Little Bird
Chapter 24
The rest of Kaen's remaining days in her family's home went by in a flash, full of packing, receiving farewell gifts, repacking to fit the gifts she was going to take with her, unpacking to make sure that she had everything, then repacking again. And now her mother wanted to take her to have her hair done up in a traditional unmarried woman's hairstyle before she left, and Kaen still wanted to go see Jin and Bear before she left.
In truth, she felt a little guilty about how her relationship with her friends had been changing. After she had fought with her mother, Kaen had been distancing herself from the European who had once been so enthralling to her. She had grown out of her brief affection for him, but wasn't sure he had done the same… Either way, both boys had been neglected over the past two months, and Kaen wanted to at least get a chance to say goodbye before she left.
Her walk to the docks went quickly, not meeting anybody she wanted to talk to until she saw a familiar mop of pale hair.
Smiling wickedly, she crept up behind him and jumped on his back as she had always done, but knew something was different this time when he didn't laugh and toss her off. Oh, he tossed her and smiled, but he seemed unwilling to laugh with her or touch her.
"Bear?"
The tall boy looked a little past her, his eyes carefully avoiding hers.
"I'm sorry that I haven't come around very often, it's just… I'm surprised how hard it is to learn German, and pack… Lots to do, and not a lot of time to do it, you know?"
Bear nodded, understanding what she said, but still didn't look at her.
"So, what do you want now, Kaen?"
Kaen reeled at the cool voice he spoke with now, each cold word hitting her like one of the practice sword her brother and mother wielded so effectively. She shook her head, reaching out to grab his sleeve. He pulled his arm out of range and took a step back.
"I asked you what you wanted."
Kaen balled up her fists until her fingernails bit into her palms, making them bleed. She held back her anger even as rage boiled in her chest. Is that what he thought their friendship was about? Her taking whatever she wanted and never giving anything back? Yes, he had done her a few favors in the past (one including a very painful encounter with the owner of a fishing boat), but she had always paid him back…
"If you aren't going to answer me, I'm leaving."
She watched as her friend turned away from her and walked away, not even glancing over his shoulder once. Now that he wasn't looking, Kaen let herself sag a little and looked around for a place that she couldn't be seen. A place to cry without having to answer any questions…
"Kaen?"
She didn't have to look over her shoulder to know that Jin was coming toward her, no doubt almost running to catch up to her, as she had set off in a sprint in whatever direction she had been facing.
"Kaen, wait! Stop!"
She kept running toward the shadier part of town, almost straight to the house her friends Hiroshi and Yuka worked at. Jin didn't leave this time, even while his eyes scanned the people lining the street. Then, just as expected, she turned into the brightly lit house that Jin had refused to enter before.
"Please… Is Yuka available? Or Hiroshi?"
The old woman on the stool sent a maid up and looked at the redhead with concern. Her eyes turned to Jin, who became very still.
"Boy. What is this about?"
"I don't know."
Yuka and Hiroshi came down the stairs, then stopped. They had seen their friend angry, they had seen her sad, but they had never seen the look that she wore now. A look that was somewhere between despair and rage.
"Come inside little sister. Yuka, have a maid bring tea."
Jin followed the small group inside, sitting away from them.
"I only… I came to say goodbye Jin. That's all. Please go."
Jin let out a sigh, then left without a word, pausing once to glance at her just before the door rolled shut.