Dark Side of Wonderland

Hisayo

Halo Twenty-Four: Hisayo:

July 10, 1986.

What went wrong in her home? Hisayo sometimes wished that she could just disappear. Her classmates found her creepy. Some of the teachers tried to avoid her. Her home life wasn't any better. The girl turned over in her bed. Two things kept her afloat. Her sister and her teacher.

Toshiko.

She was supposed to be the glue to hold the family together. Ha! What little good that was doing. Lately, their parents had been fighting more than ever. Toshiko only seemed to be giving Hisayo comfort. Yes, Hisayo loved her sister. Loved her so much that Toshiko would always stay by her side.

Hisayo looked up when she heard a knock on her door.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Nee-san?" a small voice asked. Hisayo sat up on her bed as the door creaked open. Toshiko poked her head into the room.

"What do you want? What's wrong?" Hisayo asked. The little girl shook her head.

"Are mom and dad fighting again?" the older sister asked. Toshiko slowly nodded.

"Come here," Hisayo said, holding out her arms. The little girl walked over and cuddled up in her arms. She looked like she was ready to cry. Hisayo kissed her on the forehead.

"It's okay," she whispered. "It's okay. It's okay." Toshiko looked up at her. The look in her eyes made her older sister's heart hurt. All she could do was lie. Hisayo became her shield. It shouldn't have to be that way. The whole family needed to be the shield. What happens when the kids have to raise themselves?

"Nee-san?" Toshiko asked.

"Hm?" Hisayo asked.

"Why do Mama and Papa hate each other?" she asked. And there it was. That question always made her stomach turn. Even Hisayo didn't have an answer for herself. She wished that things could be better for her family. Things had been getting worse lately. Their father was barely home anymore. Their mother had been getting increasingly frustrated. Asuka would be pulling on her hair and muttering to herself. The girls knew to stay out of her way. Their mother looked like she was about to snap at any time. Last night was really bad.

Dinner was uncomfortable. Nobody said a word. The family wouldn't even look at each other. Asuka looked ready to scream. Takumi cleared his throat.

"So... how was everyone's day?" he asked. the girls didn't answer. His daughters didn't look up. He squirmed in his seat.

"Right..." he said. "I had a good day today. The campaign is going well. It looks like we have a chance to make a difference." Asuka snorted.

"How was school, girls?" Takumi asked. Hisayo and Toshiko didn't look up. The older daughter pressed her lips together.

"Not good, huh?" he asked. Hisayo turned her head away. Her mother snorted again.

"I'm sorry dear, is something wrong?" he asked. Asuka's hand shook as she held her onto her chopsticks.

"Since when do you care?" she asked.

"What do you mean? I'm just trying to talk to my family," he said. Asuka all but laughed at him.

"You don't care about us!" she shouted.

"Why would you say that?"

"Spare me, would ya?! All you care about is that stupid campaign!"

"It's for our future!"

"Whose future?! Certainly not ours! You are never home! And don't give me that bullshit about how you have to work for the family! I'm not stupid! You just don't care!"