The following morning…
"Here's your lunches." Ayame handed her husband and son their lunch boxes since they would be out training most of the day.
Both thanked her with a smile.
"See you by dinner time." Shiden added.
"I'll go wake Kasumi then."
"Mother, she's in my room. But maybe you should let Kasumi sleep in a little today? She wasn't sleeping much last night due to the thunderstorm."
Ayame thought for a second, "Alright."
When Kasumi woke up about an hour later, she noticed how quiet it was in the house. She searched every room but no one was home. In the kitchen her breakfast was already prepared with a note next to her plate. She rushed to read it and it was from her mother, explaining that she was out running some errands and that she would be home soon.
Something like a rush of adrenaline sliced through Kasumi. She lifted her plate and shove a few bites of her breakfast inside her mouth, then ran to the bathroom to brush her teeth and to put her casual attire on, hurried to the front door, put on her slippers and then ran out the house as fast as she could.
While running, she could feel the warmth of the sun touching her skin. Kasumi looked up to the sky with a light smile. The weather was gorgeous despite how it had rained heavily just the night before and there were also paddles on the road due to that. The sweet and fresh morning fragrance of the forest and the birds chattered in the trees were like music to her ears.
Once at her destination, her feet paused and a bright smile lit up her entire face when she saw Ryu again. He was fishing peacefully as usual. Though Kasumi couldn't help but wonder what his deal was and how come he goes to that spot every day. But now that they had already talked to each other, she didn't feel as weird to approach him. As Kasumi took a few steps forward to go over to him, that's when another person suddenly appeared and hopped onto the boulder where Ryu was sitting and lowered herself next to him. Caught off guard, Kasumi stepped back with a wondering frown.
Who is that girl?
She looked about the same age as him, well she didn't really know Ryu's age but he couldn't be that much older than her brother. Kasumi stood there for a moment, watching them.
…
"You do realize there's a strange kid behind watching us, right?"
"Yeah." Ryu casually replied.
"Do you know her?"
"No." He replied again.
The girl then giggled. "Maybe she has a crush on you but too shy to come over to talk to you…"
That's when Ryu turned to look at Kasumi, sending her to startle at his sudden gaze. Unsure what to do, Kasumi quickly turned around and ran away from the area.
The girl began laughing when she saw Kasumi running away. "Poor kid, she must've felt so embarrassed."
Ryu drew a side glare at her, somewhat a little annoyed at the girl for laughing at Kasumi.
…
On the way home, Kasumi kicked small rocks on the road breathing out heavy sigh a few times.
Was that girl his friend? Sister? Cousin? Girl friend? Why do I care?
A mild rush of disappointment washes over her.
Back at the gate of the Mugen Tenshin, the guards looked suspiciously as Kasumi approached the gate closer and so she tried to act as casual possible.
"Stop there." They told. "We didn't see you go out earlier, Lady Kasumi…did you sneak out again?"
"Of course, I didn't. I was out with father and Hayate and watched them train, but the weather got so warm and I decided to go home."
Kasumi studied their expression to see if they believe her but they didn't look so convinced and her heart pounded a little…
"Did your father give his permission for you to walk home alone?"
"Are you calling me a liar, sir?" Kasumi boldly raised her head with her daring eyes set on them.
The guards looked at each other briefly. "No…no that's not what we…just go ahead, Lady Kasumi."
"Thank you." She smiled to them and proceeded inside the gate, chest tightening with guilt at the same time, as annoyed as she was about everyone being overly protective of her, it didn't feel good for her to deceive the guards who were just doing their job.
Once back inside, Kasumi then began skipping and humming happily into a random song. At the market nearby, something caught the corner of her eyes. So red and shiny... she hurried to the fruit stand.
"One apple please." Kasumi ordered while searching for her allowance in her pocket.
"Here, this one is on me Lady Kasumi." The man handed her a free one.
"I'm afraid I can't accept it." She smiled and handed the man money, as she didn't want any special treatment.
On the way home, Kasumi saw a small road she didn't knew existed that stretched barely into the village. She moved closer towards it and it looked like a lonely road. She gazed that way with a curious frown. After a great deal of hesitation, Kasumi decided to go see where it would lead to.
A few minutes in, she could hear the flowing river in the distance. That made her more curious and she began running a little to look even closer. The noise increased violently once Kasumi approached closer.
"A waterfall?" Kasumi's mouth parted and her eyes widened. "Cool…"
There seemed to be nobody around so she could explore in peace. It looked like a small lake with boulders rose out of the water like the bows of a sunken fleet. A deep sense of serenity overcame her as Kasumi stared at the spectacular sight. The water was turquoise color and so clear. Strange how come there was nobody there since it was such a beautiful place, Kasumi thought to herself. She then knelt closer and dipped her fingers to feel the temperature of the water. A small giggle escaped her as she watched the water moves softly around, caressing her fingers coolly.
Her heart sunk into her stomach without a warning at the strange sobbing noise nearby. Kasumi couldn't identify where it was coming from as she turned to look around her. Is someone crying? But there was nobody there. Confused, Kasumi searched for the sound. She slowly marched over towards a tree where she felt the sound might have come from and slightly walked around it to peek.
"Hi there…" Kasumi approached rather carefully.
A little girl with her knees up to her chest was sobbing indeed. The sound of Kasumi's voice sent her to panic as she got up to run away but stumbled back down to the ground, crossing her arms across her face, shaking in fear.
"It's okay, don't be afraid…" Kasumi was puzzled of why the girl seemed so terrified, acting as if she would beat her or something. Did she look that scary to her?
"Why are you crying?" Kasumi asked wanting to comfort her somehow.
She looked so little and her clothes was full of dirt. Kasumi's eyes then tracked to the girl's leg while tears kept flooding her eyes…there was an ugly scratch to one of her knees. Instinctively, Kasumi hurried to her in concerned.
"I won't hurt you, okay? I'm just going to see." Kasumi said so softly and knelt to look closer.
A vague weariness shadowed the girl's entire face at Kasumi's presence.
"Did you fall?" Kasumi asked.
The girl nodded light. There was still a flicker of panic across her face.
But then something came to Kasumi's mind and she reached inside her pocket. "I think you need this more than I do right now." She said with a caring smile as she placed the band aid onto the wound.
Kasumi then drew her pants up to her knee to show the girl the same scratch wound of her own. "See, I got this yesterday…guess that what happens when we're not careful huh?" giggling slightly as she said it.
The girl frowned at the sight.
"And I didn't just fall…I was rolling down a hill." Kasumi rolled her eyes and placed her palm on her temple at the embarrassing thought. "Do you know what else?"
The girl shook her head, eyes filled with curiosity then.
"I fell down in front of a cute boy. So embarrassing…"
Kasumi was sure she heard a tiny giggle and she looked back at the girl. "Are you hungry?"
She looked away shyly from Kasumi for a moment.
"Here, you can have this apple."
The girl carefully accepted the apple, but she only stared at it…
"You don't like apples?"
The girl drew out a kunai knife and sliced the apple in two, then handed the other half to Kasumi.
They then sat in comfortable silence enjoying their lunch. Kasumi turned sideways and studied the little girl. She noticed how she couldn't see her eyes properly due to the long bang covering them.
"What's your name by the way?"
The girl looked hesitant and stayed silent.
"You don't talk much do you?" Though Kasumi was starting to wonder if she could talk at all.
The girl suddenly took Kasumi by her hand and led her to the sand area near the waterfall lake. She then searched for something…Kasumi only stood and watched curiously. The girl came back with a stick and began writing something on the sand.
Kasumi focused at the letters, "A-ya-ne…" she looked at the girl for confirmation. "Your name is, Ayane?"
The girl nodded.
"Wah, so cute. Your name is almost the same as my mother's name." Kasumi chuckled soft in amusement. "I'm Kasumi."
Ayane only smiled at that.
"How old are you, Ayane?"
Ayane lifted her hands and began counting with her fingers. She showed Kasumi six fingers.
"You're six and you already know how to write, you are smart. Hayate still doesn't know how to read and write properly and he's twelve." Kasumi burst into a laugh of mockery. "But in his defense, Hayate is more of street type smart not book smart."
Ayane looked confused.
"Oh, Hayate is my big brother." Kasumi explained. "Do you have siblings?"
Ayane shook her head.
For the next hour, Ayane seemed to be more comfortable around Kasumi. Both girls hang out and played in the water. But Kasumi was careful not to get too wet and tried to keep the water at her knee level only. They were fascinated by the clear water where they could see many different fishes in it. Ayane taught Kasumi on how to try and catch them with her bare hands. Even though they both failed but they enjoyed the fun of the challenge.
The day passed in a blur and Kasumi realized she had been away for too long and it was already evening time. Ayane didn't want Kasumi to leave but she promised to come back and play with her again soon. Both girls then waved each other goodbye and separated ways.
…
Once back home, Kasumi carefully peeked inside of every corner of the house, she was relief to find that her mother hadn't come home yet. Only a few seconds later, the front door made a creak opening sound. That was close… Kasumi then rushed over to her mother and helped carry one of the heavy grocery bags and put it somewhere in the kitchen.
"What a kind child, thank you." Ayame smiled lovingly.
Short after, her father and Hayate also arrived back just in time for dinner.
"I'm dead…" Hayate whined, tired from hard training.
Ayame only smiled at that. "Sorry I took so long, Kasumi. I hope you were alright being home alone?"
A guilty smile stretched across Kasumi's lips. "I'm a big girl mother, I have been sleeping the entire day anyway."
But then she noticed Hayate pulling a suspicious face at her. His eyes lowered and eye brow raised at her feet…Kasumi looked down at her feet as well, noticing the left-over sand from when she was playing with Ayane, she swallowed an anxious lump when her gaze met Hayate's gaze that were set strict on hers.
"Why don't you two go wash up while I prepare dinner." Ayame told her children.
Kasumi first walked slowly back to her room, then sped up her pace when Hayate followed right behind her.
"Liar, liar, liar!" Hayate growled to her ears from behind.
Kasumi only rolled her eyes at that.
That annoyed Hayate as he then took her by her wrist and spun her around.
"What is your problem, Hayate?"
He got close to her face. "You went out of the village again, didn't you?"
"Just leave me alone alright?" She yanked off his hold and continued to her room but Hayate still followed.
"Did you go see that boy again?" He kept on nagging. "If you keep this up, I will tell on you Kasumi."
Kasumi stepped inside her bedroom, gave her brother a final furious glance, "You're such a BAKA!" then slammed the door in his face.
Outside, Hayate clenched his teeth in anger. "What did you just call me?!" He shouted through her door.
"Go away!" He heard Kasumi told from the inside.
Hayate then went inside his own bedroom slightly slamming his own door.
At dinnertime the tension was thick around the air between the siblings, something both Ayame and Shiden noticed.
"Is everything alright with you two?" Their mother asked.
As Hayate took a big chunk of rice with his chopstick he replied, "I'm alright but I'm not sure about Kasumi."
"Hayate, don't speak with your mouth full of food." Shiden told.
Across the table, Kasumi sent Hayate a glare of annoyance.
"Now, if any of you had done each other wrong, you have to apologize and sort things out." Their mother tried to settle in peace.
"I'm not apologizing to a liar." Hayate rolled his eyes as he took another bite of his dinner.
"Whatever this is, we can settle it after dinner." Shiden told again.
After a brief of silence, Ayame tried to lighten up the mood. "So, anything exciting happening with any of you this week?" Her children bickering wasn't really a new thing in their household, sometimes they buttheads just like any other siblings.
Something in Kasumi's eyes brightened and excited to share something. "I made a new friend toda…I mean, recently."
"That's nice. Tell us more…" Ayame encouraged.
"Stalking a boy like a creep doesn't count as making friend silly." Hayate mused.
"Shut up, big brother. Just so you know, my friend is a girl not a boy."
"Don't tell me to shut up liar."
"I'm not a liar!"
"What's her name then, huh?"
Their parents tried to interrupt to make them stop but it didn't seem to work when childish anger rose in both their children.
"Her name is, Ayane."
Ayame and Shiden's eyes gliding anxiously towards each other…
Hayate laughed, "Now you're just making up stuff."
"She is real! she has purple hair."
Hayate frowned at his sister ridiculously, looking at Kasumi as if there was something seriously wrong with her. He knew most kids in that village and he didn't recall anyone with purple hair. "Mother, maybe you should take Kasumi to check her head, it's not normal for a ten-year-old to still be playing with imaginary friends."
"Enough!" Shiden then finally raised his voice at both, startling Kasumi and Hayate when their father's patience breaching its limits.
Kasumi got up and ran away from the table upset, eyes teary, wondering why her brother was being so mean to her.
The room fell into an immediate uncomfortable silent…
Hayate's throat tightening at the angry stare his father was giving him. Then Hayate looked away and kept his gaze down in a surrendering kind of look, as he knew he had screwed up.
Shiden kept on glaring at him…but soon shook his head in disappointment and shifted his gaze to his wife whose eyes had lowered in sadness. Hayate waited to get yelled at, but Shiden in a frighteningly low calm voice instead excused his son from the table and he was told to go to bed early.
Later that same night, another storm hit the village. Hayate awoke by the loud sound of thunder. Then he heard light footsteps making creaking sounds right outside of his bedroom door. He frowned at the sound that had suddenly stopped. He waited for Kasumi to get inside his room because he knew it was her and how afraid she was of thunder. But she never came, and he heard her bedroom door closed.
A wave of guilt strikes his chest knowing Kasumi hesitated to feel safe to come to him when she was scared. He didn't really blame her as he did act like a jerk towards her that evening. He considered taking his pillow and go into her room instead…but on a second thought, he was thinking maybe it was time for Kasumi to grow up a little too. That maybe it was good for her to face her fear that night. Kasumi needed to learn to not rely on him, as there would come a time where he wouldn't be able to be there for her and she would have to face her problems on her own.