Annnd here is the second chapter! I'm pretty sure I've gotten every detail correct, and if not please fix me! I hope the characters aren't too OOC either. I don't know when it is they would see Chitose, or if they could did see her beforehand. Buuut hopefully this isn't too confusing. I did flashbacks from Chitose's point of few, if any of you get confused please tell me!

B.B. Wolf123 – Oh thank you! I know it's short, but I plan on everything else being longer! I'm glad you like it so far though!

Blindness

She didn't know when it happened or why it became, but Chitose had been dubbed as having very poor eyesight. Her innocent eyes squinted at a candle across the room, barely able to make out the blurry shadows. She knew, but she refused to acknowledge having terrible eyesight. Instead she blamed the village and how it lacked candles. Only her brothers were aware of how blind she really was.

Two young men stepped through the door, causing Chitose to jumped up, her body so accustomed to her fleeing pattern that it nearly moved to its own accord. She would have been in the closet already had it not been for the injury decorating her left leg.

Her heart rocketed in her chest, knowing already the two who had entered were her brothers, but there was barely any relief. She didn't understand the way she reacted to people she didn't know. A heavy feeling pressed in her chest at the mere thought, her lungs constricting and panic taking her mind. Not to say she hated people, it was just so hard to find courage to talk to them. Being so unsocial was something her brothers chided her for it, Itsuki especially, but she was grateful they didn't force her into it like some other villagers tried to do. That is, when they were able to catch her before she reached the closet. She shuddered, remembering the incident with the Kiryuu twins.

"Chitose," A gentle voice called her name, gazing with worry at her. Itsuki and Mutsuki stood by with soft expressions, her twin brothers moving to either side of her as she sat and cried. Her eyes were red and sore, and she had one leg tucked under her, the crimson kimono she wore bunched up to reveal the leg with the injury. It was merely a bruise from falling, but it still frightened her. Mutsuki stroked her hair gently to calm her while Itsuki went over it to make sure nothing too serious had happened.

"We told you to not stray so close to certain areas of the house. They can be quite dangerous."

His voice was stern but gentle, and she sobbed in response. "I'm sorry! I-I didn't see- Someone tripped me! I'm sorry!" She sniffled and hiccupped, rubbing at her eyes with the back of her hands. She didn't see the worried look on both their faces when she mentioned someone tripping her.

Only silence followed, both the elder twins giving their youngest and only sister time to recompose herself. Her eyes sought out comfort from them both, Itsuki especially. She was undeniably close to both her brothers and so attuned to their voices she could pick them out in a crowd.

She smiled to herself, remembering that was the same day Itsuki had given her the present. The bracelet decorated her pale wrist, the crimson standing out against her flesh. The golden bells on it rang slightly when she moved, and she held the present close to her as she remembered when Itsuki had given it to her.

"It's alright Chitose." he murmured to his sister calmly, a ringing sound started filling the air. More rings followed, flowing over the air. Chitose hesitated a moment, thinking she was hearing things and squinted slightly, her face scrunched in confusion before realizing it came from Itsuki. He looked a bit too smug, pulling a hand from behind his back and opening it to reveal a small red circle with two wonderfully gold items attached. Without a word he took her hand and placed it around her wrist.

Three circles looped around her small wrist, a beautiful crimson color with two bells attached to it. Curious she examined the item, her bruised leg forgotten and sat in a kneeling position, her eyes lighting up at the fact that she had just received a present. It was not an extravagant gift, but it was still lovely in its own right, and any gifts from her brothers were wonderful. She found herself entranced and smiled, even more when she noticed that Itsuki had made it to match her kimono.

"I know your eyesight isn't very good Chitose," Itsuki began.

She made a face, about to argue about her eyesight but he continued before she could. "If you ever need help, just ring these bells and I'll come find you."

She stared at her newest accessory and prodded it with a single finger, a lovely chime emitting from it in response.

She grinned broadly and shook her arm. The bell sang louder and she couldn't resist a giggle, which caused a smile from the older twins as well.

"Itsuki, I love it! Thank you!"

She ran up and wrapped her small arms around Itsuki's waist, clinging onto him then ran over to Mutsuki, who was now sitting on the floor and hugged him around the neck. Acting so impulsive, even for her age, would be looked down at if it were anyone else. The village could be very high bent on appearance.

Her brothers understood her behavior and gladly accepted it. They were the only two she could completely be herself around. She was too happy and preoccupied with the bell to notice the grim expression on Mutsuki's face and how Itsuki hesitated.

That day stayed in her mind constantly, replaying everything again and again. It was the last time she had seen Mutsuki. She had been told he left, went on an adventure, went to find more excitement…It was always something different. Itsuki was very flighty on it, never giving too much information and often withdrew into himself. He changed in such a short amount of time, and had become so pale. The memories kept flooding her, tears falling from her eyes as she sniffed.

Mitsuki went to Itsuki's side, the slow pace he drifted along enough to catch the young girl's attention. She frowned at them and pouted, knowing they were planning to leave soon.

Itsuki smiled lightly and went to her, Mutsuki standing further away. He was acting so strange, so careful. He was always a bit more reserved but he seemed…off. Before she could question them she was face-to-face with her Itsuki, who was stooping down to meet her at eye level. Something stirred in his eyes as he looked at her, seeing the slightest hints of sadness swirling through his eyes.

"We have to go for a while Chitose." He placed a gentle hand on her head, smiling. "The Kurosawa house- We- we have to help them with something. It's very important. " He looked sad when saying the last sentence, smiling though it didn't touch his eyes. "We won't be back for a while, but there'll be people coming to check up on you."

Her expression turned just the slightest bit sour. "You're going to see Sae and Yae," She accused glumly, jealous of how much attention the girls had been getting from them lately. They weren't bad; she just didn't want anyone taking the two people she loved away. They were her only interactions, the only ones who helped her and that she could completely trust.

Itsuki smiled lightly, noticing the way he was blocking her view of Mutsuki and took the hand he had placed his gift.

"Don't worry; I'll always be here for you."

Chitose could sense the wavering in his voice, how he carefully chose words. Itsuki never lied to her. She knew this. She couldn't help the feeling that he was keeping something from her though.

"If anything goes wrong or you're in danger, ring the bells and I'll find you. I will find you, no matter where you are."

The promise in those words set in her heart, the way he said it, and she couldn't help the small smile that formed on her lips as she nodded. Her brothers would always protect her.

"Good."

Itsuki wrapped her up in one more hug, clutching her small form tightly.

"Remember to be careful Chitose."

She nodded into his chest, fistfuls of cloth clutched in her fingers. When he released her Mutsuki had drawn closer, sorrow evident in his face.

"Mutsuki…what's wrong?"

She touched his hand, unusually icy and cold and held it in hers.

"Mitsuki,"

He shook his head, brown hair hiding his face from sight. He suddenly reached down and hugged her, something about it unsettling her. He released her before she could question it, noticing now that they both hesitated.

"We need to go now Chitose,"

Mutsuki said gently, turning toward Itsuki who had grown suddenly silent, and took his hand. Chitose watched them leave, too aware of the odd way Mutsuki's dark eyes stared at her before he turned away. Chitose was left to stare at the door after they left. For reasons she couldn't place, she felt…sad.

Her heart ached- so much she felt a small tear roll down her cheeks. The loneliness set in and she went to the closet that held her diary. She always had her diary and left it in the last place she hid, which had been said closet. She didn't know when she'd see her brothers again so she flew towards the closet, her body curling in on herself and falling asleep, the darkness pacifying her anxious mind.