My Sanctuary

Authoress's note: …wow. I wrote this last summer, y'all… I neglected it for a long time, and now, after much pleadings(and death threats- I'm gonna come back to it- edit it first- and then continue. I find this writing style too plain now. ; Hmm. Anyway. So, just some minor alterations… Number one- this font was friggin tiny! It's bigger now… So… yeah. Enjoy Review. nods nods

The sun was slowly crawling down the horizon, casting long shadows behind a young woman walking home. She was alone on the sidewalk, the trees rustling, not many out, since it was dinnertime. She stopped and looked at the grass that pressed through the pavement.

She blinked her unusual eyes and slid them shut halfway.

I am scared. She quietly admitted.

The girl stepped forward, walking rhythmically, her low-heeled shoes clicking on the cement. She kept her head bowed gently, her hair swaying against her cheek, and blinked back the harsh tears that threatened to purge out of her eyes. She kept walking, the clicking of her shoes the only thing heard. Until…

She looked up, her hair whipping against her neck. She looked both ways. Soft, distant pounding. Squeaking. Rustling. Harsh, running breaths.

Hurrying forward, she pumped her fragile legs to move forward. She almost choked on her breathing, trying to run from the appending doom behind her.

"Miss Yobidasu! Miss Yobidasu!! Please, let us speak with you!!" A woman from behind her yelled.

"Talk to us! The people need to know!" Another, older man persisted.

Frantically, the young teenager tore up the steps to her home, threw the door open and launched herself inside, slamming the door behind her. The girl's eyes were wide. Her heart pounded into her throat. Sweat soaked her little form.

The mass of men and women slammed their hands on her doors, trying to will the young lady out of her house. Her legs crumpled under her and she knelt silently to the floor, her back against the door, curled up into a ball, and wept.

Yuna Yobidasu cried softly, hoping the torture of the reporters would end soon.

Hours later, the media finally decided there was no coaxing the girl out, and left, grumbling about a wild goose chase. Yuna waited until their sneaker-steps faded completely before steadying herself to stand, shivering, and walking into her bedroom.

She shuffled weakly on the plush carpet to her bed and laid down on it, burying her face in the soft bedspread. She cried into it for a little while, and then realized she wasn't comfortable there. Yuna slowly sat up, and swung her legs to the side of the bed and looked wearily into the mirror beside it.

She gazed into her reflection, twirling her light brown hair. She blinked her bloodshot eyes, and finally looked up at herself.

For a woman in her prime, Yuna was rather short; and so skinny you could see her bones. Of course, she hadn't had time to eat in this whole mess. Her skin was creamy and pale, as if she'd never been in the sun before. Her bosom, small for her age, also seemed slightly under age. Something most peculiarly cute about her was her feet. She happened to have small, cute feet, with long toes, perfect in almost every way. Her hands, one woven into her hair the other resting on her heart. Her lips were a pale cherry-blossom pink, delicately formed, her nose, small and round. Yuna's precious face was nice and round, she blinked her eyes.

Her most noted, controversial, and incredible feature was her eyes. She hated them because of their uniqueness, but many called it amazing. Her left eye- a dazzling emerald green; her right- a sparkling sapphire blue.

Yuna wore a simple long-sleeved white shirt and denim jeans with brown sandals, hoping that no reporters would notice her in the civilian clothing.

Needless to say, it didn't work.

Shaking, the girl walked back to the door, and plopped down in front of her door again, and leaned back against the door, and shut her eyes, she was comfortable there, and maybe, if someone looked through the window, they wouldn't be able to see her. She rested her closed eyes against her kneecaps and fell into a light doze, exhausted from all the sobbing.

The sound of small, padded footsteps did not arouse the teenager, until a warm, wet something wrapped itself around Yuna's fingers for a moment.

"Kimahri…" She moaned, and forced her eyes open.

Her faithful dog had arrived, sitting in front of his master, concerned. He licked her hand again, and blinked his yellow eyes.

Yuna buried her face into his shaggy, wooly fur, which was gray, but it looked more Russian blue to her sometimes. The dog was enormous, a kind of hunting sheepdog, whose head came up to her ribcage while standing. She had the dog since she was a girl, and when he was a puppy, and Kimahri had kept a good eye on her. After yawning and stretching a moment, Kimahri placed his enormous paws on her feet, keeping them from getting cold, and then laid his head on his paws.

She relaxed- a rare moment of peace.

A soft knock appeared on her front door.

"I'm NOT home!" Yuna wailed, still in front of the door. Kimahri raised his ears, tail flicking back and forth, panting.

"No, no! It's me!" A low, quiet voice answered.

The girl lifted her head from her knees and brightened. She rubbed her wrist against her eyes to swipe the leftover tears away. Kimahri wagged his tail, got up and began to paw the door anxciously.

"Lulu? Oh Lulu! Please, come in!"

Yuna quickly undid her many locks and alarms, and flung the door open. She tossed her arms around the person who was standing so close to the door. Kimahri happily barked and circled around the both of them. The woman hugged back, and gently pried the girl off to look her over.

While the younger girl was being examined, Yuna looked over the woman opposite her.

Lulu Kouoi was about a foot and a half taller then she was, for she could see clear over Yuna's head. Her figure was much more mature and shapely, for this Yuna was jealous. Aside from that, her fingers were long, and painted with a deep purple polish. It was apparent that Lulu was Goth in appearance, but not in heart. She used her hand to tilt Yuna's head to face her, and scruitinized her face. Her eyes were magnificent, shaded by long, long eyelashes, they were a majenta-red seemingly not found in nature, but found in Lulu. Her head was a perfect oval minus her jaw, which was slightly rounded off. Her lips, absolutely perfect in shape, were adorned with black-blue lipstick. A beauty mark made itself silently known about an inch from her lips, which Lulu hadn't bothered to conceal.

And her hair, oh, her hair! All of her hair was in dreadlocks except for her bangs, which covered one of her pretty eyes. The dreads were pulled back into one point, where it was (still braided) rolled into a bun, and held with four chopsticks (which were patterned with cherries, plaid, etc) and six or so braids stayed on her back to her bottom.

Always with the fashion sense of her own, she wore a black shirt that went dangerously low to show a little of her cleavage, the sleeves went to her elbows and stopped, then abruptly fanned out to a point at the end. She wore sensible black pants to match. Of course, she got her fashion ideals from her mother, who was a French Designer.

"Yuna," She spoke, "You've been crying. I told you not to cry."

Yuna whimpered. "But they came after me again, Lulu!"

The teenager swallowed, her eyes brimming with hot tears.

"No, no tears." Lulu petted Yuna's soft hair, and led her inside.

Yuna's house was slightly messy. Papers were stacked every which-way, and stray socks, shoes, and slippers were scattered along the floor. Lulu stepped over them, used to this by now, and took the younger girl to the couch and sat her down.

Kimahri insisted that he would be there too, and hopped up beside Yuna on the couch, and placed his head on her knee. She petted her dog's head affectionately, and gave a doggy smile towards Lulu.

"No, I don't have any bones this time." Lulu glared at the dog playfully.

Somewhat disappointed, Kimahri made himself busy with enjoying Yuna's petting. Lulu sat next to the empty spot on Yuna's other side.

"So, what did you do to them?" Lulu inquired, unconsciously organizing the table next to the sofa.

"I ran all the way home." She gently stroked his fur.

"You can't keep running." Lulu began.

"I know, but… School's starting soon. I don't want to walk into school and be on TV every time someone turns around."

"I understand, Yuna. You're doing amazingly well."

"Ah." Was all Yuna said.

Awkward silence followed the statement for a good while.

"How's Wakka?" Yuna blindly asked, wanting to break the sickening silence.

"He's being his normal, jock self." Lulu rolled her eyes.

Yuna giggled.

"School already." Lulu sighed.

"Yea, seems like yesterday, ya?" Yuna giggled at the impersonation of her friend.

"Yuna."

"Yes?"

"Don't do that."

"Yes ma'am!"