Chapter 6
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After breakfast the next morning, Hiro announces that he's going back to the old well. He wants to see how deep it is. Tadashi, forgetting for one moment that he's angry with Hiro, remembers the rashes on littleotōto's palms- the scrapes on his knees, and warns him that the well is dangerous. In another circumstance, Tadashi feels that maybe his little brother would have been a little relieved to have them speaking to each other again. Right then, however, Hiro only looks annoyed, a grimace marring his soft features. But Aunt Cass agrees with Tadashi and suggests that Hiro just stay within the confines of the house and garden.
"Why don't you explore?" She asks, handing the littlest nephew a pencil and paper. "You know, count the windows and doors. Or how many color flowers there are...We're going to be here a while. Might as well get familiar."
Hiro leaves with a grumble of, "fine" and a fat calico cat on his heels. Tadashi thinks to have Baymax tail him as well, but then remembers his bot's slow toddle and realizes that energetic Hiro would not have the patience to wait for him. Tadashi adds to his notes that a faster bot would make a better healthcare companion in emergency situations, then keeps Baymax deactivated in his charging station. He informs Aunt Cass of the robot's presence should she have any need or trouble in the kitchen before he takes his leave.
Hiro seems dedicated to his task, as throughout the day Tadashi can see him in the corner of his eye studying the very structure and shape, basic architecture of the Pink Palace. He had always been precise in his work, with a keen eye for any and all detail. While the youngest went off on his own, Tadashi went off to the garden for fresh air to see Mrs. Anna Bjorgman tending to the many tulips. He takes his seat next to her on the soil. "Would you like some help?"
Anna jumps, then laughs, "I would love the help, thank you."
Minutes later Tadashi has on his lucky hat to block out the sun from his eyes and a pair of gloves to keep his hands clean. He doesn't have to do much talking; Anna fills the still air with her chatter. "Excuse me, I heard about your burns- we wouldn't want them to get infected! I actually know this man in town who makes his own treatment. I'd be glad to pick some up for you! Oaken is a good friend of mine and would probably give me a discount."
Because the skin of his hands are still a bit blistered and sensitive, she only has him to hold things, or water, or prune off wilted leaves. "I'm sorry I left so rudely the other night. I just have some bad memories of that house, is all. I tend to get anxious. I'm not typically such a paranoid person, you know."
Tadashi has no idea what she's talking about.
"I had an older sister when I lived here. Elsa. She was a little younger than Hiro. Oh, I remember her being so beautiful!" She gets that same wistful look she had on the night they'd arrived.
I had an older sister. She was a little younger. I remember her being- was this sister of hers...
"I wish I'd gotten to know her better. She spent a lot of her time alone. A quiet girl." Anna looks him dead in the eye and it scares him so terribly he has to pause or he'll flood her vegtables.
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"Elsa! Come out and play jump rope with me!" Elsa ignored the elated cries of the little strawberry-haired sister that shook her shoulder, wanting to stay put in the little blue family room, closest to the little door. Blue was her favorite color. She mumbled softly, brushing out the lose platnium locks of the button-eyed doll, "Anna, I'm busy."
"Whoa." Anna crooned down the collar of Elsa's fine blue jacket. "Where did you get that? It looks just like you."
"I found it by the well."
"...It's creepy" young Anna blurted, suddenly uneasy. "And I thought you were 'too old for dolls'."
She watched her older sister shrug before twisting the doll's hair into a tight bun identical to her own.
"She disappeared the summer she turned twelve."
...dead?
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