the raging flame | hxh fanfic

1 - guilt

Today was Kaede's last day of school until Winter Break: a full two weeks off of school where kids all across the region would get to relax and take a break from their academic studies.

The girl wasn't too thrilled, but she wasn't too dismayed either. Staying home would mean she would be around her parents for far longer than she desired.

However, not having to see the annoying kids at school with their incessant yelling and rude remarks didn't seem so bad either.

Maybe I should be glad, Kaede thought. Who knows what I'd do to those brats if they teased me one more time...

Thankfully, her harsh thoughts were interrupted by a couple knocks on her bedroom door.

"Come in," she said with a groan, dreading the thought of having to speak to anyone at the moment.

It was her father who entered the room, which was rare; he usually stayed in the basement most of time, most likely working on some new project.

He stood tall at an astounding six feet. Kaede had inherited this trait and was already 5'5" at age 12 while her mother was stuck at a mere 5'3". The girl's father almost always wore an expression of impatience; working with a bunch of "simpletons" (as he called them) at his job could tire you out quick. This trait grew on to make him a perfectionist at the very least. He always had a clean face, and practically perfect hygiene. He was never late, always striving to be as punctual as possible, no matter the event.

That is, until the reincarnation of Satin was born: his own daughter.

"Kaede," the girl's father said calmly, not wanting to provoke the wild beast her child was. "Someone is at the door for you. A little boy, probably around your age.. he said he needed to tell you something."

Kaede's eyes widened.

A kid from school? Oh, God. Please tell me it isn't..

"Tell him to go away." the girl said, trying to keep her cool.

Her father sighed and nodded, closing the door behind him and making his way to decline the young boy.

A few moments later, Kaede's father returned, knocking once more.

"What?!" she yelled in exasperation.

"Ah, the kid says it's urgent.."

Kaede ignored her father; she decided there was no point in speaking to that awful brat.

"No, enough, Kaede," the girl's father yelled, his dark side starting to shine through. "You will get up and tell that boy to go home. I am not your messenger."

This set Kaede off.

"Fine! I'll tell him to get his lousy ass lost!" she shouted, throwing herself off the bed with such force that she almost toppled over. She slammed her bedroom door and angrily stomped through the hallway and towards her front door.

"Kaede Yamazaki! We do not use such language in this household- hey, are you even listening to me?!" her father called out. He was starting to get angry with his daughter.

Kaede screeched to an abrupt halt as she stood in shock by her front door. It wasn't only her father's words that completely vexed her.

Why is he..

There stood the single kid that the girl utterly despised the most.

Why is this asshat here?

She began fuming as the boy in front of her opened his mouth to speak. Right before, Kaede's father had decided to just stay back and watch, quite frankly frightened it would get violent, but he would be there to intervene if so.

"I finally found you! Ah, wow, now I'm gonna tell all my buddies.. that'll be so fun-"

The boys words were cut off as Kaede's fist connected with his nose. He fell to the ground in an instant, blood flowing from his nostrils like a water faucet. The boy sat there, nonplussed, as the girl eye's widened.

Oh no, she thought as her face expression molded from true anger to fear. All hints of malice vanished.

I didn't mean to.

Kaede backed away slowly as her father came rushing to help the boy along with her mother, who had thought it was just a regular argument before, cane rushing downstairs as she heard the loud ruckus.

The girl already knew what was going to happen, and so she scurried to her room, throwing the door wide open, and slamming it once more.

Her mind was in a state of panic, and her mind was racing.

I'm in big trouble. They'll beat me 'till I'm blue for this one. Oh, I don't want that.

The girl quickly grabbed hold of her empty bookshelf that her grandmother had bought her years ago (Kaede wasn't too fond of reading) and heaved it towards the door, attempting to block any entrance; her parents had removed the lock completely.

"It's your fault, dumbass. You shouldn't have hit him," a small voice called out in the back of Kaede's mind. "Always losing control!"

Shut up.

But what if it was right? It was true that Kaede had lots of trouble controlling her wild emotions. That was the main cause for major mishaps like this.

I don't care. He deserves it. Him and his lowlife cronies were always picking on me.

"But this will cost you, you know." the voice chided. "How many more bruises do you think will be added to your collection?"

Then I'll leave.

Kaede laughed mirthlessly at the mere thought. What was she thinking? Escaping this damned house was next to impossible.

Maybe it is possible, though, she thought as she shoved more things against the door. She was now satisfied with most of her furniture blocking the only entrance and exit of her room she deemed as a prison cell.

Suddenly, an idea sprouted in her head amongst the chaos and panic.

Maybe I need to make my own exit, she contemplated.

Kaede turned towards her window, which was boarded up by a thick layer of maple wood. She then began brainstorming. Was it possible to break through the wooden barrier? Most certainly. The question was: how?

Meanwhile, the girl's parents sent the weeping boy home after they treated his bloody nose. Luckily, it wasn't broken, and so her father was eternally grateful. The two would've walked the boy home, but they were preoccupied with their daughter at the moment, discussing her punishment. It wasn't going to be a mere slap on the wrist this time. Both parents were furious.

"Kaede, you are in deep shit," her mother cursed under her breath. "I can't believe you.."

The girl could sense the heavy tension in the air. She suspected her parents were most likely coming up with a punishment, which only stressed her out more.

This won't be easy, but I've gotta get out of this house tonight.

-

Thank you for reading! This chapter is much longer than the previous one as you can tell, and I intend to keep it that way. I hope you all enjoyed! Stay tuned for next chapter. :)