Snippet #2483534

Demashi Kimiko

As Demashi shuffled through town with the hood on her grey hoody pulled down to hide her face and bleach white hair and the black eye and bruises on the right side of her face, her hands stuffed into her pockets, keeping out of everyone's view the sight of her raw knuckles from having punched the wall in frustration and defeat one two many times, she reflected once again on how easy all their lives were. When you didn't have an older brother just waiting for you to get home so he could release his sober rage on you - well, life must be damn easy.

Not for the first time, the runners on her shoes squeaking with water with every step, she wished she didn't have such an aggressive brother. She tightened her fists, reminding herself that this was for the best; that she had all these bruises so that they wouldn't go instead on her little sister. Demashi closed her eyes. If Inuka were ever to hurt Kaori... Demashi shook her head. She'd never forgive herself if that happened.

For now Kaori was at a friend's house, where Demashi had dropped her off after an early morning trip on the beach - which was the reason her shoes were soaked through. For now Demashi knew that her brother would still be at home, and since she couldn't bear facing him again after his outburst of the previous evening, she'd decided to go the store and get Kaori a treat while she waited until she was sure he was out for work. It wasn't the first time she'd gone there early Sunday morning; it was the one time in the day when she was sure there would be close to no one in the store - no one but the employees. No one else to see her bruises and her shame imprinted onto her skin.

Demashi slipped noiselessly inside the store, her hood still covering her hair and her head dipped into her chin. The usual employee was there; a young man of her age with messy black hair and clear brown eyes who was the one she had to deal with most Sunday mornings and after school. She didn't mind.

Going up against the first few aisle, Demashi grabbed a few candies, taking out a 1,000¥ note, and walked up to the counter, keeping her head dipped as she approached the employee, dropped her various candies on the rack, and handed him her money.