Chapter 1 The Beginning
The new play ground was planned to be built in the spring but seasons came and passed with the grounds containing nothing but a pyramid of metal bars and large tubes and an unsteady pile of sand that was used as a substitute for a slide by impatient children. Many parents were not very pleased with this but it was out of their hands. The construction manager had suddenly stopped construction due to a new more advanced project handed to him by the town planner, which was to go out of town with several others in the construction industry to participate in the construction of a large structure in the city. So the empty playground was left unfinished and many hopeful children grew up. Several teenagers and young adults would pass the proposed site and laugh with their companions about how their childhood was spent sliding down a mountain of sand and playing hide and seek behind piles of rusted building material.
As time passed the playground was soon forgotten by everyone as the woods surrounding the area over grew and parents proposed to have a playground for the children at the centre of town. The only ones that did not forget the abandoned site were the animals and a 12 year old girl. This girl was quite unpredictable, had several friends and was quite content with her life. But there would be times when she would want to get away from the world and so while exploring the woods one day she found the abandoned assortment of building materials. She had heard a mention from her parents about an unfinished playground but had never asked them further about the topic. Knowing that no one would find her she made the abandoned playground her secret hiding place.
She was there again on the day when the summer solstice occurred. The girl hadn't known about the event that day but she wanted to get out of the house. Her parents had been arguing the night before about something and she didn't wish to interfere. So, early that morning she snuck out and was glad she did. It was the type of day she loved, a day when the sun's light would already warm the air despite it being barely dawn.
The girl was sitting on the top of a fallen tree trunk when she heard a small whimper. She had at first assumed it was an injured animal and was looking around the abandoned materials which was when she saw a form lurking inside the shadow of the largest metal tunnel. She slowly went up to the tunnel and cautiously looked inside and was surprised to find a young girl. The young girl was crying and from the shadows it looked like her clothes were torn. The older girl gasped and quickly brought her hand to the younger girl's shoulder worried that she was hurt. The younger girl gave a muffled scream as she felt the pressure on her shoulder but then slowly calmed down as she saw a kind, concerned face. The older girl backed away from the tunnel as the young girl made her way out. In the morning light, no matter how torn the clothes were the young girl was wearing anyone could see that it was very good quality. Her hair was technically blonde but it seemed almost green and was chopped off at her shoulder. At first the young girl's eyes flashed red but the crimson streak was soon replaced by black eyes that somehow complimented her hair. The pale skin around her eyes was stained red and the steady flow of tears ruined the delicate beauty the child had.
The older girl although only at that the age of 12 had a very strong maternal instinct and was often seen surrounded by the younger children at her school. She surprised the younger girl when she hugged her. The girl at first froze in shock by the sudden movement but soon the comforting arms made her feel safe and she continued crying into the older girl's shoulder.
Time seemed to stop as the young girl cried her heart out while the elder gently patted her back and comforted her. Eventually the young girl, tired by her sobbing, grew quieter and fell asleep on the girl's shoulder. The older girl then carried the younger to the fallen tree trunk and noted, concerned that she seemed very light for her age. She sat down and laid the young girl on the trunk, her head resting on the older girl's lap. Now that she was still the older girl would see that the clothes on the young girl were not only torn but burnt and but not severely as the skin on the girl's arms and legs.
"There must have been a fire" the older girl muttered to herself as she also saw the burnt edges of the younger girl's hair.
The elder girl tried to place the young girl's face but she couldn't. The girl must have come from the out of town but the only house within miles of the town was a mansion on a large estate. She must have come from there the older girl reasoned.
"She must have walked. No wonder she's so tired." The older girl thought to herself "I wonder what happened to her family?"
As if the younger girl had heard, she shifted slightly and opened her eyes. Her eyes widened and she sat up as she saw the older girl. She tried to stand but would have fallen had the older girl not held her up. She then sat down defeated and the older girl gave her a smile which she hesitantly returned. The two then sat in the slightly awkward but peaceful silence.
"My name's Ayano, what's yours?" the older girl said, breaking the calm. There was a pause before the girl spoke.
"Tsubomi" The young girl replied quietly as if afraid to disturb the small bubble of quietness surrounding the two.
"Tsubomi? That's a pretty name. I wish mine was as nice as yours. "
Silence fell again but then a slight breeze filtered though the abandoned park and Ayano saw Tsubomi shiver slightly. On reflex she took of her thin jacket and put it around Tsubomi's shoulders where it hung loosely as the jacket was suited for someone older and also because the young girl was quite thin. Tsubomi immediately looked up at the girl, a question burning in her eyes.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" the young girl asked her eyes brimming with tears once more. "Is it because you know my family name? Papa and mama said that people are only nice to me because they want money. But…the money's all gone… and papa and mama were fighting last night …then the fire …and Hana fell and I-I hid in my room but the fire hurt me. I ran …. I ran! I couldn't save Hana; I couldn't save anyone. The fire took them!"
The girl was on her knees with new tears, fiercely streaming down her face. Ayano stared at the girl in shock until the sky suddenly darkened. Tsubomi sat up, with a terrified look on her face and although Ayano didn't notice, her eyes were now a bright madder red.
"It's coming… its coming to get me! No …I don't want to be here …..let me disappear…I shouldn't be here!" The young girl screamed as her thin body shook.
Ayano took the girl in her arms again
"Nothing is coming. It's okay Tsubomi" Ayano said trying to reassure the hysterical girl "The sun's just hiding for a bit. You're safe now. There is nothing that can hurt you. You're going to be alright"
Tsubomi was still trembling when the sun reappeared. Ayano took her hand then slowly lead her out of the forest. The elder girl ignored the looks the people on the street gave her and went straight home. Ayano found her mother alone in the kitchen washing last night's plates with her father nowhere in sight.
Ayano's mother heard the door open and was about to give her daughter a lecture about leaving the house so early in the morning until she saw the young child clutching her daughter's hand.
Ayaka had never seen such a terrified child in her life. Both she and Ayano had that same caring gene that made them want to take care of everyone and in this case that annoying gene was acting up even more than usual as Ayaka saw the trembling, burnt clothed, exhausted little girl.
The young mother immediately went to the youngest girl in the room and carried her to the sofa, being careful of the burns on Tsubomi's skin. Then she looked at Ayano questioningly. Ayano told her that she found Tsubomi in the abandoned playground. The elder women turned to Tsubomi and asked her whether she was alright. The green haired girl nodded but kept looking at Ayano nervously, slightly scared at the elder woman's presence. Ayano told her mother that Tsubomi needed her wounds cleaned and some new clothes. Ayano's mother patted Ayano's head and smiled encouragingly, proud of her daughter's protectiveness over the young girl.
When her mother left the room to get a bath ready for their guest Ayano bended down to Tsubomi and asked her if she felt hungry or if she wanted a drink. Wordlessly Tsubomi nodded and Ayano smiled encouragingly and left the room to get something for the young girl to Tsubomi waited for Ayano she looked around the room she was in. It was a small, modest sized living room with two long sofas, a table and a large armchair. There was a TV backed against a wall but it looked as if it were rarely used the reason showing itself by the filled bookcases that lined the room and the dust lining the screen. On the gaps of the wall between bookcases were photos of a small family of three, Ayano always in the centre of each photo with her parents on either side of her. It looked like they were big fans of travelling by the looks of the different landmarks in the backgrounds of each photo. The fact that there were only three of them and so many seats puzzled the young girl. Perhaps they had friends that liked to visit.
Still this place was so warm despite its size it; felt like a family home. The pained thoughts of her own home came back to her and it felt so cold. She wrapped Ayano's jacket tighter around herself as if to shield herself from the images of her home and family.
Footsteps were hurrying back to the room and the young girl dropped her gaze to her lap. Ayano walked in carrying two glasses of cold juice. She sat next to the girl on the couch and handed her one of the cold drinks, the glass having a picture of a snowman which made a smile appear on Tsubomi's face due to the irony of the heat wave that was outside and the snowman's crooked smile directed at her. Ayano smiled, delighted when she saw the corners of Tsubomi's mouth curled upwards.
They sat quietly as they drained the glasses of the juice then Ayano took their empty glasses and set them on the table in front of them. With the mood of the younger girl better Ayano didn't want to do anything to upset the content atmosphere surrounding the two so instead of bringing up the topic of Tsubomi's family she instead asked her if she wanted to look around. The younger girl surprised at the sudden question just nodded then was promptly dragged from the room as an excited Ayano showed her around the house. They started with the kitchen where a small bowl of milk and food, set on the ground, caught Tsubomi's attention. She went closer to the bowls to examine them and possibly look to whether their owner was nearby. Ayano looked on as Tsubomi searched for the family pet in the kitchen then went to a cupboard and shuffled around starting her own search. This caught the attention of Tsubomi who had paused from her hunt but then jumped back as Ayano shouted "Found it!" holding up an object that Tsubomi couldn't identify as the elder girl kept waving it in the air in triumph.
Ayano then lead Tsubomi towards the stairs, up it and into a room that had a bed with a patchwork cover thrown on top of it. The walls were covered with multiple drawings while the desk in the corner had a pile of origami books, paper and many folded products of hours of practice littering it as well as the floor. Next to the bed was a house shaped basket with a slight roof covering the entrance creating a shadow that blocked the sight of anyone who wanted to peer into the entrance.
While Tsubomi was standing at the doorway and looking into the messy room Ayano sat down on the floor next to the basket then waved Tsubomi over to where she was sitting. The young girl sat then was given something. She looked at object in her hand. It had a long handle with string that hung from one end like a fishing rod but instead of a fish on the end of the line it was a small ball that had a feather and a small bell attached to it. A wave of realisation washed over her then she looked at Ayano excitedly. Ayano smiled then looked pointedly at the entrance of the basket then back at Tsubomi. With the permission granted Tsubomi held out the small toy towards to entrance and waited patiently for something to bite. She didn't have to wait long as she soon felt a tug then heard a meow. As the creature came out of its den, yawing and stretching its claws to rid it of its sleepy state, Tsubomi smiled with glee and leaned as close as she could to the small feline that she was on the point of falling over and squashing the poor creature flat. But before she did Ayano pulled her from her previous position and into a more stable one which caused the small bell on the stick, that Tsubomi forgot she was holding, to ring causing the seemingly calm creature to react. Its green eyes focused onto its prey as it swayed from side to side then attacked. First it started pawing at the ball then biting it and finally pulled it from the surprised Tsubomi and proceeded to give it a through chewing session.
The girls laughed as they watched the kitten at it wild antics. Then the white creature yawned and kicked the toy away, satisfied with the chewed-up mess it created. It then proceeded to walk cautiously over to Tsubomi curious of this new presence next to its mistress. Tsubomi started backing away at first wary of the approaching creature but was stopped as Ayano took her hand and held it towards the kitten. The small feline then went closer and sniffed Tsubomi's hand and after a few moments it gave a small meow and licked the girl's hand casing her to giggle.
I was curious about the relationship between Ayano and her siblings so I tried writing this story. It's my first one so I hope I didn't do too badly...anyway thanks for reading it and I hope you like it (also if you could leave a comment it would help me figure out how I can improve) sorry if there some mistakes on spelling, punctuation and anything else...- for some reason I always skip those when I proof read. The rest of this might be AU so it probably won't follow too many of the major plots in the manga and anime oh and I know this chapter kinda ends abruptly but I really wanted to get this written and I'm still thinking about how to continue this story so oh well. Thanks again for reading :)