Chapter One He said he'll always love me
"Higher, Yusuke. I want to go higher", the little girl said while her cousin was pushing her on the swing.
"Okay, Botan", he replied pushing on the swing harder so Botan could go higher. They giggled and took turns on the swing seeing who could swing the highest.
"I swung higher than you did, cuz", Yusuke said with a big grin.
"Uh uh. I swung way higher", Botan replied using her arms to gesture how higher she swung.
"Well that's because I pushed you harder", he said smirking.
"Whatever, Yusuke", Botan rolled her eyes. She stopped arguing when she saw a little girl with two brown pig tails and brown eyes looking at them. Yusuke followed his cousin's gaze and saw the girl too.
"Hi, there", Yusuke said waving.
There was silence then, 'Hi."
"My name's Yusuke and that's my cousin Botan", he said pointing to Botan. "What's your name?"
"I'm…Kayko", she said smiling.
"Hi, Kayko. Me and Yusuke are here with our daddy's. Did your daddy bring you to the park too", Botan said smiling back.
"Yes. He's over there", she said pointing to a man sitting on a bench reading a newspaper.
"You want to swing with us. We're having a race on who could swing the highest and I'm winning", Yusuke said.
Kayko nodded her head eagerly. "But how can you see who swings highest if only one of you is on the swing. The other person has to go on a swing to and then you'll see who's higher."
The cousins looked at each other then back at Kayko.
"She's right", Yusuke said. He then went and sat down on the swing next to Botan. "You can swing on the next one, Kayko."
"Okay", she said.
They swung on the swings and after many attempts to go higher than each other they gave up. "Let's go play on the slide", Botan said.
"I bet I can slide faster that you, Botan."
"Uh uh, Yusuke. I can slide faster."
"Well, I can slide faster than both of you guys", Kayko said.
The trio slide, swung, ran, and played in the sand all day long. It was getting late and they were lying down on the grass looking at the clouds.
"Botan?"
"Yes, Kayko."
"Are you and Yusuke bestest friends?"
"We sure are", she replied sitting up.
Kayko and Yusuke sat up too. "Can I be you guys bestest friend too? I never had a bestest friend before."
"Of course you can, Kayko", Yusuke said smiling.
Kayko smiled too.
"The three of us are the bestest friends in the whole entire world now", Botan said giggling. The three of them continued to talk and watch the clouds.
"Botan, Yusuke, time to go!"
The two children got up and waved to Kayko. "Bye, Kayko. We have to go now."
"That's okay. I think I hear my dad calling me too", she said waving and skipping over to her father.
"Did you two have a good time", Yakumo asked.(Yusuke's dad)
"We sure did, Uncle Yakumo", Botan said batting her eyes at her uncle.
"That's my little girl", he replied patting her head. "How about you, Yusuke? Have a god time?"
"Yes, dad. I did", he said.
"Good."
The two cousins and their fathers began walking and Yakumo and Zane (Botan's father) began to have a conversation. They soon stopped at Botan's house and Yusuke and Yakumo waved to them. "Bye, Botan. See you later", Yusuke shouted.
"Bye, cuz. Bye, Uncle Yakumo. See you guys later", she said waving back. Unknown to Botan a sad look came upon her uncle's face when she said she'll see him later.
Father and son made it to their house and was greeted by Atsuka.
"Yusuke, you look like you have the entire park on your face. Let's go get you cleaned up", Atsuka said kneeling down in front of her son. She grabbed his hand and was about to walk to the bathroom but Yakumo stopped her.
"How about I help with his bath tonight, Atsuka? Besides you need a brake."
"That's fine", she said.
"And they lived happily ever after. The end", Zane said finishing his story as he tucked Botan in tighter. When they arrived home he insisted helping her with her bath and putting her to bed.
"That was a great story, daddy. Will you tell me another tomorrow", Botan asked smiling lovingly at her father.
"Botan", he sighed. "…I love you." he decided not to answer her question.
"I love you too, daddy."
"Princess, I want you to know no matter what I will always love you. Okay? I will always love you, Botan. Nothing can change that", he said brushing her hair from her face with his hand. Botan just smiled and a yawn escaped her mouth. Zane took that as his cue to leave.
"Goodnight, daddy", Botan called after him.
"Goodnight, princess", he said closing her door and turning off the light.
"Goodnight, little man", Yakumo said ruffling Yusuke's hair.
"Goodnight, dad", Yusuke said sleepily. Yakumo walked out Yusuke's room and into the living room. Atsuka already retired for the night so it was the perfect time now. He began pacing as he waited then finally there was a soft knock on the door. He hurried to it and ushered his brother inside. "What took you so long, Zane", he said angrily.
"Don't get mad I had to spend a little more time with my daughter", he said.
"Okay. We need to go now. No more waiting. We spent the day with our kids and they'll eventually forget us even though we…"
"We won't forget them", Zane finished.
"Yeah."
"Are you sure we have to leave", Zane pleaded.
"Yes, we have to. He will hurt our wives and kids if we don't and you know it", Yakumo said.
"Can't we just fight back", Zane pleaded again.
"Are you willing to put your family at risk, Zane. They could be killed."
"I know. It's just that I'm going to miss them that's all."
"Me too, bro."
"Did you leave the note for Belinda (Botan's mom) to read?"
"Yes and it doesn't say where we're going. It just said that we had to."
"Daddy?" They both turned to the little boy standing by his door looking scared.
"Yusuke. What's wrong, buddy", Yakumo said kneeling next to him.
"I had a bad dream", Yusuke said softly.
"Oh, it's just a dream, kido. I need you to be brave and go back to sleep. Can you do that for me, Yusuke?"
"I can be brave. I'm always brave" , Yusuke replied.
"That's my boy. Now head on back to bed."
"Okay. Goodnight, dad. Goodnight, Uncle Zane", Yusuke said turning around and heading back to bed.
"Yusuke", Yakumo said stopping him. "I want you to know that I'll always love you no matter what. I will always love you."
"I love you too dad", Yusuke said hugging Yakumo. Yusuke began to walk back to his room but this time he was stopped by his uncle.
"Yes, Uncle Zane."
"Can you do me a big favor", he said kneeling down to Yusuke's height also.
"What is it, uncle?"
"Can you look after your cousin for me. I want you to protect her. I don't think I'm good enough to do that but I think you are. Just make sure she's happy. Never let anything harm her, Yusuke. Treat her just like a little sister. Can you do that", he said his voice cracking with emotion.
"Of course I can protect her, uncle. I'm brave remember", Yusuke said happily.
"Good boy. Now off to bed."
"Goodnight, Yusuke and goodbye", Yakumo whispered when Yusuke left.
"Daddy, can we go over to Uncle Yakumo's house today. Yusuke and I want to collect grass hoppers in the back yard", Botan shouted running to her parents' room. She opened the door but it was empty. She went into the kitchen and looked around but only saw her mother sitting at the table sipping from a mug. Her eyes were red and she still looked tired. There was a crushed paper on the table also.
"Mommy, where's daddy", Botan asked bouncing up and down.
Her mother didn't answer her. She just continue to sip from her cup. Botan waited for her mother to answer and when she didn't she decided to call out for him. "Daddy, where are you? We have to go catch some grass hoppers today."
The little girl went searching all over the house expecting to find her father.
"Daddy", she shouted over and over again.
Her search was useless and she became sad. There was a knock at the door and her mouth spread into a smile thinking it was her father. She ran to open it but it was her aunt and cousin at the door.
"Have you seen my dad, Botan. He wasn't home when I woke up this morning", Yusuke said walking into the house.
"No, I haven't seen him. My daddy's not here either. Where are they", She said.
Atsuka made her way into the kitchen and saw the note on the table. She then burst into tears. "So it's true. They're gone."
"Who's gone, mommy", Yusuke asked staring at his mother's tears. Belinda began crying also and the children began to worry.
"Mommy", Botan said softly. Her mother reached out for her daughter and Botan willingly walked into her mother's arms. Atsuka did the same to Yusuke.
"Botan, your daddy went away", Belinda said.
"Yours too, Yusuke", Atsuka said.
"For how long", Yusuke asked.
"Yeah, for how long", Botan mimicked.
Atsuka let out a shaky sigh, "They're not coming back kids. They left and they won't be returning."
"I don't believe you", Botan said sharply. "Daddy would never leave us. Neither would Uncle Yakumo. They love us."
"Yeah. Dad and uncle Zane would never leave", Yusuke said.
"But they did, kids. They left. Try to understand, please. They left us", Atsuka cried out.
"No they didn't", Botan screamed. She pulled out of her mother's arms and began running around the house searching for her father again. "Daddy, come out wherever you are. Mommy think you left." She opened every door. "Daddy, this isn't funny. Come out please."
Botan kept looking everywhere hoping he would jump out somewhere screaming "surprise".
"Daddy, please. Please, daddy", she said falling to her knees and shaking with sobs the realization that he wasn't there finally getting through to her.
Tears slipped out of Yusuke's eyes too and he pulled out of his mother's arm and went to Botan. He held on to her weeping.
"He can't be gone. He said he love me. He said he'll always love me", Botan whispered through her tears.
"My dad told me the same thing, Botan", Yusuke said.
"He said he'll always love me", she muttered again.
"Don't worry, Botan. I'll protect you. I'm brave remember. I'm brave. I'll make sure you're safe, lil sis", Yusuke said wiping his tears.
Botan held on to Yusuke tighter, "He said he'll always love me."