The Anime Castle

Vol. 1

My name is Mikaru. Mikaru Rin. Ive just moved to california. I just know that im going to be the odd one out because of my name and my apprearance. But whatever..what am i going to do. Riding in the car i took in as much as i could of california. it was such a long trip and i was utterly exausted!!! My brother sat there completely unmoving playing his ds. i told my parents not to get him that blasted toy. it was a waste of money and not to mention he always played it as loud as he could. "Takumi turn it down please" i said as politely and as loudly as i could so my parents could hear. "no" he said. and to my dissapointement my parents continued sitting in silence.

 We finally arrived at our new mantion. You may be thinking " oooo spooky" but no. the spookiness never happened in here. it happened in the forest behind my new house. "Mikaru" my mother called, "get your bags and go pick a room. the door is unlocked" i sighed, for i had about five bags. one was filled with pictures from japan. So i took two bags up and chose the room with the best view. And a balcony didnt hurt. I dropped the bags next to a cabinet that i would explore later.  I wrote it down on my hand. I went back down to take my three bags up. it was a harder trip but i managed no thanks to my brother who sat on the rail of the stairs. Then i checked in with my parents. And i didnt forget to thank them for giving me my own room. my dad grumbled something about girls being to expensive.

See back in Japan I had to share a room with my brother. Oh and a bathroom. Talk about scaared for life. he left his stuff everywhere and everytime i went in it smelled like a bunch of cows had thrown a party with coffee.

So i started unpacking as much as i could. i swept and sprayed a whole can of fabreeze. then i re aranged then dusted and after  about three hours i finaly layed down on my new bed. (did i mention that i had to move that out here myself) I figured that the old lady flowers and roses on the wall wouldnt have to be seen after a while because since it was too much of a drag to paint i would just hang up a bunch of posters that i could come by here in california.

i lifted my hand up to my face to see what i had planned for the day erlier. the list had read:  

unpack

scowl at brother

explore cabinet

i had done everything but the last one. i jumped up and bent down to the dusty wooden cabinet. i did the most scientific thing i could. i shook it with all my might just to be able to hear anything inside. nothing much, i guessed, but i did hear one small object. the cabinet handles were missing. well all but one. i pulled on it but it was jammed shut (literaly). "how strange" i thought aloud. i ran down to the kitchen wich to my surprise was already supplied with utensals. i snatched a knife out of the plastic container. i sprinted madly back up to my room ( i love saying that) and shut the door. i got back on my knees and raised the knife above my head. it came down on the "jelly concealer" rather loudly. i kept stabbing it untill my hands were numb from exaustion. my brother sat silently on my bed watching me with curiouse brown eyes.

i sighed then got another idea. it might seem mad to resolve to the chainsaw but thats what i was thinking. i rose with a grin on my face. i walked out and turned to my brother to tell him rudely to get out. i didnt get to because he was on his knees with his hand on the nob and the cabinet, open.

"How..." i stutered. he threw his head back in laughter. his laughter had always scared me because it had a hint of evil to it. he got up and signaled with his hands ,"after you".  I fourteen and him thirteen yet he was braver than me? Unexeptable. So i nodded once and peered into the cabinet. i was utterly dissapointed at what i saw. "A key" I mused. "Hmm yes it seems. But think, Mikaru" my brother spoke now, "in this old house it could open anything". "Thats the point Takumi!!" i said exasperated, "waaayyyy to much searching and thinking!" My brother clucked dissaprovingly shaking his head.

My mother yelled from the bottom of the stairs to inform us that it was dinner time, and i snatched the key up from the cabinet realizing that throughout the whole conversation with Takumi, i had been afraid to touch it. The top of the key was shaped as a heart with shiny, red stones engraved in it. The bottom was just like a regular key.

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I woke up that next day with a sence of dread. Last night at dinner my mother and I had a conversation that went something a little like this:

"Mikaru, I think you should start exploring your new enviroment" my mother said with a tone of enthusiasm i couldnt understand.

"I will as soon as I finish my room" I said quietly. I was hoping that she hadnt already seen my room. There was nothing else to finish. California didnt hold anything that was to my interest. Well so far i havnt seen anything that held my interest. During the drive here all i saw were endless beaches. There were puny advertising boards. And its not like we had moved here for "new experiences" like  my mother said we had. I knew the truth. My mother had went to japan after college just for fun. She was originally from california. She met my dad, got hitched, had Takumi and I then raised us there. Just recently my mother had decided she wanted to go back to california so my father (having a new job here anyway) agreed.

" Well im sure you can take a break from decorating tommorrow and go explore a little" she said back clearly not falling for my fibs. But why had she said decorating like that. Like all i was really doing was trashing the place up. Offended by this, I straightened and told her straight up, "I dont want to"

"Ill give you $20, you are going." And with that it was final. Nor my father or brother had anything to say about it. Takumi just agreed quietly when it was his turn.

I got out of bed and dressed. I brushed my teeth and wore my favorite high tops, skinny jeans, and flowy top. My long black hair i left brushing behing my back. I walked over to my brother's room and knocked. Sadistic Summer played in the backround. "so true" i mumbled. He surprised me by coming out fully dressed. He was handsome enough to be able to attract girl on the first day of school. I was beautiful enough to attract many boys by the second day of school so this year held a lot of drama for me. I guessed he knew i was surprised at him because he chuckled and went to turn his music off. "Alright lets go" he mumbled. We made our way down stairs and out the door with the mystery key tucked in my back pocket.