A Painful Melody

Chapter 17- Related

3rd person POV

"You don't have to if you don't want to. It's fine, you could always tell me when you're ready. You don't have to force yourself now." Akagawa didn't continue because Shuichi put his hand on her shoulder.

"Ayaha-san was already courageous enough to talk now. Don't let it go in vain." Shuichi sighed.

Akagawa lightly smiled, "Of course, I apologize Yumi-chan. I'm ready to listen." Ayaha gulped, she started it. Ayaha had the responsibility of carrying it through.

"For one thing, my real last name is Shikigari. I'm the daughter of the Emperor." Both Akagawa and Shuichi's eyes widened at her statement.

^-^-^

"Yumi, where did you get your black hair? My hair is blonde and your father's hair is red." The blonde lady gently stroked Ayaha's hair.

She smiled warmingly, "You're my greatest achievement, Yumi."

****

A six year old Ayaha woke up and sprinted from her bed, "Mama-" She was shocked of the sight in front of her. Her father was in the living room. He looked at Ayaha, a glare present on his face.

"Are you sure she's mine? Not some other guy? I don't have anyone in my family with black hair." He spoke bluntly.

"I never slept with anyone but you! It has to be and her DNA matches ours!" Her mother looked at Ayaha. If it weren't for Ayaha's green eyes which resembled her mother's, they wouldn't have looked alike.

Ayaha's father looked carefully, the child didn't have a single resemblance of him. The only possible resemblance, was the way Ayaha moved. He sighed, "This is a waste of time. I will admit to being her father, but don't expect me to act like one. I have a country to maintain." He spoke his thoughts and word for word, they imprinted into Ayaha's small mind.

"Mama, was that Papa?" She clenched her mother's dress. The woman violently shook Ayaha's small hands off causing the girl to stumble back and hit her head on the door.

Blood trailed from her head and the mother simply smiled, "That's right. I've always had weak genes, I sleep with Shikigari and our child ends up not having a single resemblance. Why couldn't it change?!" The mother sat on the floor.

"Mama, are you okay?" Ayaha mumbled before her conscious faded. Her mother laughed.

"Why are you worrying about me? Am I that pitiable? You're the one possibly bleeding to death! Worry about yourself!" Her mother began ranting, but Ayaha didn't hear a single thing because she was already passed out.

^-^-^

"After that, my father never came to visit and my mother got stricter to the point where I didn't even have an opinion. She didn't even notice that I was suffering or noticed that I was sick." Ayaha slowly continued, her eyes stinging with tears.

Akagawa didn't say anything and hugged the crying girl, "Then one day, my mom committed suicide and I had to manage financially by myself. My father wasn't going to help. And I guess as I was growing up, I had a hard time trusting people because I was scared they would leave me." Ayaha finished.

Shuichi looked at Akagawa, which she returned the glance. Hugging Ayaha a little tighter, she began to speak. "Do you know Akagawa Ryuu?" Ayaha paused at that name.

"Isn't that the name the coach mentioned on your first day?" Akagawa nodded her head slowly. Shuichi sighed, his blue orbs slightly shaking from worry.

"Yes, well he is the emperor's brother." Ayaha's eyes widened. Akagawa smiled lightly, preparing herself to say what she's ready to release.

"Well, Ryuu is my father. And to answer your problems, he originally had black hair. Though due to the family's pride they dyed it red and claimed it to be his natural hair color just like the emperor. They weren't twins by the way and my father is a year older than my uncle." Ayaha's green orbs widened and more tears began to form. Her warm tears began to trail down her face, Ayaha didn't know.

If her father knew that Akagawa Ryuu actually had black hair then her fate may have changed. She probably would have been accepted. Her mother would have still been kind and gentle. Ayaha hid her face by hugging Akagawa and bursted into tears.

"In other words, surprisingly, Riga is your cousin. Yumi-san, Riga, you both aren't alone." Shuichi bent down and hugged both girls. Their mini group hug came to an end once Ayaha fell asleep.

Shuichi lightly smiled, "She cried to sleep, yet she seems peaceful in your arms. Riga, did you expect this? For her to end up being your cousin?" Akagawa shook her head.

"No, I didn't even know she was the daughter of the emperor. Looks like we have two reasons to be highly protective now." Akagawa laughed as Shuichi picked Ayaha up.

She was carried to the guest room, and laid gently down onto the bed. Shuichi felt Akagawa's hands grab his sleeve, "All because of those doors." She mumbled.

Shuichi sighed, "Are you regretting it after all these years?" He asked. His blue orbs locked firmly on her orbs. Akagawa blinked, making her eyes go back to black.

"If we didn't open those doors, I wouldn't have met Yumi-chan." She clenched Shuichi's sleeve tighter. Shuichi grabbed her hand, and Akagawa's grip loosened. She sighed, she was just tired. Too many things were happening.

She went to Rakuzan because she thought she would blend in. She expected for this top school to be different. Akagawa needed a place to fully hide these eyes. So if it weren't for what happened, her thoughts of going to Rakuzan wouldn't have happened. She wouldn't have met Ayaha.

"Are you going to tell her our story?" Shuichi asked.

"No." Akagawa answered.