Chapter 2: Can I go play?
Hanae took in everything that we passed as I carried her into the compound to my rooms that I would share with her. The walk was quiet and uneventful despite her ever turning head. When we got to my rooms I set her down as she examined her temporary home. Moving to the dresser I placed her bag beside it, I would sort through the items later.
I turned back to her to see her looking at a large calligraphy painting I had hung in the room. "Hanae." I called. Upon hearing her name she turned her attention to me and came closer. Smiling I ruffled her hair a bit and explained "While you stay here you are going to share Otou-san's room, alright?" She smiled and nodded her head. "Ano…" she began. Urging her to go on I answered "Hai?" She twisted her fingers nervously as she looked down. She shuffled her feet again before asking quietly "Can I go play?" Shock ran through me. She was nervous to ask something so trivial? It was not a problem so I told her "As long as it is not bed time and there is no emergency you can play on the grounds anytime you want." Her downturned face now beamed up at me and before she dashed off I added "Just make sure to stop for meals." She nodded vigorously before sprinting out the room and around the corner.
Seeing the speed with which she left I began to have second thoughts "Maybe that was not what I should have told her." I spoke to myself unknown that I had a visitor. "Should have told who?" I turned surprised eyes to Toshizo who stood in the doorway. Humoring him I answered "My daughter." His eyes turned questioning and I bade him to follow me as I began to search for Hanae who was nowhere in sight. Who knew a seven year old girl could move so quickly?
Looking for her was getting me nowhere and I began to think of where she could have ran off to. I sighed. She could be anywhere on the property. It was then that I heard a commotion. Going off in the direction of the disturbance I soon came across Sanosuke, Shinpachi, Heisuke, and Hanae –who was watching them from a high branch in the tree she was perched in. From the sound if it they were trying to coax her to come down.