"I love you." He had said. "I love you." He had promised. I felt, deep down, that he was telling the truth. And you believe the ones you love, because you know them. I knew every single detail of that man, every detail of his mind, body and soul. My Koto. Our love was sweet and carefree. I felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders, and I finally had room to stretch my worn down limbs. I was myself, when I was with Koto. He had me rapped around his little finger. Every night I slept next to him, in our small, dirty flat, thinking I was finally going somewhere, in this tiny rowing boat of a life. Early in the mornings I would wake up to the soft whisper of his breathing, and I would breathe in the fresh smell of his hair. The blue strands of his spiky hair would tickle my face in the night. And I found it reassuring when I felt that, because I knew he was still there, beside me.
"Chica?" Koto called, coming through the front door. He walked into the kitchen and found me cleaning the dishes. I could tell by his voice that he was in a good mood. Koto walked towards me and put his arms around my waist, pulling my back into his body. I giggled and untangled myself from his hold. "You wanna fight, eh?" He said, raising his eyebrows. I laughed and ran into the living room, closely followed by Koto. He caught me in his grasp and laughed, we fell onto the sofa. He sat up, pulling me with him. I rested my head on his chest, listening to his heart beat. It made me feel calm when I heard it. Koto stroked my curly, blonde hair, he sighed.
"What's wrong?" I said, looking up at his thin, hansom face.
"Nothing, I was just wondering how I ever got to deserve you." He said, he looked into my eyes for a few seconds, then pulled his face down, pulling me into a warm kiss. I fell into it quickly, closing my eyes in pleasure. He broke away and yawned, "want to go to bed?" he said, taking my hand.
"Sure." I said mischievously. I turned off the lights and lay on the bed. Koto moved on top of me, and we spent the rest of the night in each others arms.
I woke up as I felt Koto leave the bed, so I rolled over and fell back to sleep. Then I woke up screaming. Every so often the dream comes back, and I always wake up crying.
"Mama!" I screamed, hitting the iron gates with my little fists. I kept on screaming as she walked further and further away. "Come back, Mama!" I whispered. My sister, Asa, was crouched on the floor crying. I got down next to her and we shared each others sadness silently. The teacher took us away from the gates, into the Alice Academy.
I got out of bed and put some clothes on, then got myself a generous amount of cereal. Suddenly, Koto burst through the front door. I abandoned the food on the counter and ran towards him.
"Chica!" He whispered, pulling me against his chest.
"What is it, Koto?" I said, confused, he should have been at work.
"I...got into trouble, Chica, I'm sorry!" he said, burying his face into my hair.
"Hey, wait! what do you mean?"
"I got mixed up with the wrong guy, he's coming for us, Chica!"
"What? I don't understand!"
"He swore he was going to kill me and you! we've got to run!" he said running into our bedroom. He started emptying the draws to out wardrobe out, he stopped midway of stuffing them in a suitcase. "No...Chica, you must go on alone. You've got to."
"What? I'm not leaving you, Koto!" I said.
"Come on!" He said, passing me my suitcase. "Go now. I will leave when i'm ready." he said coldly.
I left him then. I didn't want to, but I had to. I left Tokyo, and found a job at a rice farm. I got paid well, and food and accommodation came free of charge. But then I discovered, that I was having a baby.
"Totu-Sama," I said, Totu was the farmers wife, a strict, but gentle and understanding old thing. "Toru-Sama, I'm pregnant." I snapped, looking at my feet. I was scared that she would kick me out. She looked up from the rice she was weighing out, and smiled broadly.
"Congratulations!" she beamed, "i'll help you with the pregnancy, but once the baby's here, you'll have to leave i'm afraid." she said. I was surprised by that, but I felt so happy. That compromise was good enough for me!
six months later, I gave birth. It was a long, painful experience, but most of the rice-paddy girls helped as well as Totu-Sama. I had a daughter. As soon as I saw her I knew she was Koto's child. She had little tuffs of blue hair, and she had my silver-grey eyes. So beautiful. I looked at her all night, until I knew every little fingerprint that had been left on her perfect face. After I had rested and got cleaned up and checked up by the village doctor, my daughter was examined, I walked out of the farm for the very last time. Totu had got me stocked up on baby needs, and had led me to the door. She was a good baby, only cried very little. She slept most of the time. Her name came to me when I was thinking of how pretty her hair was, It looked like the sea, like a wave. Bingo! I'll call her Nami. My baby, Nami. I moved back to Tokyo, and suddenly got a call from Totu.
"Hello?" I answered, rocking Nami on my hip.
"Chica-San? is that you?" she gasped into the phone.
"Yeah, it's me. what are you calling for?"
"Some gang men came to our home, demanding to know where you went! we told them that you said you where leaving for America in the next few days! It's not safe for you and your daughter!" she said sensibly and calmly.
"No, they can't have traced me that far! Toku-Sama. thank you so much, i will never forget your kindness." I said, and then I hung up. I only had one plan. One hope. One person that can keep my daughter safe. My Aunt.