Chapter 16: Remember
Emi was braiding her little sisters' hair. The twins were always a struggle to get ready. She was only eight, but after their mother passed away a few months back, she had stepped up to help the twins. The braids weren't the best, but Emi was in a hurry. She wanted to get to the academy. Grabbing her little sisters' hands, Emi lead the way to the dining room where their father was having tea with uncle Murakumo.
"Tell me the reason your Id never took control. Why did father treat you special, elder brother? Tell me, and I'll change my ways. I'll stop pushing."
"I'll say nothing. The past is the past. Our children should not suffer training they cannot endure, just so you can be wealthy again. If you insist on forcing our children to overwork themselves, they'll fall faster to the Id personality. And I won't stand and watch. I will leave the village. You have until nightfall." Father said standing up. The three sisters shared a sad look. If they left the village they couldn't be ninjas. Uncle Mura stormed from the room, past the girls. Father followed him out and stopped to smile at the girls.
"Ready to learn?" he beamed. He was the best father ever. Even though he passed the offer of village leader, he still looked out for the other kids. Emi loved him dearly, and told him often.
"DADDY! SHIO PULLED MY HAIR!" Sayuri wailed. Masanori bent down and kissed the top of Sayuri's head.
"Shio. Be a good girl okay. You know better. If you behave, we can play ball later" The man stated patting the blue haired child's head. Shio's black eyes went wide with excitement. Emi looked at the pain hidden in her father's eyes. She felt the same way when she looked at Shio. The older twin looked almost exactly like their mother. While Sayuri's features were more like their fathers. Emi still didn't understand what being fraternal meant exactly.
Later that day the three sisters were waiting outside the academy. Their father was late, and it was a long walk home to go alone. Over the hill, a familiar face appeared. It was Uncle Unkai. The girls ran to him.
"Hello girls, your father was busy. How about we spoil your dinner with some Dango, as punishment for leaving you here so long?" Unkai smiled. The three girls cheered. Unkai always gave them treats. They enjoyed their Dango as the skipped and played the whole way home. When they arrived back to their village the girls stopped. Everyone was yelling and arguing. Unkai rushed them home and told them to stay inside. Emi took charge and got the twins started on homework and started to make dinner. About 2 hours later, their father finally came home, worn down. Emi quickly got him a cup of tea. He accepted it with a smile. He pulled his older daughter into his lap and hugged her.
"Is everything going to change now father?" Emi asked worried. Masanori squeezed her tighter.
"I'm afraid so dear"
It happened later that night. The girls had only been asleep for a few hours, when their father came into the room. He shook them all awake and wrapped them in their brown traveling cloaks. Emi saw looks of confusion and panic on the twins face. She couldn't blame them. She felt it too. As their father walked them through the house she grabbed the photo album from the table in the hall. She clung to it, as if the pictures would carry all the memories from the house with her. Sayuri started to cry, and Emi quickly pulled her into a hug.
"Its okay sissy, it's like an adventure. It'll be lots and lots of fun I promise!" Emi tried to smile but the tears were already forming in her own eyes. Shio was trailing behind, eyes to the floor. She touched everything they walked by. As if one touch would help ingrain every memory of their mother in their head. Shio had always been the closest to their late mother. When they made it to the front door, they all pulled their hoods up. When they got to the edge of town, they stopped. Masanori turned back, but only for a second. One second to cause panic and confusion. Activating the family Kekkei Genkai, Masasnori cast a genjutsu, and cause the village to become engulfed in flames. People burst from the doors and windows, screaming. Emi was horrified. Everything they loved covered in orange flames. Shion, their cousin spotted them and tried to use a genjutsu against their father, only it hit Emi instead. In the jutsu, a sword was thrust through Emi's chest. Had Shion been stronger, older, or properly trained, it would have killed her. Instead, it just left her feeling hollow. They had no home, no family, and nowhere to go.
Back to present time, Emi collapsed to the floor. Her entire life was a lie.