The Nemesis

Author's Note & Prologue

AUTHOR'S NOTE:~

Hello, avid readers, this is my latest work. I was greatly inspired by Pearl S. Buck's story The Enemy, which is the reason I started writing The Nemesis. This story has derived its themes from the story The Enemy. A tribute to Pearl S. Buck on my behalf.  

I hope you all enjoy it.  PLEASE THIS IS MY ORIGINAL WORK, DO NOT COPY IT ELSEWHERE. 
Thank you. I will keep updating it time to time. Stay tuned. Keep reading >>>> 

And let me know how you are liking it, how its going in the comment section. Open to criticisms. Toodles.

PROLOGUE

Izumi means both spring and fountain, that's what she was told when she asked her father the meaning of her name. Jasmine was sitting next to her, while Mrs. Johnson ranted on the importance of breaking free from prejudices. Life skills is what they were being taught. Words like 'humanity',  ', 'harmony', words with such heavy weight were being talked about.  Izumi was paying attention. She always has been a thinker. 

Izumi was like the spring; fresh, new, untarnished,  like fountain; always gentle, quenching thirst of this unkind world, by her constantly flowing kindness and acceptance. She was pretty, with sharp features, dark brown eyes, dense black hair, always tied in a bun.  A sweet eleven year old girl, trying to adjust in a foreign country. Its been two years, Izumi has been living in USA. Her father Hiroto Takahashi had come over two years back for an internship in surgery and medicine. USA is full of prejudiced and bitter people. Izumi had been pushed to her limits in the last two years, constantly trying to adjust to the American lifestyle, and American culture. She couldn't effectively do the 'acculturation'. She was marginalized, bullied, and called names like 'outsider' and 'unwanted.' Going to school was a nightmare. Yet she was resilient, put on a brave front and carried on. 

Mrs. Johnson said, "So, every foreigner is our own brethren. We need to treat them with utmost kindness."

Jasmine smiled, and said, "You are my brethren, Iza."

Iza, that's what Jasmine called her. The only girl who had been her friend. The bell rang, and Mrs. Johnson said, "Oh, here goes the bell. You all are dispersed. Shoo, get going!"

Everybody got up and left the small classroom. Life skills, not many are interested to attend such classes. As soon as Izumi got out, the group of 'rogues' surrounded them. Jasmine sighed sadly. Why can't they let Izumi alone? Jasmine said, "Get going, mouth breathers."

Jasmine was the  'assertive' type. But, yet the group of rogues was not someone one could mess with. Isaac, a rich boy, the leader of the gang, with the typical affluent clothes, perfect figure, perfect hair. The heartthrob of mindless girls. He said, "So, here comes Izumi. So, um, what does your name mean actually? Spring or fountain? Figure it out, freak."

Izumi took a few deep breaths, and said, "Fountain of spring."

That answer stumped everyone. Isaac did not have a comeback. He tried to think of something witty, but failed.

Izumi said, "I am Izumi Fuyuko Takahashi. But I am not going to be Izumi for you all anymore. I am Fuyuko, a winter child. Cold, nasty, harsh. Easier to understand this meaning, isn't it? Call me Fuyuko, you got it? I am no longer Izumi. No longer the sweet natured girl, who will keep her mouth shut, even if you all ridicule me. Its time for me to return to my home country, for which I ached incessantly. My father's internship is almost over. And yeah, I had no intention to stay in your bitter country, Isaac Allen. Not for once. Japan is my calling. And I am going to return. But not as Izumi anymore, Izumi is dead.  I will return as  Fuyuko, a girl who is braver, stronger."

Isaac, and others were dumbfounded. From the ashes of Izumi, rose a strong natured, strong willed, girl Fuyuko. Whom did they give rise to?  Is stabbing with a knife mandatory for killing? Is bleeding outside necessary to be called wounded? 

A price will have to be paid for killing Izumi, now the question is, what will that price be?