wasteland, baby! [fushiguro megumi]

prologue

june 2009

outside saitama municipal east elementary

"you're not supposed to hit it so hard."

"huh?" a young six year old fushiguro megumi turned slightly, only to see a little redhead with her hands on her hips and frowning a little.

"the vending machine. you're hitting it too hard." she then stepped forward and tip-toed, her tiny arms stretching towards the 'soda' option. gently pushing on the button, the machine whirred and down came a nice cold can of soda. after leaning forward to retrieve the drink, the little redhead then spun around to face the little raven, her light crimson irises boring down into his navy ones.

she extended her arm slightly and handed him his drink, for which the boy took hesitantly, maintaining a confused expression. he didn't know this girl, and why is she here, up and about his business?

"that's the one you wanted right? sorry, you were taking too long to get it and I had to stop you before you break the machine." she gave him a little shrug before turning back around to get her own drink.

"you're from saitama municipal east elementary right? i think i've seen you around before. what are you doing out here alone this late? shouldn't you be on your way home or something." she still had her back facing him, which is why she couldn't see the irk mark forming on his forehead.

so many questions, so annoying, who is this girl?

the little raven wanted to turn on his heel and run away, but then again she was right. the sun was almost setting and it didn't sit right with him to leave her out here alone as well. but this was also his nightmare, talking to strangers, making friends, he didn't feel comfortable opening up to anyone. not even his sister, who he had left panicking on the other side of the school vicinity, worrying her wits out if her younger brother had been kidnapped or had gotten lost.

"gojo-san! i'm really sorry, but MEGUMI IS MISSING!!!"

"who are you?" he finally spoke, his eyebrows arching up slightly. for now he knew that she went to the same school as him, so if anything were to happen he could just find her tomorrow and settle things. he also wondered about why she was out here alone as well, it didn't seem like she was waiting for someone to come pick her up. however, what intrigued him the most was how such a tiny body like hers could emit such intense aura. it felt as if she was hiding an enormous amount of cursed energy, something the raven had only come to knowledge with after he was approached by that tall, strange looking man with sunglasses early this year, shortly after his father and his sister's mother had taken off together, leaving the pair of step siblings behind. Or so he thought.

"mizuki keiko. but you can just call me keiko. and you are?" she snapped him out of his thoughts, already heading west from where they had their first encounter. almost as if she was trying to get him to follow her, he jogged up a couple of steps and the two began their little trip to well, nowhere in particular.

"fushiguro megumi. where are you going? don't you have someone to pick you up at this hour?" he questioned.

"well, my nii-chan was supposed to be here an hour ago, but he definitely forgot. but then again he's not really my nii-chan, but he's been taking care of me since almost two years ago so i guess we're kinda close.... is it okay if i just call you megumi? your last name's hard to pronounce and we're going to the park to play!" little keiko blabbered on, to which poor megumi had only managed to catch on the last line.

"we are?" he stopped in his tracks as his eyes widened a little.

this girl is nuts. it's almost dark and she wants me to follow her to the park to play?