Author's Note:
This is a story that I've been wanting to write for some time now, that, and the fact that and I also wanted to write a dark fic. By dark, I do mean, well, I'm sure you get the idea - no angst tho! For that reason, I've given this story an "M" rating.
For those who might not know, Guren is a character that appeared in the latest filler of the anime. It's alright if you do not know the character and if it helps, you can see her as an OC (not my own creation). For those who are familiar with her character, I understand that in the flashback she's young, but we have no idea what age, so, for the sake of this story, I'll be making her twelve.
Chapter One - The Matsuda Family
I can pinpoint down to the day when my responsibilities have changed. February 7th, a Wednesday. Mother said I was no longer a girl who could play without worries; no, I was no longer a little girl as Mother Nature had given me the gift all women received.
Oh, how I hated it and not for what it did to my body; I could deal with the blood.
I could no longer attend school for this, since I was old enough -as mother kept reminded me- to help her. I've helped her before; I watched over my sister of five years and I would shoo the flies from the food stall my mother would set to sale. Not only did I continue to watch over my sister, but now my responsibilities included tending the vegetables in our garden, laundry and taking our three goats to graze in the green pasture that surrounded our village. I should have easily handle this new change, after all, I just recently turned twelve not but a month ago.
Just for doing what my mother asked, people complimented on how mature I was for my age. I could tell my mother was proud of this and I was happy because of that - mother needed all the happiness she could receive. Personally, I could not see what was so mature about doing what I was ordered to do. Was it because I did not mouth off like a whiny brat? As much as I missed going to school, I knew my mother needed the help and I was the only one around to help her. Had dad been alive, I was sure everything would have been different.
I was only six when he passed away in some accident; my mother never told me of what, said I was too young to know. I know of death, if that's what she meant; I once witnessed a stray dog kicked in the head by a horse that was spooked of its own shadow. From where I stood, I could see how the dogs face 'swallowed' the horses' hoof, followed by its head snapping back; the body had laid limply on the ground and as I got closer, I could see the crimson blood spilling and forming a strange looking puddle where its face used to be. I had a nightmare that night.
My sister, Torako, was born on the same year father died; mother said she was quite an active baby before she was born, she also said I used to feel my mothers' stomach and jump back when I felt Torako kick. I suppose we should have taken that as a sign, because that would explain everything about her. Energetic and overall a joyous child, granted, she could be also annoying but I suppose that went hand-in-hand with her being the youngest child.
While Torako never had the chance of meeting our father, mother would -when in a good mood- tell us about him. She would tell me how I took after my father, with his light skin and serious attitude about life. Since we didn't have any pictures of him, I would not know about this. Torako was too young and energetic, she was not like my mother; her dark hair was usually worn into pigtails, better for them to be tied than loose.
So, while it was difficult growing up without a father, I could see that my mother tried her best in making us happy… and we were. While I missed attending school with the rest of my friends, I did enjoy resting under a tree as I watched over the goats.
It was until I publicly displayed an ability no one else had that our whole family life had changed…
Had I the chance to go back in time, I would have not shown it to them.
AN:
Yes, I'm aware this chapter is quite short but this is the way I'll be writing this fic (ficlet), as I'm currently working with other stories. This story will be updated sporadically... or not, it all depends on the mood and whether I'm in-between chapters or something.
