.
.
They say all good deeds are rewarded. If a hard life ends in death, then what on earth was the reward?
.
.
Snow is symbolic.
In a lot of ways, I think of marriage. A glimmering white gown, sparkling silver chandeliers, and a tiered cake with elegant decorations. I see white roses dancing in a snowy breeze. There are wolves, coats powdered with the white of winter, galloping in sprays of ice. Trees with gnarled branches and empty husks coated in a blanket of frosty color.
Add a dash of red and the scene changes.
The lights of the street are sinister. Their shadows are moving irregularly and I can almost picture glowing crimson eyes within them. The calm weather feels eerie, the silence of the wind like a funeral. The lack of snowfall makes everything feel like it has been frozen in time. Blood is spilt.
"Suna, did you cut yourself? Let me get you a band aid."
I pull my gaze away from the chilly window. My homework is strewn in my lap, toppled over my knees and on the floor. A small piece is in my hand, clutched too tightly, enough that one of my fingers has a line of red.
I take a deep breath. Dad is already back.
"Here we are." His smile is wide as he gently wraps a cute kitten band aid around my finger. When he stands, he pushes up his glasses in a way that means business. "Did you get all your homework done? If so, I bought some baking supplies from the store this morning. How about we make some cupcakes?"
I nod mutely, never mind the fact that I had never started on the assignments before me. He grins anyway.
"Excellent!"
The doorbell rings, stopping him in his tracks. He makes a face, which isn't weird. We live a ways from town. It's too cold out for a visit, much less one so late. It's strange.
I look out the window as he sheepishly laughs, "Mah, sorry. I'll see who it is, and then we'll get on those cupcakes."
He disappears out the living room.
To occupy time, I shuffle my papers into some meaning of organization. They aren't on the floor anymore, if that's a plus. I keep one ear out for dad, listening as the door opens and gentle murmurs come from the foyer.
If it was another child protective service agent, I was going to bed without cupcakes. Regardless if dad was looking forward to them. It would be a long night anyway.
"Suna, come here for a moment!"
I close my eyes. There was only one outcome to this.
Placing my homework down, I shimmied my way off the couch. The outrageous green color clashed horribly with the cream carpet and tan walls. My typical toddler jeans and shirt was an oddity that stood out all on its own, couch excluded. I could thank my dad for that.
I knew what was happening when I rounded the corner. The door was ajar, so much so that I could see everyone in the foyer. Dad was there, his usually goofy expression severe. A boy stood next to him, though looked hardly as youthful as his looks. His height was impressive as well as his beauty. The dingy light of the front did him no justice.
The little girl was there too.
She gazed into air, eyes glazed with confusion and world weary exhaustion. She looked like she didn't even know why she was tired. Her hand remained firmly fisted into the boys pant leg. Dad turned and smiled at me, but it wasn't a happy smile. It was a smile that said to be welcoming.
"Suna, I want you to go make Yuki comfortable, okay? I need to talk with Kaname-kun."
The situation was real. Kaname had the same flowing locks of his mother, with the same serene expression of his father. He glanced down at his amnesiac sister with something of longing, before saying in a voice of velvet, "Go along, Yuki. I'll be right with you."
The girl didn't move. Her gaze was rooted at her feet, unmoving and unrelenting. Kaname's shoulders slumped. The action sparked my dad into movement, who crouched in front of Yuki with his infamous winning smile.
"Hello, Yuki. My name is Kaien. It's a pleasure to meet you!" He giggled like a schoolgirl. Yuki seemed more alive at this, blinking at dad's strangeness. He gestured to me, standing awkwardly in front of them. "That's Suna, my daughter. Do you want to say hello?"
Kaien had a way with kids, of just making them laugh and feel welcomed. Yuki was holding her fort, though, and its name was Kaname. The boy looked crushed when all she did was lean towards him more. I inhaled deeply. I didn't want to intervene, but for his sake, I would.
"I have a bird." I made no move towards her, instead pointing behind me. "I can show you him, and then we'll make cupcakes."
Yuki's eyes met mine. I had never seen the color of red, but it looked so startlingly predatory that I had to hold my gaze firm. It was Yuki after all. She couldn't hurt a fly.
She tilted her head up to Kaname, voice as soft as the wind, "You'll stay?"
Kaname brightened like the sun, running a hand through her hair, "I will. I have to talk in private for a moment. Suna will take good care of you, alright? Go along."
She nodded slowly. We all watched her release her brother, her movement robotic. She only made it up to Kaien before glancing back like a lost child. With heavy reluctance, I had to meet her halfway.
I walked around dad, peering up at her curiously, "What's your name?"
Her gaze was like an empty box, neither oblivious nor knowing. She didn't answer, only averting her gaze. I narrowed my look, but held my hand out in invitation, "My birds upstairs. Wanna come?"
Her gaze lowers to my tiny innocent hand. She's conflicted. I find it ironic how menacing I look compared to who she was not even hours ago. Could a toddler even look menacing? She gives Kaname the look of permission, the 'is what I'm doing right?' look. He nods, his smile gentle and warm. She fidgets but extends her hand and to attentively grasp mine.
It's cold.
I offer the barest of grins because I've been told by the neighbors if I smile too widely I look creepy, "His name is Cutter. I'll show you."
I tug, not hard, but enough to get the legs moving. She resists, expression finally morphing into a pout. Kaname would be out of sight, I thought forlornly. By the look he's giving his sister, it isn't the first time she's refused to go anywhere without him. Amnesia be damned.
"C'mon Yuki." He reaches forward and ruffles her hair. Her eyes brighten at that. "I'll be right here. Don't you trust me?"
Ah, yes. Typical sibling guilt tripping. By Yuki's startled look, she hadn't been exposed to it yet. Cunning Kaname is cunning.
"Be good." Kaien tells us as Yuki far more willingly lets herself be dragged by me, but not without the hopeless backwards glances of a lost puppy. I almost want to plant myself on the stairs and tell her my bird died. She'd probably be much happier with that outcome.
Cutter is too lazy to greet us when we go into my room. He opened his cage (to the ire of dad who cannot figure out how he does it) and was sitting contently on my pillows. He liked the soft sea foam color of my bed better than his outrageous green bars. I could sympathize.
Yuki stiffens at the sight of the bird. I watched her from the corner of my vision, knowing she likely was holed up in that dusty mansion her whole life. Did she even know what an animal was before she lost her memories? That was extensive.
"Cutter." I whistled. He fluttered obnoxiously and landed on my shoulder. Yuki had presumed otherwise and had ducked into my closet. The doors were flaky and rusty, so watching her trample to escape my bird was both amusing and appalling.
"He doesn't bite." I watched her peer out behind the doors, giving me an accusing look. "If he does, you can scold him. He knows better."
She furrowed her eyebrows but remained hunkered down in her newly dubbed second fort. I figured I had at least gotten her in the room. It was outstanding in itself.
"Cutter." I began, stroking the bird. "Tell Yuki she's pretty."
"Pretty girl!" He chirped, bobbing his head.
Yuki gave a gasp, eyes a lit with awe instead of her earlier suspicion. Like a moth drawn to the light, she eased herself out of her hole, approaching us with barely restrained child energy. Cutter bobbed his head a few more times.
"Say I love you." I told him, watching as Yuki approached. She was almost an arm's length away.
Cutter wasn't very good at three words, so only made out, "Love you! Love you, pretty girl!"
Yuki laughed.
The noise had me pausing, my next command on my tongue. Her laugh was kind of squeaky and horse, but it has such a charming sound. It wasn't annoying or weird. It was the type of laugh I'd see a well-dressed lady have, sitting contently down for tea and hearing a badly said pun. Yuki had an amazing laugh.
Yuki was now standing in front of me, shifting in her boots with excitement, "Pretty bird?"
Cutter responded with equal enthusiasm, "Pretty bird! Pretty girl!"
I held up my hand, letting Cutter wobble onto my fingers. Yuki nearly fell on her back when I extended him to her. Her awe was now trepidation.
"You can hold him." I reassured. "He likes you."
Cutter cemented that with a loud, "Love, love pretty girl!"
Yuki meshed her mouth into a thin line, glancing at the door longingly. Cutter made her decision for her by eagerly hopping onto her shoulder. I knew what was going to happen, but stuck my hands at my side and Yuki proceeded to flail around my room like a duck. Cutter loved chase though, and continuously hovered after her, screeching compliments.
"He won't bite." I said again.
She stumbled and nearly fell, but caught the bed for support. Cutter landed on her head triumphantly, standing firm with a soft, "Pretty girl."
"Cutter you scared Yuki." I chided, seeing her terrified expression. "Say sorry."
"Bad bird!" He clucked to himself. "Bad bird!"
Yuki slowly blinked, as if reality had shifted. Cutter had made his way down to her shoulder and she was leaning away like it personally offended her. But her expression was conflicted.
"Not bad." He voice was barely heard over Cutter's guttural noises. "Not a bad bird."
Cutter cocked his head. She eased a little.
"Ask for a kiss." I tilted my head at her alarmed look. So she knew what a kiss was. "It's alright, Cutter isn't a big flirt. Platonic kisses are the best."
"Kiss, kiss." Cutter bobbed up and down.
Yuki made a face, starring at Cutter as Cutter leaned back and forth away from her. He was impatient but at least listening.
"Kiss?" Yuki asked, face turning the slightest of red.
Cutter touched his beak to her chin, making the impression of a kiss noise, "Kisses! Muah!"
Yuki blinked in surprise, before dissolving into excited giggles. Cutter liked mimicking people's laughter, and his tone deaf laughing only brought her near hysterics. I cracked a smile grin at the two, Yuki's flushed face from laughing, looking absolutely delighted. Cutter, bobbing up and down to the laughs.
I knew he was behind me and only tossed the barest of looks. He didn't need to know I saw, especially the content, hopeless smile on his face as he gazed at his sister. Kaname looked reassured about something, if Kaien gushing behind him was anything.
"Yuki." His voice silenced her immediately. Forgetting Cutter completely, she rushed to him with a big grin. My bird found the running tedious and went back to my shoulder, where I offered a rewarding pat. The siblings hugged it out.
"I have to go." He immediately winced at her crushed expression, "I won't be gone long. Cross will take care of you while I'm gone."
Her lip trembled. I had the keen sense of knowing Kaname was having a panic attack, despite looking completely at ease.
"Don't cry." He begged, wiping away at her cheeks. "I won't ever leave you, Yuki."
"But you're leaving." She said, like the biggest lie in the universe was him.
I watched him close his eyes, seeing century's worth of stress weigh him down. I took the reins and said, "Cutter is brave. He can protect you while he's away."
Yuki perked up at this, having probably a better connection with my bird then any human in this household. Kaname launched onto the Cutter boat immediately.
"See?" His signature loving smile was back (masking his eternal relief). "I'll be back before you know it. I promise."
"Promise?" Yuki raised her head imploringly.
He patted her head, "Promise."
She didn't seem any less perturbed. She clung to him up until he left, sending looks at the door like she'd run off after him. I didn't know, nor did I want to find out. I figured the only way to win was through my bird.
"He promised."
Yuki was looking out the window, where Kaname had disappeared to minutes ago. A limo had picked him up, which was accordingly suspicious but not unexpected. I was back to my homework since dad had caught on to my laziness. Cupcakes were postponed.
"He'll be back." I told her. She was sitting next to me, propping herself up on the couch rest to get a better look outside. "He looks like he likes you very much."
Yuki softened at that. She became less window sticky and even allowed herself to be distracted by TV cartoons. Everyone on screen was enthralling to anyone that age anyway. No surprise.
"Yuki, Suna!" Dad swooped into the living room with a dramatic twirl. "I made some beans and rice for dinner. I hope you enjoy it with all your heart!"
His flare was killer a few years ago. It was something of an acquired taste. Judging by Yuki's sour expression, it was going to be much longer than a few years.
.
.