LEGACY /Llorumi & Jaya/ - {MODERN AU}

Chapter 4 ~ Harumi's POV

A/N: I've officially written a chapter for each of the POVs. Let me know in the comments what your favorite chapter is so far, so I know to write more in that sort of style. If you enjoyed this chapter please consider giving it a vote. Thanks! 😉 

December 1, 2012

Like most other nights, I had a difficult time sleeping due to the sunlight that raided the cramped room, which was filled with rows of bunks with children snoring.  Every aspect of this unfortunate situation was disturbing my sleep.  After I spent a minute or two contemplating what to do for the day, I slid out of my bed, causing it to creak and groan, landing on the floor with a huge thud. I rubbed my eyes and immediately searched for the small brush that I usually kept by my bedside. I meticulously combed my white-blonde hair, twisting it into a neat braid. After I finished my hair, I rummaged through the small drawer at my beside.  It only contained two articles of clothing, a regular old nightgown, and a simple orphanage dress that had a soapy odor.

Feeling a sense of indifference, I released a deep sigh and made my way toward the lavatory.   As fate would have it, today was my eleventh birthday.  Many who paid visits to the orphanage, whether it was a relative of one of the children or, on a rare occasion, someone who was looking to adopt, all of them said I was highly sophisticated for my age.  When one's parents pass, you are forced to mature.  As a child, I had no care in the world, but after they died, I realized people would come and go.  I was the only one taking care of me right now.  I was my own mother and father. I was alone.  

Only a select few were aware that today was my birthday—the matron and the girl who occupied the bunk above mine. The mayor had promised to make an unexpected appearance, but in an establishment like ours, news traveled quickly, so it wouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone. While most of my fellow orphans were thrilled about this visit, I remained indifferent to it. Visitors to the orphanage were a rare occurrence, and it was nice to see some outsiders now and then, especially the mayor who had been overall negligent of such a dilapidated orphanage.

Contrary to the stereotypical "hard-knock life" depiction, our orphanage was quite pleasant compared to others, and living here didn't really bother anyone. Very few had attempted to run away from the deteriorating plaster walls, carelessly painted in a depressing shade of gray, with an abnormal amount of spiderwebs adorning them in various places, and the matron who spent her days dreaming about a raise. I don't really think the matron was too fond of me—or any of the other children for that matter.

Even we orphans, such as myself, had lost our parents and were left with no one to take care of us, the orphanage had become our safe haven. Despite my unfortunate circumstances, I was grateful to have a place that provides me with care and a sense of belonging. Of course, what one wouldn't give to find their forever-loving family and leave this dreadful orphanage behind, but I have accepted the thought that no one will ever be enough for the love my parents had for me. My plan to annihilate and get my deserved vengeance against the ninja has begun to fall into place. I hope to rise to a position of power to truly reveal the Ninjas as the city's primary enemies, and get my long awaited revenge.  I will attack them from the inside, using deception and manipulation, a tactic I had mastered.  As for now, however, I will have to remain a small infantile girl with big plans but no way to achieve them.

I gazed into the cracked lavatory mirror, seeing a familiar girl with white-blond hair and sad green eyes who constantly wore different masks, hiding the broken girl inside. For a split second, her true self was revealed through her disguise, but the wailing echoes of the ambulances and crying resounded in her heart as she slipped on the mask of the Quiet One. I turned away from the mirror, hyperventilating, as memories flood my head, making me dizzy. I grasped the crusty aluminum sink caked in rust and mold as the restroom seemed to spin. I steadied myself, and released a deep sigh, trying to empty the heavy feelings inside me. My gaze returned to the mirror again, and I faked a smile as I exited the restroom, concealing any evidence of the broken girl inside.