Dying, while a little surprising, was not exactly too surprising. She was not sick, she was not famous, or even extraordinary. Kaylin was just your average girl. Working a normal part time job, she filled the rest of her time looking up what ever happened to be on her mind, reading or working on her garden. Kaylin, while not popular, had a few friends. When she died there had been some tears shed. But soon they faded away with her memory. Kaylin, at the age of nineteen was too ordinary to really be remembered after the car accident took her life.
Hijikata Toshizo looked perplexed at what to do. Before the boy stood a frighteningly small girl. She was silent as she stared up at him. He took in her matted hair and dirty kimono. Undoubtedly she was an orphan. Though why even an orphan would be wandering around the woods alone was beyond him. He continued his silent staring match before the girl finally made a move.
Hijikata stared at the flower the small girl offered him, her other hand holding another. Gingerly he took it from her small hand. He felt Kondou Isami kneel down next to him to talk to the girl.
"That's a very pretty flower. I bet Toshi really liked it." Hijikata started a little.
"A-ah. Thank you." The boy told the small girl. She stayed silent, staring at the two people before her. Not put off in the slightest, Kondou continued to talk to the small girl.
"But it's not really safe for little girls to be out alone, ok?" Still the girl did not reply. She just blinked at Kondou. He continued to smile and talk to the girl. Hijikata wondered if she was deaf.
"You should be getting back home, ok?" Still no reply. Kondou frowned in thought.
"Do you have a place to live?" A reaction finally came from the girl as she shook her head slightly. Hijikata frowned now. He had a feeling he knew what was going to happen now. And he was correct.
"Poor thing." Kondou frowned, but then perked up. "Why don't you come with us, ok?" The only reply he got from the girl was her lifting her arms up to the man. Kondou laughed and picked up the small child, supporting her with one arm.
"Let's go introduce Souji to our new resident."
When Okita saw the small, dirty girl in Kondou's arms, he was not sure how to react. On one hand, the person he most admired was back, on the other hand, there was yet another person taking up his attention. But even he had to pity the pathetic child.
Clearly malnourished for who knew how long, she was little more than bone. Her hair was matted and dirty, though bound back by a piece of cloth, as though the child had put some attempt at caring for it. Her kimono was plain, worn and streaked with dirt. Its edges were frayed and torn and the clothing was clearly too small for her, despite her own small size. So yes, even if Kondou was carrying her, he could feel pity for the child.
"Souji, this little one is going to be staying with us for a while. I expect you and Toshi to help watch out for her."
Any shred of pity Souji had for the child quickly disappeared as he fought to keep a grimace off his face in front of Kondou. From behind the man, Hijikata narrowed his eyes, as if reading Okita's mind. Oblivious to the tension, Kondou put the small girl down.
The little girl stared up at Okita silently. Likewise he stared down at her. Then, like she did with Hijikata, the girl offered up the remaining flower in her hand to Okita. Unsure what to do, the boy took it with a sigh.
"Welcome to the dojo." He told her. She just stared at him.
"She doesn't talk." Hijikata told him. Okita was stopped from saying anything when Kondou laughed again.
"Yosh! Let's get you cleaned up little one!" Turning to the two boys, he said "See if the two of you can find something for her to wear." And then he was gone, the little girl in his arms.
Kondou took the small child to the bath. The poor child looked like she had made some attempt on staying clean, as the dirt was not caked on her skin, and her hair was tied back, but Kondou guessed that she had been alone long enough that it made little difference. He spoke softly to the child so as to not scare her. He was a little concerned about her lack of reactions and her silence.
"Alright, Toshi and Souji are going find you something clean to wear, so let's get you cleaned up, ok?" She looked up at him but made no reaction until finally she nodded and held her arms out to the side, allowing him to help her shuck off her dirty clothing.
Kondou was unable to restrain a wince at how skinny she was. Almost every bone was visible on her tiny body. Here and there were small fading bruises, most likely caused by bumping into things with her frail body. He turned her around so he could unbind her hair. The cloth holding it back looked like it had once been a part of her kimono.
He carefully scrubbed her down, worried if he rubbed too hard that it would cause more bruises or worse. He painstakingly removed every trace of dirt and untangled and smoothed her hair.
When it was all said and done, he wrapped her small body in a towel that dwarfed her body and carefully dried her hair.
"Alright, let's go see what Toshi and Souji found for you, shall we?"
In the end the only thing the two boys were able to find was one of Okita's old kimonos. While it was far too small for the young boy, it completely engulfed the little girl. In the end, almost half of her sleeves had to be rolled up and the waist folded higher under her obi.
"So, what do we call her?" Okita asked, "She still hasn't said anything."
"Souji has a point; we can't keep referring to her as her and girl." Hijikata pointed out. The girl said nothing as she watched them talk, silently eating a small bowl of rice in her oversized outfit.
Kondou hummed thoughtfully before speaking. "How about Nao."
Hijikata nodded, "It would be fitting."
"Well if Kondou thinks it's good, I won't argue." Okita said. The three looked at the girl in question.
"Is Nao alright?" Kondou asked her gently. The girl looked up at him with wide eyes before finally nodding.
Kondou grinned brightly. "Nao it is then."