Consciousness came and went indiscriminately. Karai's mind felt like a small buoy rolling atop ceaseless waves, surfacing for only a short while before dipping below into the depths again. She dreamt of being some sort of sea snake, gliding through the water with her smooth scales and lithe body. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear a soft male voice singing words that seemed familiar but out of place among her struggles.
"Tooku ni ite mo kimi ni todoku darou..."
Perhaps I can reach you, even though you're far away
She recognized the words now, as the beginning of a popular lullaby in Japan. She had seen the occasional mother cradle their child to this melody, though she would pretend not to be listening. Her father looked down on such trivial sentiments, and would respond harshly if Karai showed any signs of such softness.
Her mind began to collect awareness as she corrected herself. He was not her father.
"Kono boku ga kokoro kome okuru messeeji..."
I send you this message with all of my heart
The voice had the rasp of age, but the words spilled soft and familiar. When her eyelids cracked open, she was greeted by honey-brown eyes so much like her own. A small smile played on the rat's muzzle as he stroked her hair, continuing pleasantly. "Kibou koso rashinban sa Ai wo yubisasu yo..."
Hope is certainly a compass that points to love
Her mind and body both betrayed her as she could do nothing but lie there in silence. Never had the soothing comforts of a lullaby been meant for her, and the reality of it struck her unresponsive. It seemed wrong, but something she didn't want to put a stop to. Like profiting from someone's mistake. His words were akin to finding fine silver on the street: it had to have been a mistake to come upon it, but one is tempted to pick it up nonetheless.
"Nemure Sotto nemure Kanashimi wo wasurete..."
Sleep, sleep gently, for tomorrow is a continent of dreams.
The confusion must have shown on her face, for the last two verses were left unsung. His hand continued to stroke her hair as he sighed, then offered an explanation to her uncertain gaze. "It's called Hoshi No Rarabai."
She nodded, accepting the fact that the ethereal moment of self indulgence had evaporated. Her voice cracked from not yet being used that day. "Hai. Lullaby from the stars."
He tilted his head in acknowledgement of the translation. His hand went from stroking her hair to cupping her head gently, thumb brushing the loose strands from her face. "Tang Shen used to sing it to you." Her eyes widened in surprise while Splinter's smile twisted into a wry grin. "It was the only lullaby, as a matter of a fact." Amusement was apparent in his voice as he reminisced. "I would tease her about singing the same song, over and over again. I joked that those would be the only words you would know. But she would just smile and ignore my taunting. It...it was your mother's favorite lullaby, and she wanted you to have the things that she loved. "
Her vision blurred as tears fell of their own accord. Her sinuses stung as wet tracks quickly marred her cheeks. Her mother would sing to her the very lullaby that she had envied of others. Despite her father's apparent teasing, here he was, singing the same words that her mother had meant for her. The song was popular in Japan, something sung to many children at one point or another. Yet now, it was something incredibly special. She would always know now that it was a gift, something that her mother had left for her that could never be taken away.
Calloused fingers, softened by the fabric of a handkerchief, brushed the wetness from her face. Seeing his eyes dance with their own moisture, she wondered how many of his tears had already collected in the cloth. He had it there with him for a reason, after all. She sniffled, trying to keep the dam from breaking all over again. It seemed to be one thing after another with her life, some of it horrible and some of it...amazing.
He broke their companionable quiet with a question. "Are you hungry?"
She shook her head and opened her mouth to voice a request, then shut it quickly. Perhaps too quickly. His eyes were piercing all of a sudden, as if he could see the unspoken words if only he stared hard enough. It made her uncomfortable, reminding her of the often painful and always frightening repercussions of getting caught hiding things from her father. She cringed then, having to remind herself yet again that the man she compares Splinter to is not her father. Yoshi's gaze was pointed and searching, but not angry. He knew that she was withholding, yet didn't seem to take personal insult to it. The concern on his face gave her the bravery to voice the request that she had been quick to dismiss.
"Will you finish the song, father?"
The happiness that broke across his face was worth all of the awkward apprehension. A warmth blossomed in her chest. She marveled at how something so simple, something she had never allowed herself to want, brought this man such joy. He hummed softly to find the right tune, then started from the beginning. Once the three verses were finished, he seamlessly looped back to start again. His hand stroked through her hair soothingly as his voice carried the lullaby of her mother, and she slipped back into the familiar darkness of sleep. Rather than tossing her about, however, the waves of her subconscious rocked a gentle rhythm.
Author's note: A short one, I know. There's a piece one ahead of this one already written, but it felt like it needed some working up to. The lullaby referenced is called Hoshi No Rarabai. I'm not at all familiar with Japanese lullabies and relied solely on just basic online research, but I thought that the lyrics would strike Karai the right way. I apologize for any inaccurate portrayal of the song.
