The Trial of Hearts

Chapter 2: Coming of Age

“…Day old meatloaf for me,” Hime says, staring into her lunch kit, “What do you have, Rukia?” Rukia opens her kit, “Instant ramen and a California roll, not to mention a green apple and a diet soda to drink.”
“Didn’t André fix your lunch?”
“He did…he thinks just because my name is Japanese, I like the Japanese school girl diet.”
“But here’s the most important question: Are you ready to become 18?”
“Of course I am.”
“So, did André tell you what he’s going to give you for your birthday?”
“Not yet.”
“Have you even told him your birthday’s tomorrow?”
“…It slipped my mind?”
“I’m ashamed of you, Rukia. That’s the first thing you tell a boyfriend.”
“I know. I know…but if Chaz overheard me tell André that…”
“Screw Chaz. You snagged a really good boyfriend in André. He’s the kind of guy who would die to protect you. Hey, do you think André has a brother?”
“…He never told me much about his family. All I know is that he had a mother and father.”
“Had?”
“His parents died a long time ago.”
“Oh.” “Hey you guys,” André says, sitting down next to Rukia, “Anyone seen Chaz?”
“Why?” Hime asks.
“Let’s just say I have a bone to pick with him.” “Don’t do anything stupid, André,” Rukia says, “I won’t be able to find another guy like you if get killed.”
“It’ll take more than that idiot to kill me.”
“Is that a death wish, punk?” they hear someone asks as André turns around to see Chaz.
“Oh, the idiot…” André says, turning to his lunch, “I don’t have any table scraps for you, so leave.”
“I want Rukia back,” Chaz says as Rukia pours hot water onto her ramen noodles, “Her birthday is tomorrow and I have a gift for her that can’t fit into a box.”
“What? Your large vocabulary?” Hime and Rukia giggle as Chaz sits next to Rukia and wrap his arm around her shoulder.
“Now, Rukia. You know what happened in the Akumaru Caverns was a complete accident, right?” he says, his hand reaching closer to her chest, “So what do you say? Your place, tomorrow at 7?” Rukia, glaring at Chaz, pours the rest of her hot water on the seat of his pants. “Go to hell, Chaz. You no longer have the right to see me before or after school hours,” she says coldly as Chaz stands up, trying to cool off the seat of his pants. “…Be like that, Rukia. What does this loser has that I don’t?” Chaz asks, glaring down André. “First off, a decent hair style,” Rukia smiles, “And second, me. Oh, by the way, how did everything go with that girl from Class 4-B? Did she give it up like you wanted her to or is she useless to you because she still has a will of her own?”
“…Shut the hell up, Rukia,” Chaz says, “If you feel that way about us, then I guess it’s over.”
“You guess? You guess?! The moment you dropped over that ridge in the caverns is when we broke up, you stupid ape! You never once cared for my well-being, you dumb ass! I hated your guts with every fiber of my being! If I wasn’t so blind and weak, I would have kicked your sorry ass for all the pain and torture you put me through!” Rukia yells at the top of her lungs, “I hope you die a long, painful death!” “Whoa…” Hime says, staring at Rukia. “I never want to see your ugly ass face again for as long as I live! And if I do, so help me I’ll kill you myself!!” Rukia yells at Chaz, tears running down her face, “You weren’t a boyfriend, you were a dominant pig with the sickest mind and fantasies!” Chaz backs away slowly, turns, and leaves as Rukia breaks down and everyone stares at her with looks of disbelief and shock. André puts his hands on Rukia’s shoulders, “Come on, Rukia. I’ll take you to the infirmary.” Rukia looks at him, tears streaming down her face, and nods.


“An argument with Chaz?” the nurse asks as André nods. “Yes, ma’am. She broke down completely afterwards,” he says as the nurse closes a curtain around Rukia.
“The best thing for her now is to just cry it out. She’ll be okay soon.”
“Thank you so much…oh, by the way, is tomorrow Rukia’s birthday?”
“Yes, it is. Rukia doesn’t really like celebrating it though. She’ll miss school and schedule so many things to keep herself busy so she can forget it’s her birthday.”
“But why? Did something happen on her birthday?”
“It was also the day her parents died. She tries every year to forget it…but she gets like this the day before. It’s sad really.”
“She never told me much about her parents…I only met her a month ago.”
“Sit down,” the nurse says, pointing to a chair next to hers, “And I’ll explain everything.” André sits down in the chair as the nurse sits in hers. “Rukia’s parents were well known for their money. Her father owned a multi-million company here in Tokyo; her mother worked from home selling computer programs. Together, they had more than enough money to send Rukia anywhere in the world she wanted to go.”
“Rukia told me he was drunk when he killed her mom.”
“He did drink, but only on special occasions, like parties or graduations. The night of their death, he had been drinking a lot more than usual because his business was going bankrupt. He got into a small disagreement with his wife and ended up killing her with a samurai sword he planned to give to Rukia for her 18th birthday. Rukia, only being 14 at the time, couldn’t understand why her father did this. Back then, Chaz wasn’t the sicko he is now. He saved Rukia from the same fate her mother suffered.”
“Chaz? The good guy? That’s really hard to believe.”
“I know. When her father finally sobered up, a few hours later, and saw Rukia crying over her mother’s dead body, he took his own life to apologize to Rukia for his behavior.”
“And in his will, he left their home and fortune to her, right?”
“Yes.”
“Poor Rukia. I call myself her boyfriend and I didn’t even know about this.”


Rukia opens her eyes, rubbing the sleep from them and looks at her digital clock, “6:15. Time to start my day.” She swings her feet over the side of her bed and slips them into two pale blue bunny slippers. She walks over to her closet and knocks three times, “André, time to get ready.” No one answers.
“André?” she asks, opening the door to see nothing but a neatly made bed, “Where is he?” She puts on her robe and walks down the stairs to the dining room. “André, where are you?” She then hears someone or something shuffling in the kitchen. Slightly nervous, she grabs a paperweight and quietly walks towards the kitchen door. Counting under her breath, she quickly opens the door, the weight raised above her head. “I got you!” she yells as André drops a silver platter covered with hot coffee, toast, fried eggs, and hash browns, spilling everything everywhere. “André…”Rukia says, putting the weight down as André sighs and rubs the back of his head, “What are you doing this early?”
“Cooking you breakfast…since you’re staying home today.”
“How kind of you.”
“Just wait in the dining room while I clean this up.” Rukia walks out, pushing her hair behind her ear as André closes the door. “…Whoa, I didn’t think about eating breakfast today,” she says to herself, sitting at the table, “But I have so much to do today…”
“Breakfast is served,” André says, holding up the platter full of food. He sits it down in front of Rukia. “Dig in, birthday girl,” André smiles, “We have a busy day today.”
“André, I appreciate what you’re doing…but I won’t slow down today to enjoy turning 18.”
“I think you will.”
“Huh?”
“All of your appointments cancelled and everything’s been rescheduled.”
“No fair…André, did you do this?”
“Maybe…”
“I appreciate what you’re doing…,” she says, eating, “But I have to keep those appointments.” “I don’t see how,” André says, sitting across from her and eating, “But aren’t you happy to finally 18?”
“18...I feel so old now.”
“I said 18, not 80.”
“I know, but I’ve been legally an adult for four years now and that means a lot of responsibilities.”
“But you’ve started to take on those responsibilities when you took possession of your house.”
“I don’t want to grow up, since I have to get married,” Rukia says as André sits out his coffee. “W-w-what??” he asks.
“It was written in my dad’s will,” she says, stirring her coffee, “When I turn 18, I have to get married to claim full ownership of the house…and if I don’t do it within a 2-month period, the lawyers will just simply marry me and Chaz.” André stares blankly at the ceiling, “A 2-month period to marry someone or marry Chaz…sounds like a paradox to me.”
“How so?”
“Look at your two main options: marry some man you don’t know all that well or marry your abusive, dominating ex-boyfriend who treated like dirt. Either way you go, it’ll end badly.”
“You forgot my side option.”
“Your...side option? What’s that?”
“I could marry you…” Rukia smiles as André chokes slightly on his toast.
“M-m-me?! But you hardly know me that well,” he says, swallowing his toast, “I mean how could you trust me? I might kill you in your sleep.” Rukia stands up, walks over to André, and sits in his lap, “I know you won’t kill me because I’m your main source of blood…and I know you love me too much and owe a lot to me.”
“You got me,” he smiles, running his hand down Rukia’s face, “I fell head-over-heels for you soon after you woke me up. You stole my heart, Rukia.” André gently kisses Rukia’s neck, causing her to shiver a little, “Happy birthday, Rukia.”
“Thanks, André. That means a lot,” she says, getting off his lap, “Maybe I should just enjoy my birthday, like you said.” As she walks back over to her seat, she hears a gentle tapping at the front door. “I wonder who that is…” Rukia sighs, walking to the door and looking out the peephole to a ball of spiky red and black hair. “…It’s Chaz,” she hisses as André steps up behind her. “Let me handle him,” he smiles, motioning Rukia to get behind him. Rukia steps behind André as he opens the door. Chaz, not looking, grabs André and kisses him on the lips, “Happy birthday, Rukia…” “I’m not going to share my boyfriend with you,” Rukia laughs as Chaz turns away, spitting.
“I feel so violated…”André says in a small voice as Chaz wipes his mouth. “Disgusting!” Chaz yells, “And to think I put my tongue in his mouth…”
“Look, Chaz,” Rukia says, crossing her arms, “What in hell are you doing here? I have a restraining order on you.”
“I wanted to wish my girl a happy birthday, that’s all,” he says, puckering his lips as Rukia punches him in the face.
“Go…the hell…away…” she says, “I’m not your girl anymore. Get that through that thick ass skull of yours.” Before Chaz could reply, Rukia slams the door in his face, crushing his nose. She turns to André, “You feeling better?”
“Y...yea, I will be…once I take a hot shower,” he says, still in shock as Rukia kisses him.
“How’s that?” André looks at her, “I still feel weird. How about another one?” “Don’t push your luck, André,” Rukia smiles, turning to walk up the stairs as André grab her from behind and hug her. “Please,” he coos in her ear, “Just one more…” “André, I don’t feel like it,” Rukia says, hanging her head slightly as André hugs her tighter.
“Come on, just one,” he whispers.
“Cut it out. You’re starting to scare me…”
“I won’t let go until I get a kiss.”
“André, I mean it. Let me go.” Rukia loosens André’s arms and starts up the stairs as André yanks her back by her robe, ripping it. “What’s gotten into you?!” Rukia yells, staring into his eyes, “You’re acting like that egotistic Chaz…” “Come on, Rukia,” André smiles, “You know you want to kiss me.” André hugs Rukia tightly, letting her robe fall to the ground.
“André, please let me go…You’re starting to really scare me,” Rukia whispers tears falling down her face as André turns her around to face her. “Now, is that any way for a woman to act?” André asks her, his eyes and voice almost unrecognizable. Rukia, completely frightened, breaks away from him, runs to her room and locks her door. As if snapping from a trance, André stares deeply at Rukia’s ripped robes. “What…just happened?” he asks himself as he hears Rukia crying in her room. He walks up the stairs and up to Rukia’s door. He knocks gently, “Rukia?”
“Go away…” he hears her crying back from behind her door, “…I don’t want to see you right now.”
“Rukia…”André whispers putting his head against her door, “Your heartbeat is irregular…what happened?”
“Don’t play dumb, André. You started acting worse than Chaz…you scared me…”
“I…did? Tell me, what phase is the moon in?”
“New moon…why?”
“Rukia, I’m truly sorry about what I did…but I need your help. Please let me in.” Rukia unlocks her door as André walks in and sits on her bed. “Okay, I forgive you,” she says, wiping her eyes, “So what do you need my help with?”
“During the new moon, my vampire half is at its strongest,” André explains, “I lose all sense of my human half and act like my vampire ancestors.”
“So what does that mean?”
“I need you to keep me locked away tonight. Keep me locked away from you.”
“Why?”
“I’m afraid, if I’m around you at midnight, I might hurt you worse than Chaz could ever do.”
“That’s a frightening thought…but I’ll do it.” André smiles and hugs Rukia. “Thank you so much, Rukia,” André says, “There’s just one more thing.”
“Okay…”
“No matter how much I yell, beg, howl, and claw at the door, do not and I mean DO NOT let me out,” André says staring into Rukia’s eyes.
“You have my word.”
“So…what do you want to do for the rest of the day?”
“I don’t know, André. Stay here with you?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Rukia.”
“Huh?”
“You should go on to school. I’ll be along shortly.”
“If you say so, André,” she sighs as André kisses her forehead, “I’ll wait for you by the first tree in the school yard.”
“Of course,” he says with a small bow.


“Oh…my…god…! Rukia, you’re here!” Hime beams, hugging Rukia the moment she stepped in the schoolyard, “I thought you wouldn’t be here since it’s your birthday and all.”
“André insisted I go to school today.”
“You’re not upset about…?”
“A little, but I’ll manage.” Rukia and Hime walk up to the first tree and sit under it as someone walks up behind Rukia and hugs her shoulders tightly. “Whoever you are, release me at once,” she says coldly as the person places his hand under her chin and turning her head to the left.
“Well, well, well…my little Rukia showed up after all,” Chaz smiles, licking his lips.
“Go the hell away, Chaz,” she says, pushing his hand away, “You don’t want André kicking your ass, do you?”
“Well, I don’t see that pretty boy anywhere, Rukia. I heard that he was looking at some other girls in the other classes. Maybe he abandoned you for a girl with a bigger rack than yours,” he says, groping her breasts, “Don’t worry, I like them small. Yours fit perfectly in my hands.” Rukia shoves his hands away, “You have one minute to leave me alone or you’ll have to fight André when he gets here.” Chaz sits down next to Rukia, wrapping his arm around her waist, “I doubt that, my Rukia.” Hime stares in shock for a moment before quickly leaving, realizing that she was in a dangerous position.
“What do you mean by that?” she asks, glancing up at him from the corner of her eye.
“I took care of that fruit cake, Rukia. He wasn’t good enough for you.” Rukia quickly stands up, “What did you do…?” Chaz reaches into his messenger bag and pulls out a plastic bag. He tosses it to Rukia, “Open it. Happy birthday.” Confused, she opens the bag to be greeted by André’s decapitated head. Rukia drops the bag, turns away, and covers her mouth, feeling completely sick to her stomach. ‘My god…’ she thinks, throwing up, ‘He’s…he’s…’ Chaz walks over to her and rubs her back, “Don’t worry, my Rukia. You’ll always have me.” Rukia wipes her lips and glares coldly at Chaz, “Get away form me, you sick bastard. Did you think killing André would make me love you again?” Chaz pulls Rukia closer, pressing her body against his, “I know that you really want me back, Rukia. I can feel it. You can tell that I still want you, can you?” Rukia could feel a hard bulge pressing into her thighs and her blood stops cold. “Chaz…”Rukia says quietly, “Please let me go…” Chaz pushes up against the far wall of the school, away from the bored eyes of his fellow classmates.
“Now Rukia,” he says, growling slightly, “I’m going to take what is mine…” Rukia closes her eyes, tears falling down her face and hangs her head, ‘What’s the use in fighting back…? André’s gone…and I’m so weak…’
“Go on ahead,” she says, “Do whatever you plan on doing to me then kill me.”
“Why should I kill you afterwards?”
“After you violate me, I will feel damaged and useless. So what’s the point in living on after you’ve taken my innocence?” Chaz gropes Rukia’s breast again, “I want you alive after this round because once I’m finished, I’ll take you over and over again. Besides, I’m no necrophiliac.” He presses his lips against Rukia’s while his hands started roaming around her body. ‘Please let this freak finish quickly and leave me to die’ she thinks, trying to block Chaz out as someone pulls Chaz off her. She opens her eyes to see André pinning Chaz down and punching him in the face. Rukia slides to the ground in shock as André stands up, taking a deep breath then faces Rukia. “Did he hurt you, Rukia?” he asks. Rukia stares at him in disbelief for a moment, “…Are-are you real?”
“Rukia? What’s wrong?” he asks kneeling down in front of her as she hugs him tightly, knocking him over.
“André!” she cries, “I thought you were dead!”
“Decapitation can’t kill me, Rukia. Don’t tell me you forgot that I’m a vampire already.”
“Thank god you’re alive…”
“I see letting you come to school was a bad idea. Forgive me, Rukia.”
“I just wanna go home, André. I told you bad things happen when I come to school on my birthday…” she whimpers, hiding her face on his shoulder as André hugs her back. “As you wish, master,” he says softly, picking her up, “Hime!” Hime pops up from behind one of the trees, “Yes?”
“Could you pick up mine and Rukia’s assignments for today?” he smiles. “S-sure,” she answers, nervously, “What should I tell the teacher?”
“Tell her that Rukia is sick and I’m taking care of her.”
“Ok.”