KHR: The Inheritance Project - Prelude

The Stuck in the Rain Project

Time skip, nine years old

I hate Japanese summers. It's too damn humid in this country! Why the heck is it raining in summer anyways? I scowl as I trudge home down the wet road, the umbrella over my head failing to keep me dry. My long hair (tied in a low ponytail) is now wet, my boots are caked in mud, my shorts are wet at the knees, my short sleeve button up shirt is wet at the back and my tie refuses to tie up properly.

In the eighteen months I've lived in Japan many things have changed. For one, I actually finally managed to learn the language. Also I no longer have to share a room with my brother. And since no one was capable of saying my name correctly I looked up what it meant in Japanese, and then told them to just call me 'Sora'. I'm a fourth grader now and our classes changed; neither Masamune nor Hibari Kai are in the same class as me anymore.

Masamune himself was probably the biggest change. Those kids kept bullying me from my second day onwards and Masamune had become their ringleader. He took every opportunity to make my life a living hell. I think I liked it better when he was too scared to come within one metre of me.

I never thought I'd say it but, I actually miss sitting near Hibari. Why? Because when I sat in his proximity no one would dare approach my desk for fear of getting bitten to death. Not to mention class was always peaceful and quiet since he detested noise.

It is so weird that I've come to enjoy his company. Well, we were very good 'thinking buddies' since we both are content to just sit and think in silence. We've even had a few almost conversations that go something along the lines of:

"… You're… wet…"

"…umbrella… lost it…"

"…Hn…"

We mostly talk about the weather, me being late or not wearing my uniform correctly. We've even spent a few lunch breaks together. By 'together' I mean me hiding on the roof, because no one else goes up there for some reason "There's a 'no entry' sign, Cielo...", and Hibari "Ah… you're the only one who can see me, and yet you're ignoring me…" randomly showing up for a nap. "Do you realise how depressing this is?"

He'd just glare at me before lying down and falling asleep. This basically translates to: "Don't disturb my sleep or I'll bite you to death." So I'd just sit quietly and read, trying not to make a sound for fear of waking the beast.

Of course every now and then he'd pick a fight but I never last long since I'm already hurt most of the time. He'd stop as soon as I'd curl back in pain from being hit on an already tender spot, and narrow his eyes at me as if he wanted to say something but he never did.

Another person I never thought I'd ever become close to is the weirdo school nurse. She looks at me with this expression that says: "I must help him!" …I think she has the wrong idea about me… Apparently, I'm also the inspiration of a novel she's writing… I shudder every time she talks about it. Seriously what the heck is she writing in there any way? I'm too scared to find out…

But she does provide me with protection during lunch and recess. And she is the only person I can talk to about another little 'problem' that's been bothering me lately… I've been having nightmares, or rather this one nightmare, almost every night. At first it didn't bother me, I mean it's just a dream right? But I'm seriously starting to get freaked out now.

I'm standing in the middle of what looks look a desert. There's sand as far as the eye can see with only a few boulders to break up the scenery. Everything is void of colour; it's a very dull and lifeless place. But what really gets me is the fact that I'm alone, not even Aigís is there.