After a few couple days of adjusting to the house and correcting their sleeping schedules, finally, the subject of school was brought up in the middle of dinner which was nothing extravagant. It was just the causal chicken and rice that was served in every normal household. The same meal they were sure that someone else in their neighborhood was probably having at that same moment. However, that didn't mean it wasn't as delicious as everything else the two children had eaten. Although, such a thought wasn't on the mind of anyone sitting at the dinner table.
"I've signed the two of you up for public school since you both wanted to go. Of course, both of you are smart enough already, so it'll probably be boring. If you ever feel like leaving, I'll pull you out and get you the certificates needed to work a job," Aarth said.
Both kids perked up with interest. Excited that one of their greatest wish was going to come true. Finally, they were going to meet kids that were their age. They were going to understand what being a child was like. Inizio could barely hold himself back from jumping with joy.
"Thank you for this," Inizio said, holding himself down. In response Aarth smiled, "There's no need for thanks. This is what a father does for his children after all."
"Right..."
In truth, out of everything that was new to the two kids, the addition of a father figure was something they'd yet to get used to. It was awkward for them to be able to rely on someone that wasn't their sibling. It's always just been just the two of them. It was never more or never less. It was always two. Inizio and Srusti. That was all there ever was, so with the appearance of a new person preaching that he would do anything for them, it made the two of them uneasy. It always kept them on their toes. After all, there wasn't a single person who give someone anything they wanted. Honestly, it made Srusti question if the man would give his life to the two of them. One day, she was going to ask him such a question. If not out of necessity, then of pure curiosity. She wanted to know just how far he would go. Just how much of a push over he was. But, of course, that day wasn't now. She wasn't a reckless person after all, and she had a bit of modestly. A human was supposed to have that at least.
"So, when are we starting?" Srusti asked.
"In two weeks," he said, "So, we'll go out tomorrow to get supplies and anything else the two of you want."
The two kids nodded and continued eating their food.
By the bright afternoon, the two kids were finally dressed in something other then their lofty pajamas. Like the first time they put on their outdoor clothes, the two children were wearing matching outfits. However, instead of the black and white color scheme, they settled on purple. Something that Inizio chose since Srusti cared nothing for choices that didn't require numbers or strategies. So, Srusti ended up in a long sleeved, sweatshirt like purple romper with a hood and black thigh high socks while her hair laying however it wanted to after a nice, thorough brush and casual high top shoes that complimented her outfit. While Inizio was wearing a long sleeved, V-neck sweater of the same purple color with a white V-neck under it and black jeans with high top shoes just like his sister. All which was put together with his hair placed as it wanted to be. Another set of perfect matching outfits made just for the two of them.
When they reached the bottom of the stairs, the two children found a slight surprise waiting more them. They found that the set of matching outfits was more then two. It was three, and they found Aarth wearing that exact outfit. How he knew what they were going to wear, they hadn't figured it out, but it was more surprising that he'd chosen to match with them. Then, the surprise wore off, and they thought that it was weird.
Why was he trying so hard? There was no point in trying to impress two children that weren't even human. It's not like they would make a break in curing cancer or would find a way to solve one of the major global problems. Actually, such problems were easy to fix if people weren't so greedy. Either way, there was nothing to gain from getting on their good size. Well, that was if he wasn't thinking about manipulating them. But, they were stupid enough to fall for the first trick in manipulation. It was going to take a lot more then this.
"Let's get going, you two."
"Okay," the two said, following Aarth to the car.
Unlike their first shopping trip, there was only three people in the car. Aarth, Inizio, and Srusti. It was a quiet car ride. The kids started out of the windows while Aarth focused on the road. He didn't want his kids to have trauma from a car accident. That would ruin their outside experience, and he couldn't have that. Aarth wanted his kids to have whatever life they wanted that wasn't filled with unnecessary trauma. Although, there was already negativity rooted deep within them, and he knew there was nothing he could do about that. However, he knew that there was something he could do about the children's future. He could paint the world in whatever color they wanted it to be painted. He could take them wherever he wanted to go. Aarth could make anything they wanted happen.
Sure, the creation of Inizio and Srusti only happened because he was a little curious of whether or not a human could be made, but that didn't mean he didn't care for them. At first, the two of them were nothing but an experiment to him. They were nothing but little lab rats. Each and every single one of the 99 copies he made of them, and he planned for it to always be that way. However, on a whim, with the 100th copy, he decided to let the two meet each other. He wanted to know what would happen if he gave the children a little companionship. That's when he saw it. Aarth saw the two children clinging to each other from the moment they met. It was as though both of them knew that they came out of the same test tubes and emerged in the same liquid. It was like they knew they were siblings from the moment they met each other, though it was pretty obvious with the way the two of them looked. Still, with all of the knowledge that was stuffed into their brain, he saw that they would be cautious of each other. They second guessed, analyzed, and over thought everything until they were sure. It was a completely different attitude from the moment the two saw each other. So, with the advancement made in his research, he let the two of them be. While doing that, he also exposed them to the outside world little by little with giving them simple games like chess, checkers, and poker. He saw the children's strengths shine and unravel themselves when in front of their self-declared sibling. It was an intriguing change.
Because of that, he watch the two kids more frequently than he did before. Usually, he would've only checked up on the two children whenever the thought popped into his head which was a rare occurrence or simply when he was bored. However, seeing their interactions, he wanted to see a little more of the children's personality. He wanted to know how they would act in any situation. He wanted to get to know the two of them for who they were going to grow up to be. A thought he never thought he'd have.
Then, he brought the two children to a party as a way to advertise them. Of course, he wasn't going to do all that hard work for his hobby and not show it off like a child who won a game of tag. But then, at the party, fellow guests were asking if they could house them for a little while under the guise of it being an observation experiment. Obviously, he didn't trust them. No human was to be trusted after all. That was one thing he was sure to subconsciously teach the kids through the multiple packets and textbooks. And yet, through all of that, the two children still trusted each other. Though, there was the chance that they went off of the fact that they couldn't be considered human seeing as they were born out of test tubes. But, that wasn't the only bit of enlightenment Aarth had while at the party.
The man found himself not wanting to give the children to to the people. Whether it be someone who paid him enough money to last him a life time, or one of the kindest person he met. He found that something inside him didn't want to give the children away. He found that he didn't want to give away what was his. At least, not those two things. So, he said that it'll be thought of at a later date and the guests would be taken into consideration, Aarth didn't even know half of their names, but he forgot their faces as soon as he turned around. They were just regular pawns, but the children he had created out of scientifically created DNA were turning into their own character. They came to understand each other, care for each other. They started to remind him of himself. The him who found himself trapped in a small world, but the only difference was that he didn't have anyone. He was a tad bit jealous of the two of them because they had each other. However, he couldn't bare taking the two away from each other. He wasn't a monster, after all.
So, rather then leaving them in the white filled world, he took them out into the world of color. And he hoped that they could see something he couldn't, so he could see such a thing through their eyes. He wanted to see the joys of the world he was blind to through them. Maybe that would make his life a bit more interesting.
"Do you two have a particular store you want to go to?" he asked, covering up all of his thoughts. Neither one of the children knew. After all, they hadn't taken the time to memorize the names of the stores seeing as they were too absorbed in the items sold in the stores.
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"An office supplies store, or a general store," Inizio said because his sister was a little to occupied with the moving scenery outside of the window, and he didn't want to disturb that. She did look really happy looking at the green grass, flowers, cars, and buildings as the car moved faster then she ever could with her own two legs. There was no way Inizio was going to let himself or anyone else get in the way of that.
"Okay then," Aarth said, looking out of the rear view mirror to look at the kids. They really were the perfect pair of sibling. Both of them always looked out for each other. It made him wonder how they would fair in school. Being surrounded by kids who were completely different from them while being away from each other. He wondered how everything would turn out.
In the store, the kids picked out everything they wanted. Though, they only got the minimum need that was need for them to make it though school in their colors of purple and green. However, the entire time they were shopping, Aarth kept thinking that they weren't going to need all of that stuff. They were smart enough not to go to school, but he guessed that they already knew that. They were pretty smart kids after all. He made sure that they were. It made him have another wonder. Just what did they want to go to school for? Normal kids weren't was controlled and well behaved as they were. Honestly, rather than having fun, Aarth was sure that his kids were going to get tortured by the others. But, that was their choice.
After shopping, it was time for the two kids and their parent to take a tour of the school they were going to attended. While taking the tour, classes were still in session. There were some kids in the library, some kids on the play ground, some were in the middle of having lunch. But, it was safe to say that it was quite a large school with all sorts of people. And, all of the kids seemed to have a smile on their face. It was almost overwhelming for the two siblings who've only been in a white space room.
"Well, aren't you two a cute pair," and it was the same with the teachers, though some of their smiles seemed to be a little forced.
"I'm one of the counselors of this school, and I'll be giving you two a tour while your dad talks to the principle. Okay?"
The two children didn't even look back to their guardian when they heard he was going some place else. Instead, they grabbed each other's hands.
"Inizio, Srusti, I'll see you two later," Aarth said, saying goodbye to the kids so they would give him some recognition. However, all he got was a simple okay from both of the kids. They didn't even give him a little side glance, but it's not like he was upset about that. It was what he deserved after what he put them through. So, he just turned and left the two kids in the care of the counselor. If push came to shove, he knew that they were able to protect themselves.
"So," the counselor point at the boy, "you're Inizio and," then the girl, "you're Srusti, right?"
"That's correct, Sir," Inizio said.
"And the two of you are siblings?"
"That's right."
"Which one of you are older?"
"That would be me," Inizio said. He answered every question the counselor felt like asking, but he always made sure that there was a space for his sister to answer if she felt like it. But, she never felt like answering. Srusti wasn't much of a talker, after all. She was more interested in the scenery of the campus. But, the conversation was awkward with the short, stern, and confident answer's Inizio was giving.
"Then, how about we start the tour? We can't have the two of you lost on your first day of school here."
There was no response to the question. After all, it seemed like a rhetorical one. They were going to get the tour whether they wanted it or not. That was what they were brought there for, in the first place.
"Well, let's get going, you two," the counselor said. The two kids nodded and followed the counselor around the school.
They were shown the play ground with multiple colorful playground sets, all excluding the swings with had a shimmering color of iron. There was a square of bark under all of the sets which were close to each other. On such a play ground were kids all in their little groups to play multiple games. Then there were some that were just sitting on the side for their own reason which neither Inizio or Srusti cared to figure out.
Next, they saw the library that was filled with books that never crossed that 6th grade reading level which made sense seeing as middle school started at the 6th grade. There were a classroom number of kids in there too. All surrounding an adult that had a book in their hand. They guessed that it was a little book reading circle. There was a time when the teacher looked up and made eye contact with the two kids. Immediately, they smiled, but didn't get a single thing in return. The two kids just stared at the teacher until the other children pestered them to continue reading. Seeing this, the counselor pushed them towards the little circle.
"Go on and join them. It's a short book, so I'm sure it won't take long."
The counselor said that, but neither of them cared about a simple story time between the teacher and students. Inizio and Srusti didn't know how to join them nor did they really want to. After all, look at those kids. They looked so absorbed in such a short fictional tale with an unrealistic happy ending. How could they look just like them? It was impossible, and even if it wasn't, they wouldn't know how to make it possible. But, Inizio was willing to try and find that way since it looked like his little sister wanted to sit among those ignorantly smiling kids. She wanted to know what it was like, so he did too.
"Let's go listen for a little while. It's wouldn't hurt, right?" As long as it was for his sister.
"Okay," Srusti said, following her big brother ask he took steps towards the circle to children.
The two found seats after the teacher reading asked the kids to create a place for them which they did with no much resistance. Though, because the teacher asked that of them, the children who were absorbed into the book reading were now interested in the two new children who's skin and hair was like a blank canvas. And well, it was a given that was bound to happen. After all, Inizio and Srusti were quite the eye catchers. Seeing them for the first time, it was hard to take your eyes off of them until the two of them left. Especially for kids who found it difficult to keep their hands to themselves.
They'd only been sitting there for a few minutes listening to the story for a few minutes. Looking at the drawings in the books, reading the words on the page as the teacher read it. Immersing themselves in the books. It'd only been a few minutes for them to understand and enjoy the story when Srusti felt a tug at her hair. At first she ignored it, thinking it was one of the kids getting exited over the story and had accidently sat or grabbed her hair. But then, she felt a few more tugs, and knew that this was either on purpose or the kid on her hair had no spatial awareness. Srusti's eyes narrowed as she looked at the kid who was pulling at her hair.
She found that the kid messing with her hair was of a light skin color and a male with short, curly, dirty blonde hair with blue eyes. Thankfully, it didn't seem like the kid's hands were covered in snot or whatever else could be on a child's hands. Still, there was no way of knowing that 100%. Still, he didn't look like a bully. He'd was probably pulling at her hair because of his curiosity.
"..."
Inizio saw this abnormality in his sister and looked over to see what was going to with his sister. He saw that she was looking away from the story which just moments ago she seemed pretty interested in. He looked past her to see what she was looking at and saw the same dirty blonde haired kid with blues eyes, and he was smiling at his sister all bubbly like. It was like he wasn't doing anything wrong, but the bastard had the nerve to grab his sister's hair like it was his play thing.
"Would you please stop pulling my little sister's hair?" he asked giving the kid a death stare. Thankfully, this kid knew how to be scared and backed off. Well, more like he let go of his Srusti's hair and let it fall to the ground where it laid. Inizio gently pulled his little sister off of the children made carpet, "It's time to go home."
Srusti nodded her head, completely agreeing with her older brother, "Right."
The two kids got up and turned away from teacher without telling even telling the teacher. The other kids who stopped paying attention to the story the moment Inizio spoke to the other kid. However, they didn't look back. They closed their ears to the teacher who was telling the stunned child to apologize nor did they even care to get an apology from the kid. It was more important to them to return home. After all, they'd never decided on how they wanted to decorate the rest of the second floor. That was way more important then dealing with a dumb kid and an adult who forced a smile every other day.
"Looks like I came at the right time." As though he was on call for when the children became upset, Aarth came walking in to part of the library where the reading was happening. Their faces had no emotion in them, but he was there near the end of the situation. He saw how the other kid pulled on Srusti's hair while she annoying started, and he saw as Inizio gaze the kid a death glare.
"What annoyed my two little angels?" he asked. Now, both of the kids were visibly annoyed. Is this guy in their right mind? They both thought. They weren't angels. They were experimental test subjects that he created. Sure, they might look like the angels people imagined, but they weren't. He knew that better then anyone. There was no way that he didn't know that they weren't. Yet, here he was calling them such without blinking an eye. Still, he did have good timing.
"It's nothing that important," Srusti said.
"If you say so," Aarth said with the nerve of picking up to the two kids and allowing them to use his arms as chairs. It wasn't like any of them were going to cause a scene from this sudden development. Still, they really thought that this guy really was insane.
"Crazy, bipolar, idiot," Srusti said, under her breath to which Inizio nodded along.
"Well, aren't you two mean kids. Glaring at another kid like that. Why don't you apologize to him? You scared him half to death."
Right, putting Aarth's insanity aside, there was that kid, and I think his being scared half to death was a little exaggeration. The kid looked just fine. Besides that fact that it looked like he was about to piss his pants which wasn't a life threatening thing. Still, Inizio guessed that Aarth was at least a little right. He didn't really need to be that mean. He was the more mature person when it came to him and the kid. It was his fault for acting out like that. He could've handled that situation a little more gently then he did.
"Well, I'm sorry," Inizio said, his face never turning to a sympathetic one, "I would do something to show my apology, but it seems that my little sister is tired."
On cue, Srusti let out a little yawn to which made her eyes start watering. Aarth nodded his head, going along with the kids, "I guess it's time to go home then."
All three of them knew that this was just a show. There was no way that it wasn't.