We struggle to have meaning/ In this world which we all know/ We try but yet we ponder/ where we all should go/ hidden in the questions/ which we cannot find/ the answers are all hidden/ deep inside our minds/ hidden in our soul/ is the life we try to hide/ but in time it will find you/ and it will release/ all of it's secrets hidden beneath...
The yellow cabbie roared down the quiet road that was nestled in the woods, a paved forest path barely big enough for a car and littered with leaves. A young girl of about 15 sat in the backseat, curled up with her head leaned against the window, her feet curled in the seat by her side. She watched the trees fly by, wondering if the speed the man in the driver's seat was going was alright, and she was slightly afraid they'd crash. She sighed softly, blinking at the bright coloured birds that flew in the opposite direction. The beats of the bass from her headphones softly filled the silence in the car as they traveled towards the city. The girl was moving to the other side of Japan to live with her brother. When the incident happened that involved her parents, she was taken from her home immediately and to the hospital. She was there for almost 3 weeks, before being told by her "worker" that she was moving to the other side of Japan to live with her brother. The problem was, she hadn't seen her brother since he moved out, almost 4 years ago. She didn't really know how she was supposed to survive living on her own with her brother after all this time. When they were little, the two siblings were as close as two children could be, even living seven years apart. But when he up and left the day of his eighteenth birthday, it was like she didn't exist, and he was never apart of the small family they had. She was left as an 11 year old girl, a parent's hand on either shoulder with know idea of all the troubles she would face in the years ahead.
She didn't know how exactly she was supposed to feel about seeing him after all these years. She was nervous, sure, but the emotions that mixed within her were just as confusing as ninth grade biology. Ever since that day when he left, she continuously thought of him, worrying and hoping. Hoping that one day he'd come back, and worrying that he'd be unable to make it out there on his own. The only reassurance she got of his safety was a postcard in the mail on her birthday and Christmas, always a measly gift as if an apology, and a good wish with no return address. She wasn't sure if she resented him, or if she was feeling like her young self, who just wanted to be loved by her brother, and lived to see him smile. Whatever would happen, and whatever she felt, it would be sure to come out when she saw him, finally.
The narrow road winded around a huge tree, and it seemed so out of place in the forest of trees that were a fifth of it's size. It reminded her of the redwood trees of a state in that American country. It was this year that she was supposed to learn about the great freedom country, and she didn't know much of it, though she excelled in the English language. As the cabbie approached the city she was to live in, her eyes widened. Knife Party exploded into the back of the car as she removed a headphone to stare in wonder at the giant walls that surrounded the city. She knew that this city has some important people, but honestly, did the prime minister live here? She didn't see the point of the giant, faded green gate doors to match the thick walls that flew from left to right, as if they were in a race to see who'd meet each other first on the other side.
The cabbie finally slowed down at the doors, which was a surprise to her. They'd been going full speed ahead ever since they left civilization. The surprising speed was so different than it was in the city, she almost went for her sword. Her competition sword that is. She didn't know why she wanted to bring it along, instead of packing it with the rest of her gear in the trunk. Maybe she wanted to prove to her brother that his leaving didn't affect her that much, that she was still keeping up with her practice. Or maybe it made her feel safe.
She watched in wonder as only a section of the doors opened automatically, and the driver moved forward -at a safe speed- through the winding roads of the city. It was interesting, the city. The entrance looked like the biggest farmer's market she'd ever seen. It even looked like there was a ramen stand, and, oh, dango! She smiled, breathing in deep and closing her eyes, exhaling at the start of Lindsey Sterling. As the car moved, she winced, raising a hand to block the glint of the sun off a shiny skyscraper. The market and humble buildings quickly escalated into neighborhoods and, well, city. She quickly replaced her headphone as the driver suddenly turned into a neighborhood. The houses weren't crowded together, but weren't so far apart. They were on raised green hills cut through with concrete stairs and walkway. The houses looked like they were built for everyday families, happy couples with smiling kids and a scruffy dog named Max. Well into the neighborhood, the cabbie finally pulled into a driveway of a two story house made of a dead gray paint, and shades of red brick that lined the bottom feet of the wood. A dark wooden porch jutted out of the house, a few plants and a swing decorated it, but it didn't seem that that porch was used much. The girl took a deep breath as the front door opened, and out he stepped, just as he was when he left. She grabbed her bag and her sword and stepped out of the car, calming herself to the sound of Electric Daisy Violin.
Out of the house stepped out a tall man. He was about 5'9" with sun deprived skin, a relaxed posture, and soft silver hair that stood up on end. He wasn't old, only 22, but his face was weathered as if he'd seen more than he ever should. He stood with his hands in the pocket of his jeans, and he wore a long sleeved gray shirt, complete with a black scarf that covered up to his nose. He wore dark gray vans under his jeans to complete his look. He walked to the back of the car and took the larger of the two suitcases hidden there. It was then that she appeared, coming to the back of the car. Her long, silver hair cascaded down her back and fluttered around her waist. She sported a light gray sweater, the sleeves taken prisoner in her white knuckles. She had on a short black pleated skirt, cotton thigh highs and a pair of shiny black high top All Star's, just like always. He could hear her music from here, not something he would have expected of her, but made sense anyways. Her eyes, those beautiful lilac eyes that were always sparkling where swarming. They moved from sadness to happiness to longing to hatred and everything in between. He smiled softly at the sight of her sword, his black eyes exposing it when she took out a single ear bud, the screams of some band he'd never heard of trickling through the exposed speaker. "Ayame."
She looked at him, her expression freezing over. "Kakashi," her voice caught at the end and her sword shook in her hands. "Kakashi," she repeated. Her eyes finally glossed over with the sadness of an eleven year old girl, whose best friend walked away from her and never looked back. He set down the suitcase and held out his arms. Her canvas bag slipped from her shoulder with a thump and she flew towards him, the sword clanging on the driveway with a clatter as Ayame barreled into his chest, shaking with a force to move mountains. He held her tight, stroking her hair and shushing her. All he'd wanted for the past four years was to hold her again, to see her smile and hear her laugh. He'd never been able to, only barely managed to send her those cards.
Kakashi pulled back and his eye smiled softly. "Come, let's get you inside." Ayame sniffed in agreement, picking up her discarded items. She pulled her sword gear from the back and inserted her sword inside. Taking the smaller suitcase, she handed the driver a fifty from all the miles he had driven. He nodded, making a routine run through of the taxi before driving off. Kakashi again picked up the larger suitcase and swiped her gear off her shoulder in one swift motion, heading up to the house. He looked back to see Ayame standing there, staring at him. "Coming?" he laughed. She blinked, shook her head as if to clear it and responded, dragging her suitcase up the hill. He shook his head, smiling knowingly and walked inside the house, closing the door with a final thud.