Shinjuro slid open the shoji of his home and called out to his two sons, the small girl at his side.
"Kyojuro! Senjuro! I have someone I would like you to meet!" The eldest of the boys, 11 year old Kyojuro, came racing into the main living space, red and gold eyes burning with excitement. His much younger brother, 4 year old Senjuro, toddled behind him. The young girl slid behind the taller man, grasping onto his flame haori shyly.
"It's alright little one, no need to be frightened. You are safe here." She cast her eyes to the floor and allowed the eldest son to approach her. Ruka entered the room and sat down next to Senjuro, feeling a bit winded from the walk to the living quarters. She watched as her eldest gently approached the girl with a big bright smile.
"Hello! Im Rengoku Kyojuro! What's your name?" He asked. The girl continued to stare at the floor.
A confused expression flitted across the little boy's face for a moment before finally the girl spoke.
"I….I don't have one." She said softly. Everyone was taken aback by that small statement.
"You don't have a name? Well, what did people call you before?" Kyojuro asked, head tilted to the side.
The girl picked at the hem of her torn sleeve.
"Worthless...trash."
Kyojuro looked immediately stricken. He sucked in a deep breath through his nose, went rigid and plastered a wide fake smile on his lips and ground his teeth behind it.
"Well that won't do! Let's change that! Lets see...your hair is white like snow. Maybe Yuki? Shiro?" He laid his index finger on his chin in thought. At that moment, she allowed her eyes to meet his and he was immediately transfixed by the shape and color.
"Haname." He said softly.
Shinjuro tossed a glance to his wife who merely smiled and nodded.
"Your name is going to be Haname now, okay?" He took her tiny hand in his, a huge smile on his face.
"And one day ill make you my bride, so you'll never have to be sad again! That's a promise Haname!"
A light dusting of a blush swept across Haname's face and she nodded.