White Roses (chap. 1)
"Get out of here, you little tyke!"
Toshiro scrambled out of the room, clutching a small leather sack to his chest. Blood dripped out of the corner of his mouth. He sprinted away from the room as a large man came out of the room, scowling. "Bring back that sack!" He yelled but Toshiro was too far away.
Toshiro burst out of the building, quickly retying his sash to keep his kimono from falling down. "That's why you shouldn't cheat me." He muttered as he ran. His bare feet hit the ground, making no sound. He was heading home and his heart rose in excitement as he saw the familiar run down shack. Home. He slowed his pace into a fast trot.
"Momo! Izuru! I'm home!" He called as he reached the door. The door was thrown open and a flash of blond hair and pale skin jumped at Toshiro, wrapping skinny arms around the snowy haired boy's waist.
"Toshi! You're home!" Izuru smiled up at his older brother, looking like an angel.
A rare smile crossed Toshiro's face and he crouched down, pulling the small male into a tight hug. He did those jobs so that little Izuru and Momo wouldn't have to. The weight of those sweaty men seemed worth it when Izuru and Momo smiled.
Speaking of which, "where's your sister?" Toshiro asked, lightly pulling away from Izuru and placing his right hand on a small shoulder.
Izuru's smile dropped, replaced by a scared look. "I-I thought she was with you..." His dark blue eyes were wide with fear.
Toshiro's stomach dropped. He urgently shook Izuru. "What happened? What did she say? Tell me!" He shouted, panic rising.
Izuru let out a small squeak of fear. Toshiro instantly let go, feeling guilty. He had never hurt Izuru or Momo before on purpose. He took a deep breath and tried again. "Did she say anything or did something happen?" He asked softly, putting on a persuasive tone.
Izuru bit his lower lip, tears running down his face. He promised he wouldn't tell...but his brother seemed so worried. "She...She...She went into town to buy a birthday gift for you!" The blonde blurted out, shaking. "She made me promise not to tell but she hasn't come back since morning."
Toshiro's jaw went slack and tears burned at the corner of his vision. He jumped up and started running back towards town. He dimly heard Izuru screaming his name but he ignored the pleas and they soon faded as he reached town.
"Momo! Momo! Momo Hinamori!" He yelled as he raced through town, pushing through masses of people. He needed to find her. He needed to find his little sister!
Suddenly, he was yanked back by a strong arm. He tried to fight it, screaming some foul words mixed along with other words and just plain sounds but the arm slacked none.
"Hush kid, hush." Said a sharp tone that made Toshiro look up. It was a dark skinned woman with tied back purple hair and eyes that reminded him of a cat. He recognized her as Yoruichi, a bartender at the Salty Spittoon. "Calm down kid. What's wrong?"
"I'm not a kid and my little sister is missing." Toshiro snapped, wanting the older woman to let go of him so he could go look fo Momo.
"Oh kid." She said, her voice dropping an octave.
Toshiro knew that tone. He had heard it before someone had told him that his parents weren't coming back. That they never were. That they were dead. "No...no..." he whispered and Yoruichi let go. Toshiro sprang away, pushing through the crowd. He now knew why there was a crowd. He now registered what they were saying.
"Poor thing."
"Must have been in tons of trouble to be killed that way."
"I wonder what happened"
"I wonder what she did."
"Such brutes..."
"Hinamori!" Toshiro screamed and shoved his way forward, finally emerging out of th crowd to fall to his hands and knees in front of the lifeless body. "No...no...no!" He whimpered and the crowd fell silent, watching the boy.
"No!" He screamed again, roughly grabbing the small body and pulling it to his chest. Turquoise eyes raked over familiar hands, familiar brown hair, familiar mouth...but unfamiliar marks, bruises, gashes, blood, and unfamiliar lifeless brown eyes. Tears spilled down his cheeks and he buried his face into her already cold form. "Its all my fault...its all my fault...its all my fault..." he whimpered, hands clutching the tiny limbs.
"She was only 8. Only 8. And Izuru...oh god, Izuru...when he finds out...he's only 6...he doesn't deserve this...she doesn't deserve this..." he bawled into the small form.
"Please Momo. Don't be dead." He lifted his face, twining his hand with hers. He gave a small squeeze, giving a hopeful smile amongst wet, shining tears. But the smile faded. "C'mon Momo. You know how. Just squeeze back. Let me know you're okay." He pleaded softly and squeezed harder.
"You can do it. C'mon. Just a tiny squeeze. Just a tiny squeeze and I'll bring you to a doctor. He'll fix you up and we'll go home. Izuru will be so happy to see you. And I'll make you your favorite supper...in fact, screw supper. We can have desert first as you always asked for. Strawberry Shortcake. How does that sound? We can also have watermelon slices and then you can give me any gift you wanna. Then we'll stay up all night as I never let you before. C'mon Momo. How does that sound? Just one squeeze. Even an itty, bitty, tiny, little one. It can even be a pinch if you want. I promise I won't yell." Toshiro broke off, staring at the face of his sister.
"Please Momo...do it for Izuru and me...please...I'll even buy that bunny you want so badly...I'm buy you thousands of bunnies...just squeeze back." He pleaded, tears rolling down his cheeks as he hopefully waited for that tiny squeeze.
She never squeezed back. Not even a tiny squeeze. Not even an itty, bitty, tiny, little one.