Kasshi of Treno...Chapt. 3

just a little note...I've gotten a few complaints about people not understanding what's going on...that's because it's chapter 3! (^_^) to understand just read chapter 1&2 or email me for a brief summary...thanks...

          As night spread across the sky, activity in the Market Square came to a close. Venders packed up their goods and consumers left with their packages. Kasshi wearily trudged home, carrying child sized clothes and a small cake to share with Rikki.
"Poor girl," Kasshi murmured softly. "I've been gone all day." Upon reaching the door to the abandoned shop she placed the stolen goods on the wooden floor inside, before slipping her body through the door space.

"Dark as usual," she grunted exhausted. Kasshi cupped her hands around her mouth: "Rikki!" she called out, her voice bouncing through the room emptily. She hesitated, listening to the silence that greeted her. There was no familiar tight squeeze of her waist with a bubbly eight year old fastened behind it. Worried, Kasshi rushed to the kitchen counter and lit a candle. The weak flame flickered dimly as she raised it above her head and glanced around.
"Rikki?" Kasshi called pitifully. She knew the little girl wasn't in the room but called anyway.

A soft patter sounded in the alleyway and Kasshi whipped her head toward it making the flame sputter out.
"Aw, crap," Kasshi groaned. She hurriedly struck a match again and again until it erupted into a tiny flame. Kasshi held the small candle out in front of her and stumbled in the semi-darkness toward the door. The feeble light illuminated Kasshi's path as well as it could until she reached the entrance. Kasshi heard the pattering again as she stuck her head outside. A large dog was trotting back and forth in front of another thief's house. Kasshi followed it with her eyes, dejected.
"Stupid dog," she muttered under her breath. Cocking a crooked ear, the dog turned to Kasshi suddenly aware it wasn't alone. It waved its tail stiffly before lying on the stones in front of its house. Then he placed his head over his paws and slipped into a light sleep. Kasshi stepped into the ally heavily. She no longer felt the accusing and suspicious stare that normally greeted her in the ally. It was just her and the dog.
Kasshi sat crosslegged on the ground, a flood of confusion flowing through her veins. The dog, opposite her, opened one eye lazily making sure she wasn't going to bother it. Kasshi felt its stare lingering on over her but ignored it. She was more worried about Rikki. Never had the girl not been home waiting for her.

A cold droplet ricocheted off Kasshi's bare arm and hit the nearest stone with a silent splash. Another one fell on her leg. Groaning Kasshi looked up at the gray clouds getting her face rained upon.
"Great," she thought. The rain fell steadily and thickly, drowning the cobblestones in a 1/2 inch of water. Kasshi sat still feeling the drops pelt her skin with a gentle urgency. Her neatly braided hair grew unruly from the rain and soon unbraided itself. Kasshi peered through the sheet of water at the dog who hadn't moved an inch from its door. He lay with a calm patience as if it were used to waiting. Even though it was pouring now, he didn't attempt to shake out his heavily waterlogged fur. Kasshi sat as still as the dog, not wanting to run back inside. No part of her body was safe from the rain. She could feel its cool moisture seeping into her bones. Involuntarily she shivered, drops of rain flying off of her as more was replaced. Opposite her, the large dog lifted its head irritably before changing the direction of his gaze. Kasshi turned to see what captured the dog's attention then sharply took in her breath and felt a heavy sinking in the pit of her stomach. She hadn't been prepared for what she saw.

It was Rikki. She walked with a slight limp, dragging her soggy sneakers through the water. Her eyes were glazed over and her face was eerily expressionless. Pelts of rain poured on the girl mercilessly. Rikki's hair ran in thick strands over her face. She looked exactly the way she did the day Kasshi found her. Kasshi scrambled to her feet, her hair tumbling into her face. Hastily she swiped it away feeling the start of tears sting her eyes. Rikki made her way down the ally slowly, her head bobbing as she walked. Her sneakers made a wet sucking sound on the stones as they tried to find traction. Kasshi stood frozen. She watched as the girl stepped on a slippery patch of stone and her feet shoot out from under her. Kasshi raced toward Rikki, watching as she lifelessly fell toward the ground. Reaching her, Kasshi caught her an inch from the earth, the water running like a river under her body.
“Rikki! Oh my god!” Kasshi cried. She cradled Rikki’s body in her arms and held the girl against her chest. Tears streamed from Kasshi’s eyes, the rain washing them away before they could run down her cheeks. Rikki wrapped her arms around Kasshi’s body and held onto her as tightly as she could. She closed her eyes and sighed as she felt her guardian’s warmth flow through her. Kasshi rose to her feet, rocking Rikki in her arms. She jogged back to their home and pushed herself through the door space suddenly aware of how light the eight-year-old was. Dripping water all over the floor, Kasshi stripped off Rikki’s clothes aware she still hadn't opened her eyes.
“Rikki!” Kasshi placed her head on the girl’s chest praying silently. Her chest rose and fell in relaxed intervals. She was just in a deep sleep.

Kasshi gathered Rikki in her arms and carried her to their bed. Her heart ached terribly as she laid the girl on the crisp sheets and pulled a quilt over her small body. Kasshi knelt on the floor next to the bed and covered her face with her hands. She felt helpless and uselessly weak.
What could she do?
Who could she blame for this?
Kasshi stole a look at Rikki's fragile body.
Was she physically hurt?
Kasshi ran her hands over Rikki's arms and legs looking for any abnormalities. There were none. She put both hands on Rikki's belly and prodded gently.
There was nothing. No injuries, no bruises, no cuts.
"Rikki, what happened to you?" Kasshi sighed frustrated.