New prologue for Aiko
I had packed everything necessary in my small backpack. I didn't want to stay in my village, not when she wasn't here anymore...
I sneaked out of my house and made my way to the gate, walking in a very slow pace. I wanted to visit some places before leaving.
The first place I walked past was the park which my Big Sis would always drop me off before heading to her mission or training. After playing with the kids at the park, Kamiko would pick me up and we would get ice cream before walking back home.
I proceeded to walk to the ice cream stand that wasn't too far from the park. I would always order vanilla peanut buttercup ice cream, while my older sister would order regular vanilla ice cream.
I kept walking before my need for ice cream got worse.
I also walked past the training grounds, where my sister would teach me how to use a kunai. I felt how the tears was breaking through, I thought that I would never get any better at using the kunai without Kamiko.
I hastily made my way to the gate before I would break down in tears.
When I arrived at the gate, I hesitated for a bit. I turned around and looked at the village I grew up in. I felt a big emptiness inside of me. The village wasn't the same without Kamiko..
After having a last glance at the village, I turned around and in front of me stood Shiori. Our friendship looked questionable to other. But to me, she was my closest friend
"Why do you have a backpack with you?" She asked but I didn't answer her, I just kept my intense stare in front of me. I didn't want to look at her.
"You gonna go somewhere aren't you, Aiko?" I nodded and tried to walk past her but she stopped me by grabbing my shoulder.
"Leave me alone!" I shrugged of her and stared at her angrily.
"You're really stupid, you know?" She said and my raging gaze turned in to a confused stare instead.
"You're really stupid for not caring about the others. Do you even know how the people in the village would feel if you also leave?!" I could hear it was an anger in her voice.
"The village loves you. But if you gonna be heartless and won't give a damn about them and leave, then you have no respect from me! Why do you even want to leave in the first place!?" She stood in my way and waited for an answer from me.
"It's not the same here without her.. If she's not here, then I don't want to be here either!"
"So she's was you only reason to stay?" I nodded. I couldn't hold my tears anymore so I let myself cry in front of Shiori.
"Then find another reason to stay? She can't be the only one. Stay a bit longer and find more reasons to stay so you don't have to leave, if you don't find any, then I let you go." She said and stretched out her hand.
"I don't want too!!!" I screamed. Taken back by my outburst she moved away slightly before looking and wonder. Averting my gaze before I continued, I started to shake rapidly.
"I don't want to have another reason too stay! She's the only one! I don't want another reason, if you can't even see that then you're the stupid one!" I clenched my fist. My anger was boiling inside me. But at the same time, I could feel the sadness drowning me. Shiori looked at me with the same anger as before, even if it was starting to quiver.
"and leave everything behind. You're really stupid for doing that!" She scolded me.
But anger took over again and she grabbed my shirt hard and faced me. Face to face, she stared into my eyes, full of anger like me.
"Why aren't you fighting like everybody else!" She screamed right into my face. She just couldn't understand! She didn't even know the truth! She didn't! Nobody did at that time! It's was unfair, Kamiko didn't even... she didn't even get her own, own...
I looked at my hands. They were shaking and my breath. I was sweating but it was still pretty cold outside. I was losing my mind. All I wanted was her to stay longer! I didn't want to be alone. She didn't have to leave me behind. But she still left me. All alone, again. I didn't want to be alone anymore. It's so lonely to be alone. It's was so dark at home. It's lonely there too. Without big sis... without her it was too lonely!!! With new determination, I finally looked up fully at Shiori.
"Could you not mess with others emotions as you want without knowing what they been through, please." My voice wasn't shaking the slightest, my confident could easily be heard through my words. At first she looked shocked. Very chocked, before she took a step forward again, and gained back her own self control. Then she yet again screamed in my face.
"Well you don't know what I've been through!" Was her comeback.
How could I have know?!
"You never tell me anything so how could I know!" I continue screaming. I punched her back trying to get out off her grip. Because of the hard compact I fell on the ground. Shiori succeeded with keeping her balance though. She was angry, no. More like raging.
"Why would I even tell you!" I stood up looking at her. Why should she tell me? Why should she? Why should she not? Because I was so 'perfect'! Because I was the towns little princess! Because I was a childish with no problem what so ever in the whole universe!
" So it's because I can't understand? You mean you're the only one with problems! Does it look like I would leave if there's no reason to!" I was really angry, maybe almost as angry as Shiori. I looked down before I smiled at it. I could be myself right there and then, I could be angry. Shiori was the only persons I could be with without being perfect.
"Do I look perfect to you?" I looked up as I said those words. Still smiling, but it wasn't a happy smile. It wasn't sad either. I couldn't describe it. But it felt good. But it also felt wrong. Like this isn't something to show off. Quickly, I avoided my gaze from Shiori. It was quiet, she didn't say anything? I started to panic, I shouldn't have let go. Of course she's wasn't special. She only wanted the perfect me. I didn't understand why I say that. However, I couldn't act perfect right now.
"Why should I be perfect!" I screamed to the ground. Shiori was still quiet, she didn't saying anything at all!
"I don't want to stay at home any more! It's so cold..." I started shaking. It was so cold at home. So cold. So empty.
"It's so dark at home. I'm so alone..." I hugged myself in a meaningless attempt to stop my violently shaking.
"It's so lonely without..." I couldn't even finish the sentence before I broke out crying. I sat to my knees before I fell down in a sitting position. Crying and sobbing while holding myself. I must have looked pathetic. But for some reason, it didn't seem as Shiori though that. Surprisingly I felt a hand pet my head. My eyes widened at the comforting touch.
"You're not alone, you have your mother right? And your little sibling is on their way. Would you leave them just as alone as you are right now?" I held my breath. Even if I wanted to prove her wrong, she was right.
"Why would you do that to me" I said, my voice barely a whisper.
"What?" She asked.
"Nothing." I answered. I looked up at Shiori, she looked tired. Worn out.
"I guess I have a reason to stay now." I continued. I stood up. Gazing up at the stars. I felt empty, letting all my emotions bottled up had drained me a lot.
"I'm taking you home."
"No, it's alright. I can get back home on my own."
"You're not feeling good. You need to get home and rest." She said and started to walk, assuming that I would follow her.
And I did.
As we got to my house we sneaked back inside my room. I threw my backpack tiredly in the corner before I fell down on my bed exhausted. Shiori, who was still inside, sitting down on the floor beside my bed and leaned against the wall.
"You're not going home..?"
"What if you suddenly changed your mind and tried to escape? Someone has to stop you then" She said and waited patiently.
"Thank you for listening.." I said quietly and I could hear her chuckle.
"I mean it"
"No need to thank me" she said while wiggling her feet.
"Just don't forget what's important to you" she smiled a little and then looked at me.
"How could I forget you? You're my best friend" I said and felt how heavy my eyelids felt. I grew more tired and fell asleep.
I woke up to running footsteps. Many of them ran around as like they didn't know what to do. Slightly dazed, I sat up and looked around, searching for the source of the sound. The hallway outside my room was filled with people, their chakra could tell me that there were many of them running around. I didn't know why they were here. So in search for answers, I stood up and opened the door. Hopefully my clothes not too dirty since last night. I hadn't change them yet.
I recognized the people, they were often here to help with the household when mom had too much to do.
Which she often had.
The many people didn't spare me much time, they hadn't for a while. After time, they had given up on having a normal conversation with me since I didn't talk much. I hadn't since she left me.
Still a little tired, I followed the rush of people, which led me to my moms bedroom. Before I could reach out and step inside a hand dragged me back.
"You can't be in there right now miss." It was one of the more regular people coming here that I actually could recognise. Her brown hair was tied up and she was sweating as she again turned back to her duties.
Confusedly, I turned around trying to see if someone would tell me what was going on. Nobody seemed to pay me any mind. Busy with whatever was happening. To me, it seemed like more of them was just panicking then doing anything that actually seemed helpful.
"Excuse me, what is happening?" I politely asked. The person I had asked wasn't someone I recognised this time. But the fancy clothes told me he was someone important. He looked down at me with which seemed like slight shock on his face, before it turned into a smile and he answered.
"Oh, little miss Shimizu, congratulations, it seems like you are going to be a big sister soon." As he said those words the puzzle pieces seemed to match. Without answering I turned back looking at the door separating me and my mother. I walked over and quietly I sat down beside it.
I sat there for minutes, which turned into hours. Some of the people had tried talking to me, something about eating. But I couldn't think of anything except the baby. I desperately needed to see them. I felt anger towards the small human, they were the reason I couldn't leave. They would be the source of my pain, the lock of my freedom. My small hands tightly gripped my knees tighter around me. I wished they would just disappear.
The sun was almost down when the door finally opened. Another person walked out and gave a genuine smile when seeing me. So many people, just for one baby. Most of them had already gone and the hallways was yet again quiet, like always. I started to question why I was even there. I didn't want anything to do with the baby.
But suddenly, I heard something. A small cry. My head shot up and I looked at the opened door on my left.
Again.
The small cry almost sounded like laughter. It chased the quiet halls away and filled my ears with life. Like in a trance I stood up. Step by step I walked over and peeked inside. Mom was lying down in her big bed, tired eyes happily looking at a something in her arms. Walking over to the bed I tried to look at what she was holding. It was the source of the sound, something small wrapped in fabric.
"It's your baby sister, Harumiko." My mom said. She tilted what she was holding. And I saw her.
Her little face was wrinkled in a displeased expression. Small cries escapes her mouth. To the world it may have sound like annoying cries. But to me, it was something just as valuable as laughter. Her tiny arms were outstretched and flailing around in tiny motions. I reached out my hand and she quickly grabbed my fingers. I was stunned, my world just surrounding the baby. Then she opened her eyes. A small breathe hitched in my throat.
Kamiko.
The emerald green eyes looked up at me. They were so big. My chest overflowed with emotions as the innocent eyes held my own in a lock. They were so much like hers. With permission of my mom I picked Harumiko up and carefully hugged her. Tears were threatening to fall as I glanced at the fragile life in my arms.
"Sorry for almost leaving you." I whispered to her. I smiled at her. I laughed a little at how stupid I were.
"I won't ever leave you alone."