...
Tsubaki noticed that her mother, Ren, always acted different with Akito. When she were younger, Ren wasn't that physically affectionate however Ren wasn't exactly cold either just maybe bit distant. As years continued to go by Ren grew into a very unfamiliar person to Tsubaki. Her beloved mother changed so much that her mother basically seemed like a stranger.
It was only during Tsubaki's elementary school, when Akito was around six years old, that she realized how lonely Ren was.
Akira held Akito as Tsubaki walked beside them talking, a usually happy sight to any workers who saw them on a daily basis. Until this peaceful mundane scene was broken when Ren sudden walked towards them.
Noticing the woman's disheveled hair and clothes, Tsubaki immediately noticed that her mother was currently in not a proper state of mind.
"I'm here." Ren spoke in a low voice. Tsubaki had to actually strain her ear to hear her properly. "I'm here!" This time the woman shouted.
"Look at me! Notice me!" Ren brought her hands to her chest as she continuously looked at Akira,shouting."I'm here, Akira-san...!" Her mother sobbed as she fell on her knees.
Tsubaki turned towards her father to search for a reaction. She noticed that her father held Akito more tightly and Akito seemed frightened. However Akira's expression was what surprised Tsubaki the most. The man simply has a blank expression, his eyes held no emotion... It was simply a void.
Akira then quietly turned away from Ren and quietly walked away.
Tsubaki was torn. Herr father had told her not to get close to Ren as she was mentally ill however no child could leave their mother ,not when they were bend down, fallen to their knees ,sobbing. Tsubaki tightened herr small hand into a fist and then walked towards Ren.
"Mother…" Tsubaki said softly as she bend down. Ren did not raise her head, as she continued sobbing. The small girl then leaned forward and opened Her arms, to wrap her arms around her mother.
"Mother, I'm here... I notice you..." Maybe it was because it has been so long since Tsubaki was in her mother's presence and hugged her because right now she felt so-
*Slap*
Ren tore away from your embrace by slapping your arms away making you take a step back. "You are not the one I want! I want Akira!" Ren shouted.
Tsubaki stared in shock as her mother pushed her away. However when Tsubaki took a step back to walk away, Ren immediately rushed forward and grabbed her by the wrist. "Don't leave your mother alone, my dear Tsubaki...Don't be like Akira who simply looks at Akito."
The girl wanted to cry. Why can't this family simply love each other equally? She knew how her mother, Ren, love Akira more than her two children. She knew her father, Akira, loved his family but preferred Akito more...always mentioning how special Akito is. Tsubaki not innocent herself, she knew that she, herself, loved Akito more.
Tsubaki held her mother and then smiled. "Let's go inside, Mother. You'll get a cold if you stay outside in such thin clothing."
"Ahh..." Ren smiled. "You're looking so much like Akira-san, Tsubaki. I love you so much..." Her mother caressed her cheeks, smiling to herself.
And Tsubaki knew...The only reason her mother took care and loved her was because she resembled Akira so much and since Akira no longer looked at her, Ren was turning towards Tsubaki for consolace.
After that Akira's health seemed to go downhill pretty fast as after a few moths he couldn't even leave the bed. He no longer had strength to even walk. Every words from his mouth seemed to be so low. For Tsubaki it was quite obvious that her dear father would not be able to live very long, heck even Akito who was still very young realized that.
"Will you leave me, Father..." Akito asked as she sat by Akira's bed. Tsubaki who heard the question stopped in the middle of pouring some tea and listened, sadly.
"There is nothing to worry about, Akito" Her father's frail hands reached out to Akito. "Because I won't be leaving you. You won't be able to see me but I'll be there with you" Her father then looked at Tsubaki. "Both of you."
Tsubaki clenched her fist and bit her lower lip, trying hard not to cry. The girl then stood up and sat near Akira and smiled, a very fake smile to be honest. "Otou-san, today I taught Akito to write your name in kanji." Tsubaki chirped.
"Akito has a very beautiful handwriting." She placed her hand on Akito's head and smiled. Her eyes lit up in happiness hearing her sister's praise.
Tsubaki continued smiling and said. "The next kanji I will be teaching her is your name, Father and then Mother's ah-..." She cut yourself off. Tsubaki always tried to not bring up her mother in any conversation with her father and sister. She even made sure to always meet her mother without their knowledge.
"Its fine, Tsubaki. You are too considerate to others." Akira smiled before it disappeared and he then sighed. "Ren was supposed to be happy. After all, I am a man who will die but I will leave behind two children."
"One very kind and caring child and the other with a 'special existence'." Her father's hand slowly fell and laid by his side. "Ren and I is a proof that we're special"
"We didn't reconcile our relationship did we,Ren..." Akira's eyes slowly closed.
"Don't go yet!" Tsubaki shouted. He was dying. She quickly turned around and ran "I want you two to talk before you leave!"
However when she returned with Ren it was too late.
"Why..." Hearing her mother talk in this tone tore your heart.
"Akira-san didn't die alone" The head maid who was also present in the room, explained. "It was all very sudden. He passed away quickly and peacefully. The one who was here till the end was Akito-san. Akito-san received Akira-san's will..."
"This thing... Akira-san only used this girl as a toy to spend his spare time on." Ren shouted as she pointed at Akito.
"I'm special..."Akito's small voice could be heard.
"Akira-san would be damned! Things like toy aren't needed anymore! She is no longer necessary." Tsubaki eyes widened. She knew Ren would avoid Akito but never once did you realize that Ren spoke to Akito in such a way.
"I have a 'special existence'. I have been given an 'eternal promise' and everyone is waiting for me." Akito spoke. Her eyes looking usually dark. "I am wanted. That's what father said."
The elder sibling's legs felt weak. Till now Akito felt like her own sister but the way she was now, Tsubaki wanted to bend down and prostrate herself and simply weep. Only right now did you realize you had not treated her the way she should be treated because after all Akito is her master...Her God.
"You're confusing your father's words. You're the one who is insignificant." Ren fought back. "Bonds? Eternity? Those are all delusions and nothing will be permanent"
"I wonder when it would be broken...Yet you think everyone will love you and is waiting for you? How ridiculous-"
"Mother, I suggest you stop." Tsubaki stood in between Akito and Ren. "To think you had been talking to Akito in such a way all this times..."
"Akito" She started as she kept looking Ren in the eye. "You are not wrong. You will never be wrong. Why? Because you are God. Everything you do is right."
"As father said, you are a special child. You are more precious than anyone else." Tsubaki turned around and the sat on her knees, head low. "More precious than anyone in the room. More precious than anyone in the Sohma estate."
"And I will gladly love and serve you for eternity, Master..."
…..
"Eh?! You didn't go to any school picnics?!" Ayame exclaimed making Tsubaki nod.
The girl meet with Ayame, Hatori and Shigure when she was walking back home from her school. They went to different schools so it was quite unusual to see each other so they decided to at least walk home together.
"Why didn't you go?" Hatori asked as he looked at Tsubaki who had her head down as she kept walking forward.
"Because Akito told me not to..." Surprisingly enough it was a very valid reason for Tsubaki to not go.
"Then...How about we go somewhere together then during the weekend." Hatori suggested, smiling gently.
Tsubaki felt her heart beat faster with joy as her face slowly crept into a smile then she-
*Clang*
Akito's face appeared in her mind making her stop walking. "I-I can't..." Tsubaki's voice broke.
"Why?" Shigure asked.
"Because Akito won't allow me." This reply was followed by silence before Ayame broke it.
"Then!" Ayame exclaimed. "You don't have to ask Akito. If you don't tell Akito then you won't need to get permission."
"Your right!" Shigure said as he then approached Ayame and started praising Ayame.
"Will you be going then?" Hatori asked as he looked at Tsubaki who brought her hands towards her chest, blush on her cheeks and lips curled to a smiling.
Tsubaki tip-toed towards the door however as she hurriedly put on her shoes, a shuffle behind her made her stop.
"Where are you off to, Tsubaki-san?"
"Ahahaha…" Tsubaki nervously laughed as she turned her head to face the head n=maid behind her with a very serious expression. "I am working on a project and now I need to have it submitted by evening…"
"Really?" The tone she used made Tsubaki realize that her lie was not bought.
"Really!" With that Tsubaki rush outside so that she didn't have to explain herself anymore.
But just with one step outside her house hold, another voice was heard. "Where are you going, Tsubaki-nee?" Just with that her whole body froze.
"Akito?"
Hatori once again checked his watch as he waited for the last person, Tsubaki to arrive. Heck even Shigure was here so one can imagine how late she was. "Did she run into some difficulties?" He asked.
"Tsubaki-kun is quite a diligent person so it is unlikely that she would be late. But then again sneaking out is quite easy!" Ayame started with one of his finger on his chin.
"Man…." Shigure let out a disappointed sigh. "I was so excited that I would be able to have a proper bonding time with our Tsubaki."
"Indeed!" Ayame exclaimed. "Ever since the head of the family passed away we have been seeing her less and less."
Shigure's eyes then glimmered as he thought of a wonderful plan. "Maybe I should just dress up as a girl and start going to her school."
"Would you stop it?" Hatori rubbed his head. "I'm worried you might really do it…"
"Oh!" Shigure then exclaimed. "Don't tell me…You're jealous!"
Ayame's eyes also then widened in realization. "Ah! Sorry Tori-san! I was not considerate of my words."
Before Hatori could once again say something he was intervened by a call on his phone.
"Hello Hatori?"
Realizing who it was Hatori's face softened. "Yes, Tsubaki? Are you able to come?"
There was a brief silence before Tsubaki started speaking once again. "Sorry. You guys have fun…I won't be able to come"
…
Tsubaki then turned off her phone immediately after saying that before she began to sob. She was really hoping she could attend a picnic with her friends this time.
Before she knew it the sun had already set and she was still cramped up in her room. Her eyes were burning from all the tears.
"Tsubaki-san…Please come for dinner." A maid from the other side of the door said.
"I don't want it." She replied and once again silence engulfed her. She did not know how much time had passed but then suddenly there was a knock on her window.
Tsubaki eyebrows furrowed in confusion before walking towards the source of the sound. Standing in front of the window she gulped and then opened the window.
"Psttt"
Tsubaki looked towards the sound and found Hatori there. With her eyes widened, she opened her window wider and leaned forward. "Hatori, what are you doing here?"
Hatori laughed nervously before tilting his head. "Come outside…"
"Huh?" Tsubaki question but nonetheless she still jumped out of the window. That's when she noticed a soft mat below her making her give Hatori a confused glance.
Hatori suddenly leaned forwards rather than answering, and then cupped her face. "You're injured…" Hatori noticed a scratch mark on the left side of her face.
"Ah…It's nothing..."
Hatori sighed. "It was caused by Akito wasn't it?"
Tsubaki did not reply but rather just smiled. Hatori frowned. Of course, Tsubaki would never blame Akito.
Tsubaki tilted her head before she started. "Are you even going to explain why you're here?"
Hatori pulled away and the pulled out a basket which was behind him. The then opened it and took out the contents. A bento box, a flask, dangos and many more.
Tsubaki's eyes glimmered in awe. "What's this?"
Hatori then brightly smiled. "We are going to have a picnic here." He continued. "We had all the things needed for a picnic here and to add on there is a cherry blossom just by your room. That is all you need to enjoy a picnic, Tsubaki."
Tsubaki's lips wobbled before tears started forming. "Thank you, Hatori! This really means a lot!"
"Shhhh!" Hatori put a finger near his mouth, trying to quite her down. "Ahhh… Come on now. Stop crying…" Hatori pulled his sleeve and the started wiping her tears.
That night was filled with tears and the quiet laughter's where by the two children ended up staying there enjoying simply each other's presence. Tsubaki watched Hatori share a certain incident with Ayame at school making her laugh, as a fond smile adored her facing as she kept looking at Hatori.