Chap 1

10 years later

Hikari hurriedly swept the dead leaves from the gray stairs. It was almost time for her sister, Haya, to train, and she didn't want to miss it.

Why are there so many leaves? Hikari thought angrily and she moved her arms faster.

"Hikari," Her aunt's voice called out to her, and Hikari turned.

"Aunt Ayame!" Hikari waved the rake around. Ayame walked over to her and took the rake from her.

"Haya is about to start her training." She said quietly.

"I know…" Hikari muttered.

"Go, watch her." Ayame said, and started sweeping.

"Really?" Hikari's purple eyes widened. "How can I watch without being caught?"

"I think," Ayame said, even more quietly, "that it's about time you are allowed to use the hidden passageways." Hikari's eyes went round.

"No way!" Hikari whispered, in half glee, half anxiety.

"Just remember to be quiet and don't be caught… you know the people in the Main Branch know about the passageways… it'll be troublesome if they know about it." Ayame smiled at the little girl.

"Hai Auntie!" Hikari said, and ran inside the large mansion. Ayame continued sweeping. She knew that Hikari would watch Haya's every motion, memorizing every technique her sister was taught, and practice them later secretly with no difficulty. The Blessing she had received helped her do so.

Meanwhile, Hikari opened up her closet door and pressed herself through the clothes until she could touch the wall on the other side. She fumbled around for the doorknob, and slid the wall open. Then she entered silently.

Clutching a small candle tightly, Hikari trotted up, down, left, and right in the corridor. Finally, she reached the dojo where her father was teaching her sister. Hikari slid a small gap of the wall open and crouched down to watch.

In front of her was a big potted plant, which blocked her from the view of her father. However, from where she was crouched at, she could see everything.

"Concentrate, Haya!" Her father, Kisho, barked out as he attacked Haya. Haya made a weak gesture to block the blow.

Hikari winced as Haya fell to the floor, crying. Sometimes Hikari wondered why Haya was so weak. When they were little, Haya must've received the blessing, therefore she should've been strong naturally.

"Haya, you must practice every technique I teach you. Watch my arms to predict where they will hit you." Kisho said, and pulled his right arm behind for another blow.

Take a half step to the right, catch the right arm and twist it to your left side. Hikari thought urgently, watching Haya panic. She watched in exasperation as Haya put her arms protectively in front of her face. Don't cover your eyes! She thought angrily.

Kisho's striking hand stopped two inches away from Haya's stomach. He sighed.

"Tell me the truth, Haya. Can you not see my hands moving?" He asked in a tired voice.

"Well, I see them…"

"Then why don't you block them?"

"Because they're too fast for me! I can't think of a way to block all your blows!" Haya said, in a feeble attempt to redeem herself.

"You… can't?" Kisho asked, and Haya shook her head hard. "But that can't be possible…" Kisho rubbed her fingers to his temples.

Hikari, meanwhile, was writhing in exasperation. She wanted to take off from her hiding place, grab her older sister by the shoulders, and scream at her what to do. Why couldn't her sister understand? She did take that stupid blessing from the Elders, didn't she? Hikari finally couldn't stand it anymore and left her hiding place to return to her room.

Ayame was waiting for her.

"Well, what did you think of it?" Ayame asked, straightening the covers on Hikari's bed.

"Haya is so…" Hikari tried to think of a word that wouldn't insult her older sister.

"Slow?" Ayame asked. Hikari gave a little nod.

"Why is she like that… she's the one that took the blessing, after all." Hikari didn't notice how Ayame's eyes sparked a little.

"Yes, well…" Ayame patted her shoulder. "You just do your best, Hikari."

"Hai, Auntie." Hikari answered obediently.

Ayame stroked the little girl's hair. It was soft and silky, and dark cream colored with a purple tinge in it. Her layered bangs fell to her eyes.

Ayame smiled at the little girl. Even if Hikari wasn't one of Ayame's plans, she was sure she would have loved the little girl anyway.

"Hiiiikaaaaariiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Hikari and Ayame both flinched at the loud voice.

"Haya is calling for me…" Hikari jumped off from the bed, and slid open the door. "I'll see you later, Auntie!" Hikari called over her shoulder as she ran down the hall, her bare feet hitting the smooth wooden floor with a tmp tmp tmp.

"You… called for me, Haya-sama?" Hikari skidded to a stop at a room much larger than Hikari's room. Haya sat in front of a mirror.

Haya was identical to Hikari, but everyone could tell the difference between them. To their eyes, Hikari was quiet, obedient, and timid. Haya was bold, spoiled, pampered, and the way she walked was not really like a twelve-year-old. In truth, Hikari was, in everyway, outgoing. She had some friends that lived at the White Village, and always, Hikari was the one leading the group.

"Brush my hair." Said her twin, in a commanding voice.

"Hai" Hikari quietly stepped across the room, grasped the heavy brush with her hand, and slid it through Haya's silky hair. Unlike Hikari's short hair, Haya's hair was long, and it reached her waist. Hikari carefully brushed Haya's hair, trying not to make Haya wince.

Suddenly, Haya whipped around and drew her right hand back to strike. Hikari, seeing this, immediately dropped the brush, paused at her fighting stance, and twisted the blow away from herself.

Haya glared at her from the chair, breathing hard.

"You… you…." Haya choked out. "Why are you so good at fighting?" Hikari looked at her with blank eyes. "I train everyday with Father in the dojo. You just sit at home and do the chores. How were you able to block me?" Hikari dropped her head.

"Gomenasai…" She whispered. "It was just luck… I'm no good at fighting." Hikari clenched her teeth and lied. Haya arrogantly looked down at her younger sister.

"Fight me." Haya said harshly. Hikari shrank back and shook her head. "Fight me, now!" She snarled and leaped on Hikari.

Hikari braced herself for the blow, and winced in pain as Haya kicked her. Tears welled up in her eyes and she clenched them shut.

Don't fight back… no matter what you do, don't fight back… Ayame had warned Hikari before. Somehow, Ayame had figured out that Hikari was better at fighting than Haya, and warned her that if Haya challenged her, it was just best to be beaten. Because, to them, the second is always second… the second must never surpass the first… she had said.

So Hikari just covered her head and cowered, while Haya punched, slapped, and kicked her. Finally Haya stopped.

"You've gotten stronger, Haya-sama…" Hikari muttered before crumpling to the floor. Haya let out an angry breath and stormed out of her room. Hikari laid to her side, feeling sore.

Ayame entered the room quietly, holding a medical box. She treated Haya's swollen skin silently.

"It's hard, isn't it?" Ayame asked. "Being second." Hikari was too tired to nod or shake her head. "I should know… I'm a second child too." Ayame muttered. Hikari let out a groan.

"Auntie Ayame… what's wrong with me?" Hikari cried. "Why am I better than Haya?" Ayame's lips pursed. "I don't want… Haya or anyone to hate me…" Hikari shifted her head to look at Ayame. "Was there something wrong when Haya was blessed?" Ayame shook her head. "…I understand why Haya must not like me… Father and Mother won't even look at me, but I also understand them… They have their reasons… That's why I should not be in any trouble… I have to act inconspicuous…" Tears rolled down Hikari's cheeks. "But it's so hard, Auntie… I hate myself! I wish I didn't have any talent at all…"

Ayame bit her lips. She was somewhat guilty. Twelve years ago, she wanted to trick the Elders and made them bless the second child instead to get her revenge. She wanted the second child to be better than the first, to show everyone that the second child did have the ability to be better...

But now, this child was suffering because of her. Little details Ayame had not thought about, how the child would feel left out of her own family, how people would think it suspicious that the second child was showing more talent than the first…

Ayame reached down and hugged the girl. Hikari silently winced in pain but enjoyed the embrace.

"Auntie…" Hikari whispered.

"Yes, Hikari?" Ayame whispered.

"Do you think… it would be too rude if I say that I forgive Mother, Father and Haya? Because I know why they're being so mean to me… and I don't blame them. But maybe… that would make me sound as if I'm better than them…"

"No, Hikari… I don't think it would be rude…" She's such a forgiving child…

Hikari stared at the group of boys in front of her. Then she sighed. Why was it that all of her friends were boys? Haru, Botan, Amida, Dai, Fudo, and stared back at her.

"Why are you all boys?" She asked bluntly.

There was a silence.

"Uh…" Dai scratched his head. "I'm sorry?"

"Ehh, don't be." Hikari crossed her arms. "I just want to be more ladylike like Haya." Would Father and Mother like her more if she was like Haya?

"No way," Botan said. "If you were like Haya, you would be boring." He reached out in his pocket and took out six candies. They all reached in and grabbed one.

"Besides," Amida said, "if you were ladylike, you would start worrying about your clothing, and being dirty, and all those things Haya does."

"What's so bad about that…" Hikari protested, stomping her foot.

"It's bad, because-" Fudo silenced at the reproachful glances of the boys.

"because what? What?" Hikari leaned in and stared at Fudo with wide eyes.

"Because, uh, because…" Fudo stammered, his face getting redder by the second. "because… wlikhewayoure?" Hikari stared blankly at him.

"Say that again?"

"Because…" Fudo cleared his throat. "Because…"

"Because we like the way you are." Haru said quietly. Hikari drew her face back and blushed slightly.

"Really?" She asked innocently.

"No, baka." Dai flicked Hikari's forehead.

"Ehh? You don't mean that!"

"What if we do?" Amida laughed, and the boys started running away.

"You are so dead!" Hikari gasped, and ran after them, laughing and yelling at the same time. "Get back here!"

They ran around a hill covered with tall grass. Finally, tired, Hikari fell back and breathed deeply. The others joined her, and they watched the sky until they fell asleep.

A moment later Haru sat up quietly. "Hikari." He whispered quietly. "Hikari?"

"Hrrrn," The girl muttered, flipping over and burying her face in the grass. Haru reached out, grabbed her shoulders and shook it, anime style.

Finally Hikari opened her eyes. "Whaaaaaat?" She yawned.

"Walk with me."

"Why…" Hikari closed her eyes again.

"I just want to talk to you." Hikari opened her eyes at stared at Haru. She had always wondered how Haru's skin was so pale, when he spent as much time outside as Hikari. His black hair made his blue eyes stand out. He sighed. "I'll buy you rice cakes." Hikari immediately sat up.

"With red bean paste inside?" Hikari made sure.

"Yeah, yeah… just walk with me." Haru slowly walked away, and Hikari jumped up to follow.

After Haru purchased a bag of rice cakes, they sat down by a stream to eat.

"I want to give you something." Haru said quietly, reaching into his pocket. Hikari dipped her feet in the cold water.

"What?"

Haru pulled out a silver necklace. It was a round locket, and when Haru clicked it open, music started to play.

"Whoa! It's like a small music box on a chain!" Hikari said, her eyes wide at the jewelry.

"Take it." Haru blushed slightly and thrust it at Hikari.

"But-"

Haru threw the chain around Hikari's head and grinned a bit at her. Hikari looked at it for a moment. Then she glanced at Haru.

"Why are you giving this to me?"

"Because you're my best friend." Haru mumbled. Hikari rocked back and forth.

"Then what am I going to give you?" She sighed.

"You don't have to give me anything-" Haru stopped as Hikari leaned over to him and gave him a little peck on the cheek. Haru blushed furiously as Hikari pulled away and gave him a toothy grin.

"There!" She said.

Silence passed as the two children ate their rice cakes. Then Haru walked Hikari home…

…Holding Hands.