First Chapter

A cold wind blew from the east and tossed Miya’s silky brown hair around, as if teasing her gently. Reaching up, the twelve-year-old girl pushed her hair from her face and behind her ear. Normally, she would have let her hair blow in the wind. But today was different. Her mind was wandering and she didn't want to miss her bus. If she let her hair do as it pleased, her mind would wander even further, she would miss the bus, and then she would have to walk home. There had been recent reports of men raping young girls and Miya did not plan on becomming one with the victem list. So her hair was pushed from her face. She checked her watch and tapped her foot impatiently. The bus was late. The people around her were already thinking of alternate ways to get home.

I 'll be in quite a dilemma if the bus doesn't come. I have no alternative means of getting home.

Thinking it over, Miya decided that she could walk home. But that would mean risking being attacked and raped. That thought was enough to make Miya shiver. She rubbed her arms and crossed them, her eyes becomming cold as some people looked at her. An elderly woman observed her for a moment and then hurridly whispered to her friend. Miya was standing close enough so that she could hear the entire conversation. The old woman wasn't really whispering all that quietly.

"That's Miya Yamajinshi! She's the smartest girl in the whole world! My Shinji said that many of the children think she's a bit stuck-up."

"Her parents must spoil her rotten! My granddaughter told me she doesn't have any friends at all."

"I pity her. She's so smart, she can't help but feel superior."

"It must be awful on the parents. Having to raise a girl smarter than them."

"Must tear them apart."

"My parents are fine, thank you very much."

The two women jumped and looked straight into Miya's ice-cold eyes. The first woman looked embarressed that they had been caught gossiping.

"It's not polite to listen in on other people's conversations, young lady."

"I wasn't trying to. In case you can't tell, you don't talk very quietly."

The woman looked even more embarressed and her friend looked mortified. Miya resisted the urge to smirk at them. Everyone at the stop had turned to look at the women, adding to their embarressment.

"There's no need to be so rude, young lady."

"There really isn't. Of course, you're saying that right after talking about someone behind their back, while they can hear you I might add. It is one thing to gossip, it is another thing to do it in front of the person you are gossiping about. Also, you shouldn't say things about people until you know them. And I doubt the articles in the newspaper cover my feelings very well. Good day."

Turning, Miya retreated to the other side of the bus stop while the two old ladies floundered like fishes. Ignoring the looks from the people around her, Miya pondered over what the women had said. It was true, she had no friends. Not that she hadn't tried to make any. She had. They had just dumped her. What was really pathetic was when they found out she was a genius, they came crawling back, trying to get in good with her and have her do things for them. It had sickened Miya so much that she had just turned and left them staring after her. But now she had a bad image. People thought she was a stuck-up priss. It was hard on her parents as well. They tried desperately to find ways to make Miya think and to stretch her brain. Everytime they brought her something, she tried so hard not to understand it. But she couldn't help it. Her parents didn't want to give up, but they didn't know what to do. It was hurting them to see Miya so unhappy because she wasn't being made to think. She had taken up learning new languages and was still working on it. She deliberately went slowly so that her parents didn't have to look for new things. It made them happy to see their daughter thinking like this, so she wanted to drag it on as long as possible. But that wouldn't last long either.

I need something new. I need something to happen. I can't go on like this. I need something to push me. I need to find something that no one has ever discovered. I need something difficult.

A hand rested on Miya's shoulder and she she looked quickly into the face of a young boy. He wasn't actually that young. He was about seventeen with tan skin and black eyes with long, brown hair.

"The bus is here."

"Oh. Thank you."

The boy nodded and allowed Miya to go first. She immediately went to the back of the bus and took an empty seat. She never sat with anyone. No one wanted to sit next to her anyway. The two gossiping women were about three seats in front of her. They twisted back to see her, so she slunk down in the seat and looked out the window. The bus started and the scenery began to go by quickly. The boy who had spoken to her earlier sat in the seat across from her. He pulled out a book and began reading. Miya sighed and returned to looking out the window. She was lonely. She could never talk to anyone. The things she wanted to talk about were things people just...didn't. Her parents tried to understand, but they weren't as smart as she was. Miya appreciated the fact that they tried to help her as much as possible, but sometimes she wished she could talk to someone who could understand her. Subconsciously, Miya noted that they were going over a bridge. A strange murmur went through the bus and she lifted her head to hear.

"What the devil does that man think he's doing?"

"Is he drunk?"

"He's coming closer..."

Sitting up, Miya looked around. She spotted a large truck not too far off. The driver did indeed appear to be drunk. The truck was swaying back and forth and speeding up and slowing down several times. Miya noticed how close the truck was and how big it was. It could easily push them aside. Looking at her other side, Miya noted that they were right next to the edge of the bridge. If that truck hit them... Realization hit Miya and she leapt up.

"Look out! The truck is going to-"

Miya was cut off when the truck slammed into the side of the bus. She was thrown off her feet and her head was smashed against the window. The glass cracked and blood trickled from her head. She struggled up and opened her eyes. The sight of water greeted her. Water that was coming up awfully fast.

We're falling off the bridge...

"Open the door! We can get out! Hurry!"

The bus driver was about to open the door when they hit the water. Miya was about to tell the people on the other side to open their windows, but then she saw it. The truck fell off too. She opened her mouth to say something, but the truck was much heavier than the bus. The people on the other side of the bus died instantly. Water began rushing in and the living people began to scream. Miya saw the boy from before. She reached for him and held his hand as water surrounded her. Taking a deep breath, she kissed his hand in apology and swam down to her window. Maybe she could still make it. She wrenched the window open and tried to swim out, but something caught her foot and she couldn't get free.

W-what's got my leg?

Looking down, Miya saw the old woman. She was clinging to her leg, her eyes wide with fear. Miya motioned for her to let go. The old woman could never fit through the window. As Miya's lungs began to scream for air, she became frantic.

Let go! Let go! Please let me go!

Suddenly, Miya's hand touched the bottom of the river. Panic flooded Miya as she realized she couldn't escape now. She tried to cry and scream, but she couldn't. the old woman became frantic and let out her mouthful of air. Miya watched, horrified, as the woman struggled for air and got nothing but water. It was so so horrifying, but she just couldn't look away. The only thing that brought her back was realizing she was being crushed by the bus. Struggling, Miya tried to get free. But she couldn't.

I'm really going to die. I'm going to drown, just like that woman. I'm going to drown just like her. I'm going to die. No! I can't die! I haven't found it yet! I haven't found my idea yet! I haven't found what's mine yet! I can't die! But...I...can't...breath...

Air left Miya's mouth and cold water flooded her lungs. She choked and began to cry, her salty tears mixing with the water around her. Red floated into her vision and she subconsciously realized she was bleeding. She was seconds from death.

Mom...Dad...I love you...so much...

Warmth wrapped itself around Miya and a young, gentle face pulled her away. For a split second, Miya though someone was saving her. Then she looked back and saw her body, aqua eyes open and dead, brown silky hair floating around her. The grim truth reached her and she cried silently.

So that's it. I'm really dead. That's the end of my journey. But...what now?

Miya looked to the warmth around her and saw the face was gone. There was no one there. And that thought chilled Miya to the bone. But she wasn't going to be scared.

This won't be the end. I'm the smartest girl in the world. I've even been said to have pyschic powers. I won't die. I'll come back. This isn't the end. This is a minor detour. That's all.

The angel holding Miya didn't believe her, but said nothing. Miya did not know of her. No one escaped death. Death was permanent. What she didn't realize was that it was Miya Yamajinshi she was holding. That was a huge mistake.