!Please read this first to prevent confusion!

Okay, first off, I'm sorry I've taken this long to update.
Then, I apologize again, because I don't exactly come bearing good news.

No, I'm not gonna give up on this story, but as it is, I've decided to rewrite the whole thing.

Why, you ask?
Simple
I was 15 when I started writing this and as a result my ideas have evolved and some aspects just don't fit anymore.
The basic plot is still the same but I guess at the time I wasn't quite able to express that.
If that makes sense.

Let's just say that I reread the previous chapters and I found them to be too naïve and merry for the plot I have in mind. It didn't quite read like an R rated story. On top of that I forgot some details that will be confusing if I just leave it at that.

So I decided to change several things:

1)Hime will be cut out. I like her but in the end she serves no real purpose to the plot. She would have been the lead character in several subplots and then again those subplots would have no contribution to the actual plot. Hitoshi-san is the only OC I'll use because she is needed.

2)Kaoru will have no prior knowledge of the twins. I hated their reunion from the start and it lead to Shinta behaving OOC (him shouting urusai) and I can't have that.

3)I will explain more about Shinta's sickle cell anaemia. It has a purpose, that much I can tell you. Please keep in mind that even though I have researched on the matter, I will modify the illness to fit my purpose (again it has a reason). It's not my intention to insult people by portraying this disease wrongly. Just bear with me.

4) Some of the warnings I gave will not occur since Hime will no longer be in this story. I'll give warnings per chapter from now on.

More changes will occur but these are the most significant.
I won't promise to update frequently, especially since I'm in a critical situation concerning school.
But I can promise that this story WILL be finished. I don't do half work and I love this story too much to just throw it out the window.
I'll try my hardest to update the first 4 chapters sometime this month.

To everyone who stuck with this story from the beginning, thank you. You rule (insert smiley)

Of course I haven't come completely empty-handed. I have written the first part of chapter 5 (a part of the past is revealed! gasp!) and the new prologue for the rewrite of chapter 1.

Again, reviews, questions and suggestions are MOST welcome.

Hope you enjoy!

SassandraS

Just a teenage crush 5

Ignorance is a bliss

Kyoto's back streets were always eerily dark at night, the silence making the many small allies resembling a maze even more.
Though tonight shouts and screams rose from the dark labyrinth. Amidst all the noise, the clicking of geta and faint wailing of a child could be distinguished.
Like thieves in the night, a young woman fled, leading 2 small children by the hand.
They were quite a sight. The woman was pale and her black hair that reached her waist was unkempt. The white kimono she was wearing had obviously seen better days and was smeared with dirt and dark stains of red.
The two children seemed to have had their share as well. Bare-footed and dressed in torn yukata's they stumbled on as the woman kept running.
The child on her left was emitting heart-wrenching sobs and appeared to be dragging a creature behind him that was about his own height.

"Hurry." Whispered the frantic woman, ushering the children forward. The child still dragging the creature, sobbed even louder.

"But papa, they…he…papa's hurting!" His horror-stricken violet gaze met his mother's panicked black.
"We hafta go back, mama!"

Forcing back her own tears, the woman sped up, never faltering in her step.

"We can't go back, darling. Please just hurry."

She gave them a quick glance, noticing the creature being hauled by her son. She remembered so well how he'd begged for the toy, wanting the plush panther he saw regularly on TV. It's pink fur was almost unrecognisable from being dragged through more puddles than they cared to remember.
The child on her right was unusually quiet. His head was bowed, covering half his face with his unruly mop of fiery bangs.

She feared for him. He had after all witnessed his father being tortured to death just moments prior.
She bit her lip.
They were so young. How in the world were they going to understand the horrors surrounding their birth?
How could she explain to them, her participation in all this? All her sins? And her attempt at redemption, which resulted in the mess they were currently in.

Pushing these thoughts away she made another sharp turn away from the ruckus. She had to sort out her priorities. She had to make sure she could live to tell them the tale first.
And any chance of survival relied on her 5 year knowledge of these quarters.

Another turn left. Then right. Right again. Straight on.

She cursed the way her geta echoed so clearly in the now silent street.
Her son's heaving sobs weren't helping to put her more at ease either.

"Hush darling. Just a bit longer"

If only she could reach more populated areas.
At two in the morning she doubted many would still be awake, but she'd bang every door and ring every bell if necessary.

Turning another corner, she suddenly stopped dead in her tracks. A dead end. Silently cursing she quickly turned.
And froze.
In the middle of the street a man was standing. Blocking their only way out.
She looked around franticly, backing up further into the ally.

The man regarded her coolly.

"No way out, sweet. Time to return what you've taken."

The woman glared at him, pulling the children behind her.

"I won't let you take them to that…that hellhole."

The man grinned humourlessly.

"Tomoe, Tomoe. For someone so intelligent you have an unrealistic image of reality. Certainly you knew it was only a matter of time before they would find you. Now you can give up the brats willingly…"

He didn't need to finish that sentence. He slowly started to advance.

Tomoe bit her lip. She really didn't have a choice. But knowing what she knew, how could she willingly give them up? What mother condemned her own children to a life of pain and misery?

She backed up even more, panic rising in her chest. This couldn't end like this. Her panic increased when she felt the wall press into her back. Looking up, she saw the man still advancing.

"Don't you come near me, you monster! You won't harm my children! I won't allow it!"

The man stopped in his tracks and chuckled lightly.
"You honestly think you have something to say in the matter. Stop being ridiculous, woman and give those here!"

He suddenly reached for the silent child, gripping his arm. Tomoe screamed and tried to pull the child back to her, whilst keeping the other child firmly behind her.

Starting to adjust his grip on the child's arm, the man noticed the child lifting his head.

His blood ran cold at the sight.
Two fierce golden eyes were glaring at him, framed by fiery hair that was dripping with blood.
His grip slackened just as the boy opened his mouth and gave an ear-splitting screech.

" . !"

Tomoe saw his distraction and used the opportunity to smash her foot into the man's groin with all the strength she could summon.

Groaning, the man staggered back, holding his privates.

Quickly she seized the children and dashed for the exit. Fear gave her wings it seemed. She turned right, praying it would take her to safety.

There.

Hope blossomed in her chest as she saw the faint silhouette of a person further on. The figure was moving away from them. In the faint light she could distinguish a billowing cape.

She opened her mouth to call for help…and found herself harshly being pushed forward by an unseen force in her back.
Unable to keep her footing she fell face first into the muddy street.

What happened? She felt confused. Why was there no longer any sound? She felt numb. Vaguely, pain was registered in her back. But it didn't hurt like anything she ever felt before.

She felt herself roughly being picked up by her hair and thrown against the wall. Lifting her head (since when did that become so hard to do?) she stared into the face of the furious man.

A small voice in her head found it amusing somehow.

'Guess he took that one personally'

The faint amusement was quickly replaced with dread as her gaze fell on the gun he had poised at her chest.

His lips were moving, yet she didn't recognise any words at all.

So tired.
Her head turned to the left where her boys were clutching her arms. Her silent son was staring at her, shock written all over his young face. Her other boy had thrown himself in her lap, speaking words she could not hear.

Lifting her arms, she gathered them close to her.

'I'm so sorry' she thought 'I failed you. Forgive me my darlings. I tried my hardest.'

Darkness started framing her vision. Risking looking up, she was confronted with another face.
Sharp eyes regarded her solemnly, cape billowing around his frame
And she smiled.

'Please save them. My babies. Care for them. Please. Please.'

The affirmative nod made her wonder. She'd spoken aloud? But she didn't dwell on it very long. She felt so tired.

Leaning her head against the child in her lap, she smiled serenely.

'Shinta, Kenta. Please never forget. Momma loves you.'

And all went Dark.

Prologue to chapter 1

The room was small, with blank walls. In the middle stood a rectangular table where 4 men in long white coats were hunched together, quietly discussing something as if afraid someone might overhear.

Conversation ceased the moment a man entered the room.
Four pairs of eyes regarded him in silence.
Pushing his round sunglasses up, the man gave each of them a cool once-over.

"Well? Report!" he snapped impatiently, shoving his hands in the pockets of his white suit jacket.

One man cautiously approached him, shoulders hunched in submission.

"Pardon our intrusion on your busy time-schedule, sir, but we were told to contact you should any changes occur…"

This obviously peeked the man's interest.

"There's further progress with the subject? I wasn't expecting new results this quickly. It certainly is evolving quicker than all the others, but still I…"

The other quickly held up a hand, silencing the flow of words.

"I'm afraid there has been no progress at all, sir. Quite the opposite, in fact."

Again pushing up his glasses, the man growled irritably.

"Then what happened? Quit stalling, man!"

"It killed itself." A deep voice interrupted. Both men turned to the other 3 that had remained seated.
The man wearing glasses regarded him coolly. "Killed you say. How on earth did a 7 year old kill himself in a suicide-safe environment with around the clock surveillance, whilst wearing a straight-jacket?"

"We underestimated the subject. Its psychosis finally drove it over the edge and resulted in biting off its own tongue. We were to late to save it."

Another man sighed and shook his head.

"And we had such high hopes for this one. The first in nearly 16 years to have been this stable." Another sigh. "Whenever this happens I can't help but wish we still had subjects 2 A and 2 B. They were perfect."

The first man grit his teeth.

"Don't I know it." He growled. "But unfortunately gentlemen, subjects 2 A and 2 B are no longer available, thanks to a series of unfortunate incidents, so we'll have to make do with what is left from the original subject. Tomorrow we shall resume the experiment with the remaining subjects."

Ignoring the protests he turned towards the door and gave a nonchalant wave with his hand.

"Carry on then."

Closing the door behind him, he paused for a moment, fisting one hand in his hair.

"Perfect indeed. If it weren't for those two…Nee-sama…you'd still smile for me."

His grip on his hair tightened, causing him to wince as several hairs disconnected from his scalp.
Shaking his hand free from his head, the man stalked through the corridor, leaving the snowy white tresses to float to the ground.

Feed the author I'd say

SassandraS