"Kaoru!"
The little girl turned to the sound of the voice. It was the only thing that ever broke out of the darkness that surrounded her, enveloping her from all the sides of her body.
"Kaoru!"
Fire was everywhere. Or was it the scarlet blood that seemed to be almost covering the whole place?
"Kaoru!"
A hand gripped her tight. She spun around. Eyes that went into the soul paralyzed her, eyes that was so different from her father's.
Her father. The smile that lit up his face just moments ago as he turned to face her was still fresh in her memory.
So was the scarlet blood that gushed out from his mouth.
She broke free from the stranger's grip.
"Father!"
"Father!"
Someone was shaking her hard. Kaoru's eyes flew open
There was an audible sigh. "Kaoru-san…" said Tsubame. "You're awake."
Kaoru rose from the mat. Her body felt warm… unnaturally warm. Her head was in pain. She touched it, and it felt hot. Sweat drenched her body, and her clothes clung to her flesh. "What happened?" she asked.
A reassuring hand held hers. "Nothing, Kaoru-san," Tsubame replied, "it's just a dream."
The breeze was cool and calming, and after sipping the warm tea Tsubame gave her, Kaoru felt relaxed.
The door behind her slid open.
"Would you be needing anything else, Kaoru-san?" Tsubame's voice blended with the wind. The tray was placed near her.
Tsubame. Always the shy type of girl. "Nothing more, Tsubame, thank you," she replied. As best that she could, she gave her a smile.
After a few minutes, she did not hear the door close.
"Tsubame?"
The reply came. "I'm still here."
"Do you need anything?" Kaoru inquired.
There was a pause. Then Tsubame said, "I would like you to join me for a walk. It's sunny outside, and the sky is so clear that I thought it might— " she faltered, most probably by seeing the look on Kaoru's face.
The sun. Kaoru could feel its warmth penetrate her skin, but the time when once it could bring joy to her lips now was gone.
"Kaoru-san…" came Tsubame's hesitant query.
Kaoru exhaled, as if the gesture can erase entire regions of her sadness. "I appreciate the gesture, Tsubame, but I can't."
She could tell Tsubame was crestfallen, judging by the tone in her voice. "Why not? I'll—I'll be there to guide you…I'll tell you everything I can—"
"Tsubame." Her voice cut through Tsubame's. "No."
The movements Kaoru heard indicated that the girl stood up to leave. As the door opened, she heard Tsubame's hesitant footsteps.
"Kaoru-san…" Tsubame began.
"Yes, Tsubame?"
"I'm sorry if I had said things… inappropriate things… but I just… I just wanted you to enjoy the world even if you can't see it." Silence. "Just like what the rest of us had wanted you to do for ten years, Kaoru-san. After all, ten years is a long time…"
"Please leave me now, Tsubame," Kaoru pleaded.
"As you wish, Kaoru-san."
The door slid shut behind her.
Author's note: Please forgive me for making Kaoru angsty, really different from the one in the series and the manga, but I had just wanted to explore the other side of Kaoru, the darker side, because, after all, there are two sides in a coin. (And also maybe I fused some part of myself into her… so now you know me.)