I know I know it's really short. But I have spring break this week so maybe my creative juices will work better. Hey I not promising anything. But since my mom is limiting my tv I mite have time to write more. Sorry it took so long. I hate sophomore year. It's so freakin hard. Especially with ur parents getting all over ur case because of grades. So yeah I hope u enjoy it. I said it before and I saying it again. Well I'll probably juss put it on all the chapters. Ages mite not match with before chapters or original stories. I have short memory and I can't keep track sometimes. So if it's wrong tell me I'll correct it. And thank you. So yeah disclaimers yadda yadda yadda alrite read on.
Kimiko woke up the next day, finding Nakago gone already. "Where did Na-chan go?" she wondered aloud. She got out of bed and sleepily rubbed her eyes as she squinted at the bright sunlight coming through the window. She walked over to her little bag to get some clothes and found a note lying beside it. "Mou! Na-chan forgot that I can't read very much." She grumbled, as she turned the note this way and that. She glared at it as if challenging it to speak or something, after about 5 minutes of glaring at the note she changed and walked into the corridor. She kept on walking until she found some guards standing around in the hallway. "Ano can you read this to me?" she asked one of them, holding up her note. The guard ignored her, and continued talking to his friend. Kimiko tugged on his shirt, "Ano can you help me read this?" she asked again. "Go away, gaki." The guard said swinging his arm around and shoving her away. Kimiko stumbled backwards. "Oii! You shouldn't hit children, especially girls!" a voice shouted from the side. The guard turned angrily, but then paled. "H-h-hai." He said frightenedly, and walked quickly down the hall almost in a run. Kimiko turned toward the voice and was surprised to see a 12 year old boy standing there.
"Who are you?" she asked. "Who am I?!" the boy asked incredulously. "H-h-hai. You must be somebody since that guard was very afraid of you." She said honestly. The boy looked at her in surprise, but his face slowly turned to smile. "So you, you don't know who I am?" he asked. "Iie." Kimiko said shaking her head. "My name's Van." He said with a grin, sticking his hand out. Kimiko shook it tentatively, wondering who this person was. "And?…" she trailed off, looking for the answer to her question. "O let's just say my father has a high position here, so I command a little respect." He said. "Honto? Na-chan doesn't even have a high position here." She said. "Na-chan?" he asked. "H-hai. He's my best friend in the whole wide world." She said enthusiastically. The boy laughed. "So you don't know how to read?" he asked looking at the note in her hand. Kimiko looked down, a little embarrassed. "H-hai. I never learned how to read before." She said looking at the ground. "Here, I'll read it for you." He said grabbing the paper. His eyes scanned over the sheet. "It just says to go to help obaasan, and he'll pick you up later and you can go play. Signed Na-chan." He said, handing her back the sheet. "Obaasan? Hmm Obaasan? Ooo I have to go help Maria-san." She said, about to take off down the hallway, to get to the kitchen. The boy grabbed her arm before she took off. "Oii. Chotto. You're obviously new here. Do you even know where you're supposed to go?" he asked. Kimiko froze, and turned sd, scratching her head. "Hehe. Uhh iie." She said scratching her head. Van sweatdropped.
Van dropped her off in front of the kitchen. "What's your name?" he asked before she went in. "Kimiko, but you can call me Kimi-chan." She said happy that she found a new friend. "Ano Kimi-chan would you like me to teach you how to read and stuff?" he asked. "Suuuree. That would be great!" she said jumping on him and hugging him. Van blushed and put her down. "Ok ok, I'll meet you in the courtyard, well actually since you don't know your way I'll just pick you up here when lunch is over." He said. "Demo I don't know when Maria-san will let me off." Kimiko said. "It's ok I'm sure this Maria-san will let you off." Van said. "O. ok. Arigatou Van-kun." She said, skipping into the kitchen, while calling over her shoulder. Van sighed and started down the corridor, happy that he had made a new friend today. Well at least a real friend.
"Maria-san! Ohaiyo!" Kimiko said walking in. "Ohaiyou Kimi-chan." Maria said looking up from the duck she was roasting. "Ano before I start working, can I get off after lunch?" Kimiko asked. "Why?" Maria asked curiously. "Well, I met a new friend today, and he said to meet him after we finish up with lunch here." Kimiko said. Maria thought for a moment. Kimi-chan has no friends here, it would be good for her to get at least a semi normal childhood like other kids, not to mention she might turn out all icy like Nakago if he's the only one she hangs out with. She thought. "Hai, but you have to work hard before you go." Maria said pointing a finger to some dirty dishes. "Hai, hai." Kimiko said, rolling up her sleeves. Kimiko stared at the never ending pile of dirty dishes that seemed to go on and on forever. She sighed as she started to scrub the first one.
"Oii Kimi-chan!" Van said waving at her. She was sitting outside of the kitchen, with her arms crossed in front of her and her back leaning on the wall. "What's wrong?" he asked when he saw she was holding her arms. "Soooo many dishes. And I had to clean every single one of them." She said. "My arms hurt now." She continued. "Daijoubu. It will go away soon." He said encouragingly. "Now come on, I'll show you my secret place." He said grabbing one of her arms. The two children entered an overgrown part of the gardens, that was overgrown with weeds and vines, almost looking like a forest. Van showed Kimi-chan a secret path to go in, so that they wouldn't get hurt by the thorns and burs on the plants. After a while they entered a clearing. It was very pretty, a stump that you could use for a seat, the grass was cut short, there were a few flowers here and there, and many other things. "This is my secret place. I come here when I want to get away from everybody." Van said. "Waahh sugoii! It's just like a secret hiding place, which nobody knows about." She said excitedly. Van sweatdropped. "That's the point." He said, "Demo you can not tell anybody about this place, not even your Na-chan." He said. "I can't tell Na-chan? But I tell him everything." She said. "You can't." he said firmly. "Hai. I promise I will never tell anyone about this place." She said. "Yosha! Now let's get started with your learning. I brought some books and paper…"
"Where is she?!" Nakago asked pacing up and down in their room. He looked at the light outside. It was almost dusk and she still wasn't back. She was supposed to wait for me, in the kitchen. Not go wandering off with a stranger that she just met today. He thought angrily. What if she got hurt or what if that stranger did something to her or what if what if… these little thoughts kept nagging him in his mind. The door opened. "Where have you been?!" he asked half worried and half angry. "I was out playing Na-chan." Kimiko said confused, she had never seen him this angry before. "Out playing! Do you know what time it is young lady? Not to mention that you were supposed to wait for me in the kitchen." He said forcefully. "But did you remember, no no you went off with some stranger, who you just met today. Do you even know this person?" he asked, rebuking her. "N-na-chan I was just trying to have some fun. I haven't had any kids around my age in a long long time and I never get to play with them." She started crying, at Nakago's fierce tone. The tears seemed to subside his anger. "Cho-chotto, chotto stop crying. I didn't mean it. I was just worried." He said, patting her on the back. "Honto?" she asked not quite believing he wasn't mad at her anymore. Nakago forced a smile. "Hai." He said. "Demo who is this person and where did you go to?" he asked. "I went out with Van-kun and he's 12. Ano, I can't tell you where we went because it's a secret and I promised I wouldn't tell, you know how I feel about liars." She said. "But you always tell me everything." He said trying to pry some more info out of her. She crossed her arms. "Zettai iie. I promised and I don't break my promises." She said adamantly. "Well are you sure he's ok? I want to meet this friend of yours." Nakago said. "Na-chan. Come on it's not like he's a serial killer or anything. And I know I'm not supposed to tell anyone my powers so you don't have to be worried about that." She said exasperatedly. "Fine fine. But I still want to meet this friend of yours." Nakago said pouting slightly.
"Ooiii Kimi-chan!" Van yelled from down the hall, as she walked towards the kitchen. "Ohaiyou Van-kun!" she said waving her hand energetically. "What are you doing today?" he asked. "I have to go stay in the kitchen until Na-chan picks me up. He was kind of angry yesterday when I came home late." She said with a slight frown. "You don't have to, it's not like he's your dad or anything rite?" Van asked. "Iie. But he, I dunno. He just doesn't like me out of his sight for too long I guess." She said. "If you ask me he's too uptight. Let's go play today. I'll show you around the palace." He said excitedly. "Demo, I have to go work in the kitchen." Kimiko protested. "It's ok. I'll have you back in plenty of time before your Na-chan picks you up." Van said, grabbing her hand. "Well, demo Maria-san will tell him I was late." She said. "Just tell them you got lost." Van replied. "Demo that's lying!" Kimiko said shocked. "What if I told them that you got lost." Van said. "But Van-kun that would make you a liar. I don't like liars or lying." Kimiko said. Van grinned at her innocence. "You're too naive Kimi-chan. When you grow older, you'll have to lie and scam your way all through life." He said, raking a hand through his hair. "I don't want that kind of life." She said crossing her arms. "Hai hai. Whatever. You'll just have to learn yourself, but any ways wouldn't seeing the palace be more fun? You could tell Na-chan or whoever and Maria-san that you were looking around, getting to see the layout of the place. You know learning your way around the castle so you won't get lost." He said. "Weeeelllll I guess, Na-chan would want me to know how to get around. Fine, let's go." She said a wide grin spreading over her face. Yeah no kitchen work now! she thought happily.
"Where is that girl? I was going to take her out today to go train a little. She always bugs me about spending more time with her. And now when I tell her I'll pick her up later she isn't even here!" Nakago said pacing up and down in the kitchen talking to himself. "Nakago-kun. She'll be ok. I'm sure Kimi-chan can take care of herself." Maria said, trying to calm him down. The door to the kitchen opened and in walked Kimiko. "Where were you?! Didn't I tell you to come to the kitchen and go help obaasan!" Nakago exclaimed. "Demo, Van-kun was showing me around the palace so I wouldn't get lost." She explained. "I don't care. I could have showed you around the palace if you wanted. But but that's not the point. I told you to do something and you didn't. What if something happened to you?" He said. "Nakago-kun. Calm down. Kimi-chan's here now isn't she." Maria said. Kimiko looked down, knowing she had been wrong. "Gomen Na-chan. I won't do it again. I promise." She said. Nakago looked over at her in surprise. He couldn't be angry at her anymore, not after looking at how guilty she looked. "Heiki heiki." He said brushing a hand through his long blonde hair. "I guess it's ok. But just this one time." He said, messing with her hair slightly. "Honto?!" Kimiko asked looking happily at him. "Hai." He said. "Now is there anything you want to do today?" he asked. "Ano. Can we go train?" she asked. Maria looked at Nakago questioningly. "Train?" she asked. "Uhh yeah. Kimi-chan wants to learn self-defense for umm defending herself." Nakago said turning sd, he grabbed Kimiko and sprinted out the door. "Na-chan why were you so nervous when Maria-san asked about the training?" Kimiko asked. "Don't you know. That obaasan would probably bash me over the head with her ladle, if she knew I was teaching you how to fight and stuff." Nakago said. "Haha. Na-chan is afraid of Maria-san." Kimiko said chanting it over and over again. "I am not!" he protested. "Whatever. You promised we'd go train today." She said. "Ok ok. Let's go." He said picking her up and putting her on his shoulders. "Weeeehh!" she cried.
"Now focus. Focus and make your powers into a ball. Just picture it in your mind." He said, coaching Kimiko. They were in a safe place, far enough so that not a lot of people would come here, but close enough to be able to get back to the palace quickly, if they needed to. Kimiko's face scrunched up into a concentrating face. She felt Nakago pull her cheek and then let it go. "Mooouu Na-chan. I'm trying to concentrate." She said. "You don't have to be so serious." He said trying to hide a grin from the image of her with her face all scrunched in concentration. "See just like this." He said, a ki-ball appearing in his hand. "You make it look so easy. I can't do it" She complained. "It's really easy." He said. "See you got it." He said, seeing a small ball of ki in the palm of her hand. Kimiko looked at her hand in surprise. "Wow I really did it. This is what? My 3rd or 4th time!" she said proudly. "That's great Kimi-chan. Now throw it." He said. "Throw it?" she asked. "Yes. The point of this is to protect yourself." He said. Kimiko pouted, that her hard earned ki-ball was going to go to waste but threw it. Booom! A huge sound was heard, as the small ball impacted a large tree, causing it to topple over. "Sugoii! Did you see that!" she asked proudly. "Hai, hai. Now we have to keep practicing you make ki-balls until you have it perfect. Then we can move on to harder things. If you can't perfect this simple thing what makes you think you can learn everything I know." He said. Kimiko pouted, "Fine, Na-chan. But you make me work so hard."