poppa?" Drawing close to her parents, she hesitated as she focused on the bleeding wounds in her parents flesh. "You're dead? Still?"
Looking to the ground, she dropped to her knees as darkness overcame the room. She looked up to her father as his eyes were missing from their sockets. All that was gazing at her was a vacant blackness. Scanning over to her mother, the burnt flesh on her face seemed to still be sizzling.
"You're next," her mother suddenly said through blistered lips.
"Time for you," her father stated.
Pressing her eyes closed tightly while covering her ears with her hands, she rocked back and forth while the room fell silent and the darkness consumed everything. Tears flowed from her eyes as silence surrounded her.
The peace was broken as the soft sound of a weeping echoed against the walls while the small, scared girl sat crying. The lament slowly died and was replaced by the sound of a slow drip. Removing her hands from her ears, she looked around the room.
Bleakness was all she could see as her eyes watered and she felt the ground, feeling the carpet underneath her fingertips. The sensation of the carpet was replaced by the hardness of concrete the further out she touched as her breath was caught short in her throat. A droplet of iciness fell on top of her hand as her breathing became rigid. Lifting her hand up into the air while standing up, she felt her heart burn as she touched something metal.
As her fingers felt the cold metal, a blaring light exploded around her as she was faced with a dark figure that was holding a bleeding blade of an odd-looking weapon. She opened her mouth as the blade was drawn up and lashed out toward her.
---
Stepping out of the car after parking in the garage, Hiro peered through the open door to Jennie who was still sleeping in the passenger seat. He leaned his head against the frame of the car and sighed to himself.
"Jennifer," he called out as he saw her lunge forward with fear in her eyes.
Her breathing was heavy as sweat beaded off her forehead. She looked over to him while he gazed back at her with a calm expression.
"We're home," he said.
"We are?" Jennie questioned, looking out her window to the inside of the garage, "I must have dozed off." Opening the door, she got to her feet then shut the car door behind her.
"Want to meet my kids before going to bed?" he questioned, heading toward a door on the side of the garage, "I'm sure they want to see you."
"Sure," she said, shaking her head, "I can do that." She followed close behind Hiro as he opened the door and stepped into what looked like a kitchen.
"Is that her?" came a loud and excited shout as a girl bounded out from in front of Hiro, landing in front on Jennie, “she‘s so cute!"
Jennie’s mouth dropped open as she found herself staring at a woman who was taller than herself by a few inches. Although the thing that startled her the most was the fact that Hiro was correct; his children did have the same green hair and yellow eyes.
“Dad, she’s so adorable!” the girl replied loudly as her long hair danced about her face as she circled Jennie. Abruptly the girl attached herself to Jennie, hugging her tightly.
"Let go of me!" Jennie screamed, shoving the girl back. Her breathing became rugged as she stepped back, readying an escape to the garage. "What the hell was that about?!"
"I'm sorry," the girl replied with a small bow, "I'm Lacey." She clutched her hands together in front of her body and smiled warmly. "You're Jennifer, right?"
"Yeah, but just call me Jennie,” Jennie answered coldly.
"Come on, Jennie," Hiro said, beckoning her to follow him. "I'll introduce you to my sons."
"Be careful around my little brother," Lacey said suddenly, grabbing a hold of Jennie's shoulder as she passed by, "he can be a little rough around the edges. Try not to take him too seriously."
Breaking free of Lacey's hold, Jennie walked behind Hiro and watched him head up a staircase. "Where will I be staying?" she asked abruptly as he motioned for her to continue following.
"You'll be staying across from my youngest," he said as he came to the second floor, walking to the first door on the right, "he stays here and you'll be staying there."
He pointed to the room on the left and smiled. "But I rather you meet my oldest first."
He walked on down the hallway to the second door on the right and knocked.
"Coming," a sullen voice announced as the door opened.
Jennie came to a swift halt as she gazed at the person who had stepped out of the room. It was a sight that was a bit alarming as she found herself staring at a half-naked man. Wearing only a pair of dress slacks, he stood in the doorway of his room with his green hair falling into his face and hiding his eyes which she figured was yellow, too.
"Jennie, this is Quade," Hiro said.
"I've heard a lot about you," Quade replied, holding out his hand to her, "it's a pleasure to meet you."
Jennie stared at his hand for a moment before gingerly grasping and shaking hands. Her body became hot at his touch as she quickly drew away.
"Yeah," she whispered, "nice to meet you."
“I’ m sorry to hear about your parents,” he said casually.
“Ah-huh,” she mumbled.
"I was kind of expecting someone a little more feminine," Quade said to his father as Hiro only shrugged, "I gather you're more of a tomboy, right?"
"More or less," Jennie replied hastily, "but I have my moments."
"I'm sure you do," Quade stated with a hearty laugh, "I suppose you haven't met Reno yet since I haven't heard any screaming."
"Reno?" she questioned.
"My youngest son," Hiro replied, "no, she hasn't, but I'm going to let her meet him now."
"Be careful with him," Quade said with a wave as he went back inside his room.
"What the hell is wrong with this guy?" she questioned Hiro who only shrugged.
"He tends to have a bad temper," Hiro whispered.
Walking back to the first door, he knocked on it. "Reno?" He knocked again as the sound of stuff crashing about the room was heard.
"What the fuck do you want?!" came a scream that echoed into the hallway as the door was ripped open. A boy glared madly at Hiro and Jennie as his dark green hair fell into his amber eyes. "Well?!"
Hiro gave off a somewhat amused look as he pushed Jennie forward. "This is Jennie," he said, "she's going to be staying with us."
Jennie blinked, finding the boy in front of her to be a little overly aggressive with his actions and words. "This is your youngest?" she asked, looking up to Hiro who nodded, "he seems a little..."
"Shut the fuck up!" Reno suddenly spouted out as the world around Jennie crashed upon her. No one had ever spoken so harshly to her and it was quite a blow to her self-esteem.
"Reno, behave yourself," Hiro reprimanded as he looked to Jennie who stood with her mouth open, “ignore his language. I have no idea where he got such a mouth from anyway. No one in the house speaks that way."
"Fugly bitch," Reno suddenly stated as Jennie looked back to the boy who was leaning against the frame of the door. "Fat and freckled, who would ever get their dick wet in you? Or maybe you swing the other way."
"What?" Jennie asked as her temper was flaring. "What the hell does that mean!?" Storming down the stairs in a rush, she stood in the downstairs hallway with her hands clenched tightly. "That jackass!"
"You okay?"
Looking up, Jennie found Lacey coming toward her. The older girl smiled pleasantly and was wiping her hands dry on a dish towel.
"He‘s an ass," she said, "but I‘m sure he‘ll grow on you eventually. Dad is hoping you two will fall madly in love with each other."
"That’s not going to happen," Jennie replied in a hushed tone.
"Famous last words," Lacey said with a small, friendly smile, "I'll bet you're hungry. Let‘s go make you some dinner."
Walking back to the kitchen, Lacey sat Jennie in a chair that sat in front of a large table. "How about some soup and a sandwich?" the older girl asked, looking at Jennie who nodded.
"Good, it shouldn't take too long. You know, it's really nice to have another girl in the house. I hope you and I become good friends."
"Whatever," Jennie muttered, staring at the tabletop.
"Why don't you tell me a little about yourself," Lacey said, "do you have a boyfriend?"
"Boyfriend?" Jennie repeated, looking up to the smiling girl, "I don‘t want to talk about guys right now…"
"Okay then…I heard Dad mention that you'll be going to our school," Lacey said as Jennie looked up from the table, "I hope you can handle it. Not many like you really ever make it through the school."
"Like me?" Jennie asked.
Stopping in the middle of what she was doing, Lacey looked over her shoulder with a forced smile. "Outsiders don't tend to do well in the school," she said, "that's all I meant. If you haven't gone there from the first day of kindergarten, then normally you'd find it a bit stressful."
"Really?" Jennie questioned, thinking about it for a moment, "I’ll manage."
"That's good," Lacey exclaimed, "you should do well in school then. And Reno will able to look after you."
"I‘d rather be on my own," Jennie replied.
"Don't overlook the value of friendship," Lacey lectured, "sometimes you need to stick close to you friends."
Dazing off while Lacey continued chatting, Jennie stared at the door of the refrigerator that contained papers and photographs. Her eyes fell upon an image of her parents in their younger days, standing behind a young man who she recognized to be Hiro. "So your dad really knew my parents?" she asked suddenly, interrupting Lacey's conversation.
"Oh, yeah," Lacey whispered, "your parents were kind of like surrogate parents to my dad. They took him in when he was ten years old."
"Really?" Jennie questioned, looking to the picture, "I never knew that. My parents never said anything to me about them taking someone in."
"They took you in, didn‘t they?" Lacey said, looking to Jennie with curious eyes.
"Hmmm?" Jennie asked, turning her attention to the older girl, "oh, you mean my adoption?"
Jennie smiled wearily and nodded. "But they really were my family. I was their granddaughter, but I still called them Mom and Dad." Looking to the table, she sighed.
"Your parents were very nice," Lacey whispered. "It's hard to find people like them."
"Is this a way of Hiro paying my parents back, taking care of me?" Jennie asked.
"I don't think so," Lacey replied. "When you were born, Dad was really excited. Then when your real mother said she wanted nothing to do with you, it broke my father's heart. He had even asked to have you to raise as his own, but your parents insisted that you should stay within the blood family."
"I never knew," Jennie said. A bowl of soup was placed in front of Jennie along with a turkey sandwich.
"Eat up," Lacey said, "I'll go upstairs and prepare a bath for you. I may need to borrow some clothing from Reno for you to wear. None of my things would fit you."
Watching Lacey leave the room, Jennie grumbled to herself. "She just called me fat, too," she cursed, spooning the soup into her mouth, “what’s wrong with this family?”
From behind her the sound of footsteps entering the room caught her off guard as she turned around to find Reno heading toward the refrigerator. Her eyes followed his movements as he pulled out a can of soda and opened it immediately.
Abruptly his attention turned to her as she stared back with panic racing through her. His eyes bore into hers as he leaned up against the counter, continuing to keep his hateful gaze on her.
"Thanks to you I got another fucking lecture from my dad," he stated coldly.
"So what?" Jennie erupted, ripping a chunk out of her sandwich with her mouth. Reno's hand slammed down hastily against the tabletop which caused her soup bowl to jostle.
"Don't get lippy with me, bitch," he growled, eyeing her with loathing.
"Get out of my face!" Jennie shouted back, slamming her hand and sandwich into the boy's face. She watched with emotionless eyes as Reno tripped backward and slammed his back into the counter. Promptly standing up, she readied herself to punch the boy, but was stopped abruptly with a hard slap to the face.
"What do you think you're doing, bitch!" Reno said as he yanked her back, "the old man says I should treat you with respect and keep an eye on you, but I'd rather donkey punch you in the back of your head."
He gave her a sound shove as Jennie flopped to the ground on her knees. "You're nothing more than a cheap slut for my father to ogle at."
Staring at the ground, she felt her head spin at his words then listened as Reno left without a care. "Bastard..."