~~ Chikyuu Shiba (Slide 1) ~~ * I don't really know what to say about it... * Mom couldn't have cared less if I was an elf, really. "It's so unusual to be gay!!" oh. okay. I see how it is... Being an elf was fine... but I can't like girls. I tried telling her, asking her, begging her- even... but she wouldn't listen, she refused to accept it. * And then I started hanging out with Kerushi, and she lost it. She didn't want me hanging out with "a tomboy like her"- as if Kerushi was a disease. That wasn't fair in my eyes, so I didn't listen. I kept hanging out with her. When mom found out... she kicked me out. Enrolled me into Kik Nai. * I hated it. I was one of the first girls there, and... and there was no Kerushi. And then there were a bunch of new students. Slowly they trickled in... First Kuroe Then Emiri... Riri..... And then her. With her bright red hair, and dark red eyes- full of mischief... Kerushi. I didn't know if she recognized me.... until she looked at me and smiled her sporty smile.
~~ Kuroe Kai (Slide 2) ~~ * Mother and Father always pushed me to be more... traditional. Less modern. Every morning, I was to arise first, prepare the morning meal, cleansing after the meal. Then I was to tend to the family floral, steam tea, set up the table for the same tea, and I was to silent unless addressed. *They had no idea about some things about me. They never wanted to speak to me about my personal self. So they didn't know I read without permission. I was to never read unless given the command to. But I did. The maroon-colored books on the shelves were calling me- the first time in my entire life... I disobeyed my parents and opened a book. I jumped at every sound, no matter how small and my heart pumped from the tension... a few weeks later, I finished the book. I couldn't believe the crime I had just done- so I stopped reading for three days... but I couldn't help it. * I continued living the same. In the afternoons, quietly watch everyone have tea, dress in my afternoon kimono, which was normally light fabric, put my hair in a high ponytail- which was expected to be neat- and wait for dinner. At night, I would prepare dinner, wear my night kimono- which had a heavier fabric-, clean up, and go to bed at 9:00 sharp, with a candle on my nightstand. But I didn't go to bed. I read. I stole a new book off the shelf every day, violating my parents rules, disrespecting the traditional ways... And I loved it. I got to read about a new character every night- I finished roughly 3 books a night by the time three weeks had passed. * One night, I was reading when the door suddenly opened quietly. I shoved the book under my pillow and pretended like I had just woken up. It was my mother, but from the look on her face... she had seen the book. I stuttered, explaining the crimes I had done, and begging her to forgive me... But she only smiled. "My dear... those beautiful books belonged to me. I will not punish you for breaking the rules- when I did not create them. Read. Enjoy reading about a whole new world, one where you are not miserable... and not treated as if you are simply a servant. I am appalled by the rules, as you are. I do not care if you are an elf. I do not care if you wear jeans. I encourage you to read, grow in knowledge, you are so brilliant, you do not deserve this life. I want you to go to a special school- will you trust me?" I did, I assured her that I trusted her... And so I was enrolled into Kik Nai... I was so free... I could read, I could wear what I wanted, I could speak... But I was so used to the rules, that sometimes... I forget that I am free. ~ END ~
