Chapter 9
It was so quiet in the house. Shuichi Minamono had not left the girls side in two days. She didn't move, laying so still in the same spot on the basement floor.
The bowl of rice and ramen sat untouched. The tea sat cold. She wouldn't move.
Rosario had given up, she just wanted to die and be with her family.
She didn't get to say goodbye.
Rosario was allotted more time than most people get.
It didn't help her process their deaths.
Kurama lifted the girl staring blankly into space. Completely catatonic.
He pressed the rim of the cup to her lips helping her sip. She drank it slowly.
Kurama tried to feed her using the chopsticks is difficult. She wouldn't open her mouth and chew.
The process of eating was too much energy for the girl to exert.
So Kurama chewed the food and pressed it into her mouth as she swallowed.
Please that she could at least consume food he began feeding her more.
Rosario didn't react or move. Completely unresponsive to anything the red head did.
"The end of exams are coming up. Rosario's score is already posted. Perfect marks many students are determined to make the same goals."
She didn't respond.
"It's getting cooler out, perhaps Rosario should switch to fall wardrobe, it can be cold here."
Rosario didn't respond, once he brought her to the bathroom and undressed her. Giving extra care to not look. Placing her into warm shower. He scrubbed her body, her feet her more untamed parts he made her do herself.
Washing Rosario's hair in shampoo and conditioner. Shuichi brushed her hair as she sat staring at nothing.
It was getting late and he knew he would need to return home soon. The pajamas for Rosario comfortable as he tucked her in. Just as Shuichi moved away Rosario clutched his arm.
She did not want him to leave. He tried moving and adjusted lying behind her holding her with ease.
Her small fingers clutched onto his arm. Anchoring him to her side. Unable to speak or function really.
Kurama called Yukina and Kazuma to be with Rosario while he went home to gather clothes and speak to his mother.
Shiori Minamono stood in the kitchen cooking for her son some spicy ttekenbokki.
"Hello mother."
She was delighted seeing her son and smiled
"Hello Shuichi."
Cooing the way a mother did as she saw how exhausted her son was. Frowning she approached him delicately. Shuichi was very private and did not like to worry his mother.
"I've made dinner, Shuichi should wash up to eat."
"Please pack two containers to go, while I get ready."
"Has something happened?"
"My classmate's family died."
"Oh poor thing, my condolences."
"They are alone and have no one, I will be spending time with them."
"Get ready I will pack some food."
"How are they holding up? Do they need a place to stay?"
"She has a home for now, so far Rosario has not spoken in two days. I'm worried to leave her alone. It was her twin and parents who passed. She has no one now.
A hand covered Shioris heart. It must be hard to be in a country all alone.
"Get ready and I will have some things packed for the both of you."
Shiori went into mom mode and began cooking more food, preparing meal containers for the week. Desserts and snacks to help ease her pain.
By the time Shuichi descended he was fresh clean and packed as well as many Bento boxes of food.
"Take good care of your friend Shuichi. If she is truly alone, it may be hard for her to live in a world without those she holds dear."
Bowing his head he hugged his mother
"Thank you mother."
Shuichi appreciated his human mother so much. He loved her dearly, she had always been so good to him. Protected him as a child.
Shiori sent her son off hoping his friend would be ok. She knew her son cared very deeply for his friends. Rosario is lucky to have her son as a friend.
~*~
Yukina had witnessed pain living in an isolated ice village in the sky. The Koorome were Some of the coldest women she had ever had the displeasure to meet. Their hearts filled with cold ice.
On the rare occasions a Koorome would find love, a boy would be conceived. The elders hated males and would toss the male babies off the cliff to die.
When it happened the mothers would fall into dispare. They would either away, refusing food, water until they died.
Those mothers had the same empty expression painted on Rosario's face. Yukina had bathed and cleaned the young girl. Pampered and primped her even went so far as to braid her hair.
The soft pink dress with lace draped across her shoulders. Absolutely stunning against her skin complexion, Yukina even groomed the girl.
Nails painted a soft pearl with pink undertones, trimmed and clean.
"Rosario looks lovely today, Kurama will be most pleased."
Yukina chatted treating the woman like a person. She sat in the chair staring at nothing.
Kazuma was casually admiring her book collection. The massive library wing had two floors, large and small books Massive tomes of information on monsters, ghouls and beasts.
Books on portals and wormholes, how to create a portal with sigals. Time portals. Temporal portals.
Pick a supernatural subject and Rosario had the text. The collection was astounding, it would make any scholar weep in joy.
Every book was marked with an ink emblem at the bottom, a rose with a dagger pierced through with black thorn vines wrapping around the edges of the blade.
Older books also had only a dagger with waved edges to a point.
It was obvious the collection was passed down from generation to generation.
A large portrait hovered above the fireplace, a family tree. Shooting up down the center, 8 black Silhouettes, at the base of the tree. Branches with names and little flowers on every branch, withered and decayed with family names.
Tracking up the spine one branch severed completely as everyone was deceased.
Only three flowers were in blossom. Lilliana was the first one on the 8th branch at the top. And her two flowers had bloomed one was bead and withered while the other was fresh and full of life.
The second silllort was male, with a name beautifully calligraphic gold into the name.
Augustus Rumon BlackThron.
With a bloomed flower with gold etching in the name
Valentina Inez BlackThorn
The family was quite large. On the shelf was a photo of Beau in small shorts with boxing gloves. In bold letters were the words
Golden Glove.
He had to be no older than 19, Beau was a Golden Glove Champion in his youth. Taught both of his children everything he knew.
A fathers biggest fear was someone hurting his children. Especially his princess. She was quite strong physically.
Always quick to learn. She enjoyed sparing with her brother. It was one of her favorite pastimes.
Gray eyes gazed at the portrait, two small children smiling up at the camera both in little boxing gear.
Rosario sporting a black eye, hair braided back holding her little gloved fists in a strong man pose.
Luka beaming missing a tooth, his little arm around his baby sister.
Two siblings holding each other up, They loved each other that was clear from the photos.
Yukina felt a pang of jealousy, to be with her twin. She understood Rosario's pain. Yukina remembered warmth and comfort. She came into the world with someone. For the longest time she felt alone, incomplete.
Rosario was truly alone, in pain full of grief. Numb to the world around her.
Yukina understood that feeling.
A large bowl of potato soup sat beside Rosario, she was fed like an infant.
The entire house was stocked with food and water.
Alice had prepared many meals and froze them so Rosario would have something nutritious and healthy in the upcoming months.
The library doors wide open allowing Kurama to enter. Gazing upon the unmoving china doll.
Rosario said nothing, her eyes didn't even meet his. Yukina bowed as did Kazuma. A single shake of his head.
He couldn't find the Grimoire, prince Koenma had been searching for.
Massive tomes of spells, a book of prophecies, an almanac of demons. But no grimoire.
A few book carved out with wads of cash within them. Secret storage of cash around that would keep Kazuma clothed educated and fed for 3 lifetimes.
"Hello Rosario."
She said nothing only staring at the empty space before her. Down and glum.
Kurama frowned, glancing at Yukina.
"The soup is nearly gone, let's use the restroom and clean ourselves up."
Guiding the girl up, they women retreated as Kazuma sighed shaking his head.
"No response today."
Kurama nodded his head once glancing at the pages before his friend
"Anything?"
"If the book is here I can't find it."
Kurama nodded his head looking over the books. Many spells incantations.
Lilliana came from a magical blood line, she had turned away from that life after she married her husband.
Something she had regretted as her children fell victim to magic anyway.
Luca who learned of the monster within days of their arrival and Rosario who trusted her brother instantly. She was no so sad. Her grief flavored the home in sadness.
Yukina led the young woman to her bedroom to rest. Admiring the beautiful crocheted calls Lillie's.
"These are beautiful."
Rosario said nothing as she lied in her bed. Yukina found a lovely Crochet book. On flowers, little butterflies and star shapes. Several rolls of yarn sat in a white wicker basket beside the table lamp.
Some half finished butterflies, Yukina lifted a silk butterfly admiring the little wings
"These are lovely, Rosario is quite talented,"
Yukina's bright eyes admires cute little koi fish. On page 71. Sitting beside Rosario. She didn't dare try to crochet. Admiring the patterns was more than enough.
Gray sad eyes gazed at Yukina, Rosario felt as if she lied down in a deep well staring at nothing. It was dark and empty.
Rosario felt alone, utterly alone. The world was empty, there was nothing good or bright in it.
Just sadness.
"Does Rosario make these? They are lovely. I especially love the penguins."
Admiring the tiny penguins Yukina caressed the crocheted loops. Wondering exactly how it is one made them.
They were beautiful.
Rosario just gazed at the little penguins.
Magnificent creatures that mated for life, someone to love and care for. Not only did she have no family she was alone in every way that mattered.
Falling deeper into sadness Rosario closed her eyes to prevent the tears from streaming down her face. It did little to stop the leak.
The salty scent of tears drew not Only Yukina's attention but the fox as well.
Kurama entered as Rosario rested on her bed, the dress spread out evenly across her legs and sheets as she curled up into a ball.
Yukina bowed as Kurama approached the girl kneeling at her bedisde. His hand reached to her face wiping the tear on her right cheek away.
Moving to sit beside her she hugged him as she cried more. Saddened and hurt.
Kurama just sat with Rosario until her tears died and she fell into a deep sleep.
Uncertain what he should do next. Admiring Rosario's face a sharp hot pain seeped into his heart. Seeing her like this was unbearable.
What could he do for her? What would be appropriate? She moved closer to him sleeping deeply. Her features and sadness relaxed.
Rosario was beautiful m, her heart shaped face and high cheekbones. Those beautiful long lashes casting shadows across her cheeks.
He would watch over her, protect her. As she hid alone inside this solitude of pain, Kurama was so surprised from the drastic bold brash woman to this hollow woman before him.
Kurama reveled in her solitude, she did not ask anything of him. Nor did she want anything from him. He would be whatever she needed him to be.