Wavering Trust

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Chapter 4

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By Yurameki

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Enishi watched as the small girl practiced her kenjitsu. There were scrolls scattered around her. He had once asked her what they were for. When he did he immediately regretted asking seeing her smile sadly bothered him.

"They are my father's notes. I'm trying to perfect what he had practicing so that when he comes back he can be proud."

After that he tried to avoid anymore questions regarding her parents. It had been five days since he had arrived at the dojo. He didn't know why he had stayed for long. All he knew was that he didn't want her to be alone. He had learned that she wasn't the polite and innocent little girl he thought she was. On the contrary, she was quite rude sometimes and would mouth off to him. Sometimes their arguments would last for hours but in the end she would apologize and flash him her smile and all would be set right in that instant.

However, the young boy was becoming anxious. He needed to see his sister and do his job. She could take care of herself but he still needed to watch over her. Sighing in resignation he decided that this time for sure he would leave. Turning away from her he walked out of the dojo to prepare his things for the following day.

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"Kaoru-chan, what's wrong?"

The small girl looked up to meet her mother's eyes. She shook her head, "Nothing, okaasan. Just thinking."

Her mother smiled. "You shouldn't think bad things little one. You can tell me anything, you know that, right?"

Kaoru returned her mother's soft smile. "I know." A few moments of silence passed before she spoke again. "When is otousan coming home?"

The woman slowly raised her hand to cup her daughter's cheek. "When the war is over he will return."

"Then we can start training again."

Her laugh sounded like small bells, soft and melodious. "Yes, then you can start training again. You have been doing that yourself, haven't you?"

Small blue eyes blinked in surprise. "How did you know?"

"A mother knows things, Kaoru-chan. Besides just because I'm sick doesn't mean I'm deaf. I could hear you practicing all the way over here."

She blushed. "Well, I just wanted to show otousan that I can be strong too."

Her mother's hand caressed her cheek again. "Oh, little one, he knows. He knows."

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There wasn't much he owned. Everything he had could fit into a small satchel. It would be a long journey for him and he had already wasted enough time.

Enishi sighed as he pushed the small bag aside and began to clear the room that had been his for a few days. He would leave today. A small part of him wanted to stay but the need to be with his sister was much stronger. He needed to watch over her.

The hard part would be telling his new housemate that he was leaving. He stared blankly at the wall wondering how he would tell her.

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It was late afternoon already and soon it would be dark, too dangerous for any normal child to be traveling by himself but he didn't care. Enishi watched her as she practiced. Her face was filled with determination, something he had come to admire like the many other things about her. She was so different from his neesan.

He clutched the bag tightly as he approached the dojo, his heart beating faster than normal. He froze in mid-stride when she turned her blue gaze towards him.

"Enishi-kun?" she asked curiously as she lowered her shinai.

"I'm leaving," he blurted out. It came out colder than he wanted but maybe that was for the best.

Kaoru walked towards him, a sad smile playing on her lips. "You're finally going to go see your oneesan, ne?"

He nodded.

"I was wondering when you were. Your a good brother, I wish I had a sibling just like you," she said whistfully. "She's lucky."

His eyes stayed on her but he remained silent.

"She must be worried about you," she said as she nudged the ground with her weapon.

His expression remained blank as he studied her for the last time.

"Do you have everything?"

He nodded.

"I'll never see you again, will I?" She said

"Probably not," he said trying to meet her gaze when she would not.

She picked at the ground with her shinai. "Will you be ok? By yourself, I mean."

"I'm used to it."

"Oh, well you better get going then, before it gets dark."

He nodded and turned to leave. She watched as walked down the dirt path, his small form becoming disappearing by the second. Her lips became a thin line and her eyes hardened. Quickly she ran into the dojo and grabbed what she needed and ran to him with all her might.

The small boy stopped in his tracks hearing her loud steps slamming against the ground towards him. He felt her small hand on his shoulder and turn him almost forcefully towards her. His eyes widened as he gazed at her flushed face gasping for breath.

"You," she gasped. "You ... here ..." She said as she shoved a bokken at him. "Just ... in ... case."

Enishi looked at her then to the weapon. A small smile appeared on his lips as he took the gift. "Thank you," he said.

Kaoru nodded happily as she straightened up. "We will meet again."

He placed his hand on top of her head and ruffled her hair but said nothing.

"Be careful, and take care of your oneesan."

He smiled again and stepped away from her. "I know and thank you."

She watched as he began to walk away, this time it was real. She meant what she had said, they would meet again.

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Night flooded the cities of Japan as snow poured down on those living beneath the heavens.

In one city a solitary child hid in fear. A look of horror on his face as his precious sibling was stripped away from him, with her a part of his being. Blood covered the pure white snow as he witnessed the life seeping out of his sister's mortally wounded body. His eyes glazed over as his hair became as white as the snow falling around him. His face contorted into a sickening expression of rage. Silently he swore to avenge his dear sister. He vowed to be strong.

Miles away a small girl grieved just like the boy. She sat and watched the snow fall silently with tears blurring her sight. She too made a vow not so unlike the boy. She had lost a part of herself as well and she promised to be strong as her parents had taught her to be.

They suffered the same pain alone and a world apart.

TBC