Author's note/disclaimer: Another original character is introduced in this chapter as well and some things will make more since, but some things will become less clear. You have to be patient though, this is like one of those anime that really make you think…so start thinking ^_^! Oh and I don't own anything RK, again Nobuhiro Watsuki does. And again many thanks to Kaykoha Ayanithne for editing my story!
Chapter 2,
Lesson number one:
Learning to understand
They entered her house and again Shinta stopped and gasped. Bloodstains painted the walls, ceiling as the front door lead straight to the living room. In a very desolate voice Eiashian said,
"Yeah…I know. It's my parents' death place. It's what that…that thing did to it." Her eyes began to glow again and her hands to sting and bleed even more. Clearly she harbored much rage towards this man that she could not handle. It wasn't her nature to harbor such rage; deep inside she was quite soft, yet she would never allow that to show on the surface of the deep waters of her young soul. Shinta again walked to her side, placed a hand upon her shoulder and said,
"I'm sorry. This must be hard for you." She nodded and walked out of his reach, then in a apologetic tone stated,
"I'm sorry I'm being so sour…it's just…I can't help but hate who did this." He nodded and replied,
"I understand. I hated the man who killed my mother. But when he died I felt as though he paid for his sins because he never got to make it up and now he has to live with that regret as a spirit of earth instead of a spirit of a star as other who get to be guardian of those they love as in the legends. Like what you believe, right? "She glazed at him with a look of pure amazement.
"But how did he know all that? I thought he was from another kingdom…" she thought then asked,
"How did you know?" He just smiled faintly and answered,
"When you are a child spy you learn a lot of things…" He now stared shyly at the ground; purely ashamed of what he was. Eiashian would have been shocked and gawked at him, but she knew he felt badly now that he saw the direct damage of spying. She didn't know what to say. Even if he did have something to do with her parent's death, it wasn't his fault really. Because if he was a spy then so was his mother and so he was probably just helping her. She tried and tried to think of something to cheer up her friend but nothing really came to mind.
Finally Shinta raised his head up and stopped gazing at the floor to speak.
"Where are your bandages? We'll get you bandaged, then finish…well you know." She nodded and walked towards a back room, off from past her parents' room. It was lit with a star-lamp with wooden walls and shelves that were beginning to rot because of leaks. Shinta followed but slowly, as he was still limping from his ankle Eiashian seemed to have forgotten about. But he wouldn't tell her, knowing she would tend to that as well. He was sure he would be fine, removing the bullet and wrapping the wound himself. She went to a little corner and picked up a small white case with a red cross on the center. The white paint was fading away and peeling. She brought it to her parents' bedroom and laid it upon the bed, walking right past Shinta who was standing at the door. She dropped it upon the worn mattress with a plop and turned to Shinta and ordered,
"Sit!" He shook his head no a bit timidly and stated,
"You're more hurt, you sit and I'll patch you up first. Besides you're younger than I am…" Eiashian stubbornly shook her head no and replied with,
"No way! I'm no weaker than you are! I'm not getting bandaged up first, you are!" Shinta was already annoyed with Eiashian and her attitude, he was ready to walk out and leave her alone because he couldn't think of anything to get through to her thick headedness when it hit him,
"That's it! I pretend to walk out on her! That'll get her attention; after all she does seem to be concerned about me…just maybe." He grinned widely as Eiashian stood arms crossed and an impatient expression written upon her face. She tapped her fingers on one of her crossed arms waiting for him to give into her just as everyone else did. When she saw his smile she knew he was up to something but wasn't sure of what, so she decided to wait and see what he planned to do to win this short battle. That's when he headed towards the entrance to her parents' bedroom and said at the frame,
"Fine, you don't let me bandage you; . I'll just leave since I was obviously wrong. You don't need me after all, and you definitely don't want me around so I'll make you happy and go. Find your own way though life because our promise just went out the door…with me." She noticed he was walking in a strange fashion but was too shocked by his words to think anything of it as she thought,
"But…he wouldn't do that…he wouldn't walk out on me…would he? No one's ever made me do something I thought was wrong…well maybe mom and dad but that's it…I mean who does he think he is!?! He's no boss over me! …But what if he really does leave…what'll I do then…He's the only real friend I have other than that one nice guy…but was he real…was anything real? And what about Midnight…she can't talk…I must have been dreaming…I must have! So…if Shinta leaves me…I'm all alone, it's true…but I haven't lost this battle yet! "Now it was her turn to grin.
Long ago she learned of her power…it made her look like she was too fast to see at all but really she wasn't…really she didn't know what happened. It was as though an overcoming force took over and she became incredibly fast when running or as before when she had stopped the bullet. But she couldn't control it, it controlled her mostly and that's what she feared. She feared one day she would do something she would regret because of it.
But little by little, with great amount of self-training and practice she could control it by one element sometimes. Her emotions could keep her powers at bay, but only if she stayed happy and calm. Yet when someone threatened her loved ones it would overpower her. Yet unfortunately her fear was too great to try and overcome the swift blade of the Battousai, for she feared death so much that she cowered under a blanket just as her parents told her.
Fading away from her thoughts and back to harsh reality, she wondered just what happened to Shinta. Exactly what his story was as she reflected upon her own but dared not ask. So putting her plan into action she closed her eyes and concentrated upon the sadness she felt as Shinta began to step out the door.
"Well…bye Eiashian…." He said, as he was tired of waiting for a reply as she stood oddly in place, concentrating upon something as her eyes where tightly closed. He thought as he walked out the door, staring at the floor, his back turned to Eiashian.
"I guess…she doesn't care if I leave…but she didn't have to ignore me like that…I should have known though, why else would she pick on me like that! She thinks I'm stupid and ugly so I might as well forget her." He now had both feet out the door, thinking,
"This is it…I'm gone…no more promise, no more truce, no more friend…" as he still walked incredibly slow, hoping for Eiashian to call him back when suddenly something hit him from behind and tackled him to the ground. Eiashian had charged at him as she used her power, blacking out temporally but reawakening just in time to see exactly where he was at and tackled him to the floor. She laughed triumphantly and said,
"HA! You get bandaged first!" as she sat on his back smiling down at him. Her cat then ran in the front door, exhausted from a long night of prowling and to the door frame. Hopping on top of Shinta's head and sat there, then meowed loudly as to say,
"We both beat you!" Eiashian laughed and got up, walked over and picked up Midnight. With a shinning smile and a welcoming hand she said,
"Here, let me help you up. Sorry about Midnight, she thought she should help me with you. Obviously she doesn't trust you!" he reached sorely and grabbed her hand. That was purely a mistake for as soon as he took her hand she jerked him up with all the force she had. But this was her mistake as well for she caused him to get up very fast and fall onto her, causing her to fall backwards upon the floor. Shinta lucky caught himself with both arms, now barely holding himself over Eiashian so that he wouldn't fall on her. But when he looked down at her something caught him totally off guard, : her eyes, sparkling and crystalline as though they were gems, or more like shining stars in a pure blue ocean.
But this didn't bother Eiashian, because for the first time she got a really good look into his eyes. As mysterious as a mage, and more beautiful than their spell; she knew now she had definitely never seen more beautiful eyes. It seemed as though they really were enchanted like some sort of spell, for she was soon lost in those dark purple pools of mystery and sadness. But what was this? His eyes…they were so sad, like he would never smile again.
Slowly she was pulled into his world, this sadness and confusion. She felt like she was suddenly as lost as he. As though she felt his troubles. In fact, she became so lost in the moment frozen in his eyes that everything else began to fade but the light glow of his eyes. It was as though, just for a moment it was only the two of them in the entire world; (or) maybe in even in the entire universe. She knew he must have been very shocked by what had just happened as his eyes were wide open and his breathing was fast and nervous as it touched her lips.
Oh and what a wonderful feeling it was to her as his warm breath brushed against her lips. She barely opened her mouth, both in shock of the moment and also the enjoyment of it. She could now, just barely, taste his breath as it reached her mouth as her lips curved into a small smile.
But she was not the only one lost in unknown reaches of thought. Shinta seemed to be instantly pulled into Eiashian's starlit world. It was purely mystery and confusion. He suddenly felt she had been lost about her place in this world for as long as she had been there. It was as though she didn't belong at all. And it seemed, in the day and age she didn't fall into place here. Suddenly, without any thought, he began to feel sorry for her.
Recalling how he once was kind and thoughtful, he suddenly realized that he had been very cruel and bitter since he had met Eiashian that day.
"She must think I'm just jerk or something…I…I should apologize for my actions. Mom really would have been ashamed to know I had been so mean to her too. She didn't teach me to be bitter but to deal with the day myself, not take it out on someone else. I think even dad would have agreed to that. But I think he was wrong about having to be alone all your life. I don't think that's right…because if you have no one to protect or live for then wouldn't you lose your will to live? After fading away from his thoughts he realized he was still holding himself over Eiashian with his two rather sore arms and expected her to yell at him for it, but she looked as though she was dreaming in wake. A small smile was spread across her face and a distance look was about her eyes now.
Shinta smiled to himself at this and thought,
"Maybe she's recalling a moment with her parents. Maybe in her memories at least her happiness can live on." He then got up in a scrambling fashion, but when he did so Eiashian immediately seemed to have awoke up from her dream.
"Oh…Uh…I'm really sorry for making you fall down like that…and I…I want to apologize for my actions before now. I know I seemed like a real jerk but it wasn't your fault. I guess I was just really attached to my mom and didn't want to lose her because I don't think my dad really ever cared about me, not like mom did. I guess I just felt lost." She nodded sitting herself up on the floor and said,
"I always felt that way…I guess that's why I was always so unfriendly and unaccepted but…you were different. I didn't feel lost around you. I thought I was being friendly to you because I felt sorry for you, I really did but now I'm not so sure that's why I was nice to you…and…um…you didn't have to say sorry for making me fall…I didn't mind." At this Eiashian's face began to burn bright red as she scurried to her parents' bedroom to bandage Shinta. But he stood confused and clueless.
"Why'd she do that…blush like that? Man…girls are really confusing…" he thought as he sighed.
"Oh well, maybe she won't act funny if I try to act like myself…Oh wait! I should have told her I've not been myself lately either, what if she thinks I act like a jerk all the time?!?" he thought again as he limped into her parents' bedroom. Eiashian sat upon the bed, face buried in her hands. Immediately he thought,
"Oh no! I've made her cry again now…but what did I do this time?" but without anymore thought and sub-conscientiously agreeing with himself to ask master Hiko why girls are so confusing as soon as possible, he walked up to her and softly said,
"I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings again…I didn't mean to if I did but…I just haven't been myself lately but…I'll try to cheer up if you do, ok?" As he said this she couldn't help but think,
"Could he really be that clueless?" then barely peaking through her fingers thought,
'But…I don't mind acting like I'm upset if it means he'll go sweet on me like this every time I do…I wish I could see him smile though…just once and mean it. I bet it would be such a sweet smile…' then suddenly she awoke to what she was saying and thought,
'Wait a sec! What am I saying? I can't be falling for Shinta already! I've only known him for a few freaking hours! This just can't be…man could I use mom right now…maybe she'd explain to me why I feel like this…and what this feeling is. It just can't be love, it just doesn't happen this way! Not this quickly…' at this thought she shook off her blush as much as she could but it all just wouldn't go away. Then she felt as Shinta's gentle hand touched hers and he carefully pulled her hands away from her face. Yet as soon as he did she swatted at his hand and said,
"Don't do that!" her head still hung, as she still tried to hide her face. In hopes that he couldn't tell she was blushing. She then jumped off of the bed, Shinta still standing by the spot she was sitting upon thinking,
"Why'd she swat me away…I was just trying help…" just a little hurt at her gesture. He turned to her, hoping for an apology yet Eiashian just stood near a small cabinet where the first aid kit now sat and said,
"Ok, I'll try and cheer up but you have to too! Ok?" he nodded in disappointment, though for the first time in the small bit of time Shinta knew her, Eiashian's face lit up with a big, bright smile; just as bright as all the lights in Landstar. The legendary city in the stars, which many tried to reach, yet all ended in tragedy. People finally just gave in, declaring that they were not meant to reach such a place.
"Ok, now go sit on the bed and I'll get you bandaged up, ok?" he again nodded as he tried to curve his lips into a smile, but it only faded in a few moments. He sat and stared endless into the floor, as though he'd never seen one before, with the same sad dimming the light in his eyes. It was as though that slight glow in his eyes was the only happiness left about him, but like a dying flame seemed to flicker and fade more and more with every moment.
It made Eiashian sad, as she felt as though if that light finally faded completely out then so would he. So as she approached him with Isopropyl (same thing as rubbing alcohol) for the blisters upon his hands, and his face laceration she slammed the bottle upon the bed and stated,
"Ok now! The deal was I cheer up, you cheer up and you aren't keeping your end of the deal! Now you tell me what's wrong other than your mom, cause I know that's not all that's bothering you, and get over it or we both act gloomy for the rest of our lives!"
He sighed, still starring at the ground and said,
"It's nothing…" Now her temper was really flaring as she yelled,
"Shinta Himura! You tell me what's wrong with you right now or else!" then picking up the bottle of Isopropyl, which was thick glass and pointed it threateningly at him. He gulped thinking,
"If I don't tell her she'd probably bust the bottle over my head so I'd better just tell her…." Then sighing once again said,
"Ok…I feel responsible for you're parents' death in a way…" she calmed down a bit, now gently sitting the bottle down on the bed and jumping up and sitting beside him on the bed.
"Ok listen…you may have had something to do with it, but it wasn't your fault. I mean, you didn't tell the Battousai to go kill my parents or anything like that. You never even met my parents or the Battousai so I don't want you to feel responsible. Ok?" he did nothing for a moment thinking,
'That's what you think Eiashian, but you don't know the truth…' but turned to her and nodded.
"Ok, now smile for me ok?" he nodded again and smiled very weakly as though he was forcing himself to do so. Eiashian sighed in frustration and scooted closer to him, then took her fingers and placed them at each end of his lips. Then she pulled both ends up, making a fake little smile. She smiled to herself, and giggled a little.
"There! This is a smile Shinta! Think you can handle that?" he nodded lightly and said,
"Yeah, but can you stop that now please?" She nodded happily and hopped on the bed. She looked up in an observing way. Then as though she was satisfied with something nodded to herself and thought,
"There, finally he's smiling a little more now." She then took some old cloth from the first aid kit and walked over to the bed, setting the cloth beside the Isopropyl. She then ordered,
"Hold out your hands!" to Shinta and he nodded. She then took the Isopropyl and poured it over his hands. Immediately he flinched and wined,
"Eiashian…that hurts!" She stopped and took the cloth, gently dabbing it on his hands as she whispered to him,
"Sorry…I'm not very good at this…but you have to let me bandage you anyways or your hands will come infected…then…then how will you train with me?" He looked down questioningly to her as she caringly wrapped his first hand. She was beginning to blush again as she was, smiling warmly as well. She was so concentrated that she didn't realize Shinta's eyes upon her. He smiled and thought,
"She may seem harsh…but I think deep inside she's very sweet…" Replying to her he then said,
"It's fine, I understand. I was just being a baby." She nodded, the quickly looked up and gave him a reassuring smile then said,
"Ok, how out your other hand. I promise to be gentler this time…" he again nodded, laying his right hand to his side and giving her the other. This time she poured some of the Isopropyl upon the other cloth and dabbed his blisters gently. It didn't hurt like before as he watched Eiashian so carefully and gently wrap the cloth around his hand.
She then walked to the old first aid kit and opened it once again, revealing a patch for his face and some medical tape to hold it upon the cut. She dapped the patch with Isopropyl and walked over to him and said,
"Please hold still, I have to put this over your cut ok?" he nodded shyly again as she walked up very close to him, and slapped the patch upon the cut upon his left cheek and said,
"Hold that in place please." He again nodded to her request and held it over the cut until she came back to the bed. Then she sat a roll of medical tape upon the bed beside him.
"Ok, let me see that cut now…" she stated approaching him and removing his hand and the patch away from the cut. Eiashian almost gasped at the sight as the skin around the cut had begun to pale and a strange green substance soaked in it.
"No! This can't be…Shinta, you don't have any luck at all…" she thought,
"The blade that struck him…it was a poison blade, and now the poison is beginning to soak into the cut. It'll…kill him if all of it soaks in but I have to work fast just as mom and dad taught me…or he has no chance at all…." Shinta noticed as an express of hard determination as well as a touch of sadness come across her face as she rushed to the medical kit again. She now pulled out a bottle of antitoxins and a cotton swab and rushed back to him and dipped the cotton swab into the bottle. She set the bottle a little distance on the bed from Shinta this time.
"Ok, this will sting a lot but please try to stand still ok?" he nodded but as she reached her hand up to dab the cotton swab upon his cut, he gently grabbed her wrist, stopping her hand from advancing.
"What is that stuff?" he questioned her. She looked down immediately then lied,
"Oh just more Isopropyl…" Shinta frowned and replied with,
"It's not; you got it from a different bottle. Tell me what it is." Eiashian's eyes shimmered in tears as she shook her head.
"You don't need to know, but it won't hurt you! Just let me put it on your cut, I need to right now!" She cried, her voice begging. He finally let go of her wrist but then crawled over to the new bottle she had sat down. Eiashian cried out again, even more desperately than before,
"No! Don't Shinta! Just come back over here and let me dress that cut of your right now!" Tears now streaming down her face as she thought,
"No…He's already had it hard enough, he doesn't need to know he's been poisoned…" When he finally reached the bottle Eiashian ran to get it but she was too late. As he picked it up he read, 'Antitoxin; Use for snake bits or any wounds subject to poison', shocked he dropped the bottle and turned to Eiashian.
"Why didn't you just tell me? That cut on my face is poisoned isn't it?" he said in a very calm fashion. Eiashian expected him to yell at her, but he didn't. He didn't lose his temper at all; in fact he seemed quite mellow. She shook her head, as to clear her mind a bit. The tears now running down her face resembled dew upon the forest's soft leaves in morning, light shining upon her face from the window behind the bed. She then, without and calling to do so, snatched the bottle away from Shinta's grasp, walked over to the counter and sat it up it next to the medical kit. Then in a pronouncing manner she replied,
"Because you didn't need to know Shinta! You've had it hard enough all your life and have enough to worry about already without worrying about death! It's…it's just not fair…why is life so hard on you…?" then, again without warning bust into tears, as she collapsed and she fell beside the cabinet. Shinta immediately carefully slid down from the bed, and walked clumsily over to her. When only moments away from being over to her, his ankle started to hurt terribly and he too collapsed to his knees beside her. He gave her a gentle smile, and she laughed a little and said,
"Gee…you're so clumsy Shinta." He laughed too and said,
"Yeah…" Eiashian snuffled again and wiped away some of her tears, preparing to speak again but that's when she saw Shinta's ankle. His pants leg wasn't covering it and it now was exposed and bleeding. She gasped and started to cry again, whimpering,
"Oh no!!! You're ankle's hurt too Shinta!!! Oh…oh no …that's what made you fall isn't it?" he nodded and said sweetly,
"Please don't cry Eiashian. There's nothing to worry about; you and I will be fine, we will. I promise…" He then scooted closer to her, as she wasn't paying much mind to his words, and whispered to her,
"I won't die. I promise Eiashian. I'll be just fine, you shouldn't feel sorry for me." She stopped crying for a moment and whimpered just barely,
"Really?" Shinta nodded, still wearing his concerned, sad smile. She then jumped up and announced,
"G…good! I'll get that antitoxin and clean your cut, get it dressed then see about your leg." Yet she still snuffled as she did so. He nodded, and smiled to himself. He was glad to see her back to herself. It just didn't seem right for her to cry, and he hated to see her do so. But he hated to see anyone do so… it brought back bad memories. She then walked to the bed, picked up the swab and patch and walked back over to Shinta. She then sat down and crawled up to him, and sat down right by him.
"Hold still because this will burn…" Eiashian told him. He gulped and nodded; worried that Eiashian's not so tender hand in medicine would cause him a lot of pain. She frowned at his expression but at first ignored it. Then while very gently dabbing the antitoxin upon the cut, he yelped.
"Hey! I know that didn't hurt yet!" She cried. He bashfully looked to the ground and said,
"Sorry, I guess I was just a little tense is all…" She forced a smile and sighed, replying with,
"I know, but I'm not going to hurt you. I promise. It won't hurt half as much as you are imagining, so lighten up." He nodded again and sat patiently to feel the effects of the burn. She dabbed it upon the cut again, but no pain came. He still waited for the burning sensation to come over his cheek but…it never came.
"Wow…maybe she is good at this!" Shinta thought in awe that no pain seemed to be registering to him when she was finally done. After gently placing the patch upon his cheek and putting a plus upon it with the medical tape, that's when the pain hit. It burned terribly but he didn't want to show it. He would look weak if he did so and he already knew he seemed incredibly weak to Eiashi already. So he tried to hold it back, yet his pain was quite obvious as Eiashian felt even worse for him now.
She frowned at his suffering and fighting with the pain. He didn't say it hurt but his face revealed the truth.
"He's trying so hard to fight this pain but …he can't. I didn't tell him it hurt so badly, because I knew he'd be afraid to let me put it upon the cut, but if he wants to live he has to…I don't know what I can do for him though…" she thought. Then with much regret she asked,
"Shinta, are you ready to get that bullet out yet?" His eyes were now burning, watering because of the pain, but he held back tears. He slowly nodded the tears at the brink of flowing from his eyes. Eiashian sighed in frustration once again, stomped over to him and said loudly,
"Don't lie to me! You are not ready, you still haven't gotten over the burn of the antitoxin…just hold still ok…I'll…make it go away." He didn't nod, or agree at all this time, but that still did not stop her from placing her hand upon his cheek. Immediately he began to claim down, and the burning seemed to cool down a bit. It seemed her touch alone was comforting and healing. He slowly looked to her, as she stood over him, her eyes shut in deep concentration.
"I…can't believe it. She's a healer? Maybe she is a mage as well…but I shouldn't ask…she'll tell me if she wishes."
Eiashian was looking nervously to the ground but Shinta didn't understand why.
"Um…thanks a lot for healing me Eiashian. It's totally awesome that's you're a healer!" he said without thinking.
"Oh no….Why did you say that? Baka Shinta…can't keep you're mouth shut for two minutes…" he mentally yelled to himself. Yet Eiashian now smiled lightly and replied saying,
"Really? You really think so? But really I think I may be a mage…" she smiled happily, as he thought proudly,
"Finally…She trusts me a little now. Maybe…just maybe I could trust her a little…but I shouldn't tell her everything just yet. I should wait to know if she could really accept me…even after she finds out exactly what happened today." Then replied,
"Really? Wow! I wish I was sometimes…it would be cool if you showed me some magic of your some time…well other than the stuff I've already seen." she nodded happily and answered,
"Sure! Well, I have to go get the tweezers to get out that bullet…" Her smile slowly faded with these dull spoken words, for she knew she'd have to hurt him even more and in her eyes he'd went through plenty for one day. Shinta only sat patiently though; waiting for her to remove the eyes closed tight and a concentrated look up her face. Eiashian finally removed her hand, yet his skin begged her to differ. But the burning pain was now gone and the cut partially healed, he could feel it had closed a bit. Shinta's mind raced, as he comprehended what she had just done.
He had long thought of her as nothing but an annoyance, but now she seemed caring and gentle. He wondered why she didn't show this side of herself more often. Then something ran though his mind. He acted cruel and rude to prevent himself from going though the heartache of losing more people and causing more people heartbreak and she seemed to be rejected from the world, so maybe she was protecting herself from more rejection.
He couldn't help but wonder now what she was like before today, before her life came tumbling down; before her sky fell to the ground, then crumbled before her feet, in shatters unable to be pieced together again. She never spoke of her home, even when they were walking inside of it but Shinta could tell that the scene caused her much pain. Her emotions seemed to be so confused and lost that they because tangled and blended into one unknown feeling.
He could tell that sometimes rage would come over her, then sadness, and then heartbreak; and sometimes it was very clear to him that she was feeling some of these emotions all at once. Maybe though, the concentration and hard effort of training would take this away from her mind and let the memories leave her with peace.
Finally she returned with the tweezers and said,
"Ok, please stand still or it'll make the wound worse…" her voice was distance and devoid of emotion, she was obviously thinking of the incident once again and slowly it was eating her entire soul. Shinta saw it immediately in her eyes; they started to fade a bit. Just as his all those times as his did. But she was so kind and bright, just as a star in the darkest night lighting the way of those blind in the night and he didn't want her to change like himself. He was sick of seeing so many soft and kind people become cold and hard, and he was determined to save her from what his father became because of such things happening to him. So just as she had the tweezers upon the bullet he said gently,
"Eiashian…do you want to talk about what happened today?" she jumped back, not expecting him to speak and said,
"N…not right now Shinta. Maybe after I get this bullet out, just please be quite and stand still. Ok?" He nodded and tried his best to stay perfectly still. She again approached him and grasped the bullet with the tweezers and jerked it quickly out. Shinta only grumbled yet Eiashian gasped.
"Oh man…I'm sorry…I didn't hurt you too much did I? I really didn't mean to be that rough but I got nervous and was just trying to get it over as fast as possible and…oh…." she began, yet Shinta stood up and put his finger upon her lips and said,
"I'm fine…I've endured things that hurt much worse that than. I'm fine." he smiled warmly, and then slowly removed his finger from her lips as she frowned knowing he must have suffered a lot in his life. He saw this and frowned himself thinking,
"I've just made her feel worse…" He could feel as the blood from his wound trickled down his ankle and onto his foot. It slipped down into his cloth boots, which were worn and thin. He suddenly recalled why he hated to see people cry.
He was alone in a dark room, an old rotten building that smelled heavily of mold and smoke as the red moonlight shined though the cracks in the roof and walls. It made the smoke a deadly red as flames were seen outside. He was only four years old, tied to an old wooden chair with no cushions just as this place held no comfort. More smoke began to leak though the cracks and the entire building began to heat up as though someone had sent him to hell for the crimes his father had committed. Hot tears streamed down his face as he whimpered,
"Mom…Dad please…come get me…I'm…I'm right here…please…someone…" His entire body trembled and his eyes filled with the same hot tears as he recalled the horrible memory but was shaken out of it before he could completely recall the moment. The sound of someone falling had shaken him from the horrible nightmare in his life. He looked around immediately to find Eiashian for he knew she was the only one around to fall. Finally his eyes fell upon her as she was right below him…weeping. He knelt down to her and placed a calming hand upon her shoulder as he whispered,
"Please don't cry…it'll be ok…Eiashian it will be ok…" she looked innocently to him and whimpered,
"Please…promise me you shall never continue the work of the Battousai…never…become that…" more tears fell from her eyes like waterfalls, icy and cold falling down her rocky face. He replied in a bit of shock,
"Um…Of course I won't…why would you think I would?" She answered quietly,
"Because I saw that you did…but that's silly isn't it?" she got up from her knees and wiped her tears from her face and smiled tryingly.
"So is your ankle doing ok?" she then asked. He nodded and stated,
"But it's bleeding a little, it'll need to be wrapped…But it can wait till we get your hands bandaged." She signed and said,
"Fine… You can have this battle…I'll get my hands wrapped then you get your ankle wrapped ok?" he nodded, very surprised that she didn't even try to argue over the matter yet he could see his her eyes were growing weary and tired. She was beginning to get very sleepy but she was fighting it. She was forcing herself to hold her eyelids up as they became like lead and the heavy weight of sleeplessness fell upon her body. Shinta could see it in her heavy, slow steps. She walked over to the bed and gratefully sat down upon the bed thinking,
"Thank goodness he wants to bandage my hands now. I don't think I can stand for much longer…I hope I did a good enough job of bandaging him though…I don't think he trusts me about it. He asks like a know-it-all but maybe just maybe he does know how to bandage well. He sure has gentle enough hands to do so…" she began to blush as she recalled how kind he was towards her now. She wondered why he was that way if he had went though so much. She knew it would make her bitter and cold, even more so than the way Shinta was the first time they met yet she was lonely she it didn't bother me as much as it did he.
He approached her with bandages and said,
"Ok, you have to stand still because I'm not very used to bandaging people as young as you and I may accidentally hurt you…" he was now staring at the ground bashfully waiting for her reply yet she just nodded and smiled reassuringly. He was glad she trusted him so much because he was very nervous about bandaging her hands for his were already those of a warn swordsman though he only handled a very small sword, maybe even considered a dagger or short sword.
She could see the nervousness shaking in his eyes as he took the bandage and poured some Isopropyln upon a piece of bandage and gently placed it upon her right hand. She expected it to sting badly yet it barely hurt at all. She actually had thought he seemed very wise in bandaging and dressing wounds. He seemed to have a very gentle and steady hand as well though he seemed to be distant and lost.
He looked to her face, searching for any hint of pain yet she showed none. She seemed to be completely ignoring him all together actually. She was drifting away, millions of miles from reality thinking of the happenings of the day once again and wishing that she was still just some reasonably normal girl, or at least a girl with parents and a home. It would always be her home yet she could never live in it. It would cause he too much grief.
Hoping that she wasn't being hurt, Shinta took her left hand, placed it in his left, front side down and gently dapped the bandage upon it some until he was sure the blisters were clean. He then let go on her hand and let it swing by her side. Then he quickly fetched some fresh bandages and took her already cleaned right hand. Gently he wrapped the bandage around her hand a few times, just enough to cover over the blisters. Then he took some medical tape and wrapped it around the bandages twice.
He prepared to wrap her second hand after getting more bandages when he noticed fresh tears trickling down her pale cheeks. They were flushed once again, the same way they looked when she had witnessed the death of the murderer. Though he was bad it still effected her greatly to see him be cut clear in half.
"She must be thinking of her parents' death once again…If she doesn't quit doing that she'll end up dying of grief. I have to do something but…what? Just a simple back rub won't be enough. It may do wonders for someone facing guilt but that's not at all what she's facing. She's facing death, directly in front of her. No way of evading it or dodging it's fatal blows to her heart…but…maybe I could…shield her from it's blows or at least some…but…how will I?" Shinta thought as he watching little Eiashi sob and weep with her eyes shut tightly to reality yet still, heartbreak or being felt without facing reality with your eyes. Because you still have to face it with an unguarded heart, except you find someone to help protect your heart. He sighed and did something, under any other circumstances he wouldn't do.
He slowly approached her and climbed up upon the bed next to her, then gently wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace. Immediately Eiashian's eyes shot open, as her heartbeat raced. An odd numb prickling feeling rushed over her body and she suddenly felt warm and safe. In a very nervous fashion she slowly took her arms from her sides and wrapped them around Shinta's neck and rested her chin upon his right shoulder.
Shinta was very shocked at this gesture but knew it was from sorrow and let her stay there, cold tears still falling from her eyes and onto his shoulder. She whimpered,
"Shinta…I…I really, really miss my parents…I…I'm really afraid that I'll never see them again…I'm afraid…I'm afraid of being alone…" he frowned deeply and replied sympathetically,
"I promise you won't ever be alone…I'm not going to leave you. We're friends right?" She whimpered a 'yes' and he continued,
"Then we'll always be together no matter what…cause that's what friends do." Eiashian's eyes softened that the words and the tears slowly began to dry as she thought,
"You're so sweet Shinta…but how long will it last before my vision comes true, how long will I get to stay with you before you turn down the wrong path, the one I can not follow you down." And replied to his statement with,
"But you'll change…" her words were sorrowful but still dry of emotion. He thought shocked,
"How does she know that? I know I'll always stay with her and that's all that matters. I mean…she's my first real friend except mom after all…" he again sighed and whispered to her,
"But I promise…I'll never become so blind that I can't see the bright light of a friend such as you…Eiashian I think…though I've only known you for a day…you're my best friend now…" at this she blushed and let go of his neck. Then turning her back to him so that he couldn't see her bright red face (though it was showing though the top of her head because of her light hair) and replied,
"Well that's silly. You can't make a best friend in one day…I mean that's like…like falling in love in one day…" as her words were stumbled upon she thought,
"Yeah…so that means…I can't love you yet Shinta….that would be crazy…" he smiled and said with a chuckle,
"I can tell you're blushing Eiashi! It shows though your hair." She just snorted at this and said,
"Well…well….So what?". She then turned around, her face as bright red as a tomato to face him angry. At the sight, Shinta burst into laughter at her glowing red face. At first Eiashi was angry at him for laughing but realizing he was right about her face, she began to laugh as well. The sound of her laughter was like music to the ears of Shinta who was honored to make her laugh, even if it was laughing at herself. He paused his laughing and smiled as he watched Eiashi giggle a little more before going silent herself. As he watched her he thought,
"Maybe finally she's recovering from today." When she finally stopped giggling enough he said,
"Ok, let me se your other hand ok?" she nodded to him and laid her left hand upon his right and waited for it to be wrapped. He again quickly wrapped her hand, yet still gently. Soon they were finished being bandaged and it was time to return to the graves. Shinta already set his mind to finishing this as fast as possible because he wanted Eiashian away from here as possible, yet Eiashian's thoughts differed. He began to head for the door when Eiashian said,
"Listen, it's really late and will be daybreak soon. Let's just stay here for tonight ok Shinta?" He sighed and said,
"But don't you want to get out of here?" she immediately shook her hear no.
"No! This is still my home Shinta and I think it would be sort of nice to spend one last night in it…besides I sort of need a bath, and so do you…" She stated as she sniffled the air. He understood her feelings so agreed, knowing he did need a bath after all.
"Ok, we'll stay, but let's wait until the morning to finish you know what ok?" she nodded sadly in reply, then said,
"Well I guess we'll sleep in the big bed in my mom and dad's room so we'll have plenty of room."
"Ok…wait…what? We?" he almost agreed then realizing what she said.
"Well, let's see, you and me! Who else is around to talk to? Midnight?" she replied sarcastically.
"Um…no offence but I'd rather sleep alone Eiashi!" he whined. She shot him a cross look.
"Fine…I understand. Don't want to sleep in the same bed as a girl, perfectly normal for just another baka guy. I mean, I'm sure that it would be so embarrassing especially since no one would know and we'll be on separate ends of the bed and separated by a pillow…" she ranted to him in reply. He sighed and finally agreed saying,
"Fine…as long as you keep the pillow there…" She nodded happily and stated,
"Well…you'd better go take a bath cause you smell funny…" he looked shockingly to her and asked,
"What do you mean I smell funny?" she laughed and said,
"It's just because you've been around the dead too long…don't take it personally." He hung his head and thought,
"She's quite right…." He sighed and said walked towards where he thought he'd seen the bathroom and said,
"I don't mind…I want to take a bath. It sounds…really nice right now." She smiled and decided to wait outside for him to finish. She walked out to the door of her parents bedroom and walked though the frame and whispered sadly,
"Goodbye Mom…Dad…I'll really miss you…" Her shoes echoed from the living room's hard wood floor as Shinta ran the water for his bath. The bathroom was right where he thought, which was right where he suspected it to be, which was right next to Eiashi's parents' bedroom. The floor was made of Phiolstar marble which glowed blue at night. It was quite eerie to Shinta who had never seen the stone before. It made the water seem blue and slightly reminded him of toilet water, which was very discomforting. Yet he ignored it and stepped into the semi-hot water. It was very comforting and soothing, especially since too many days to count had passed since he had bathed in warm bath water, instead of that of a river or pond.
"It would have been really nice…to live a life like Eiashian's before all this happened…Maybe if dad would have stayed instead of following orders like always then we could have…maybe just maybe he would have been able to escape the life of an assassin then too…" he then closed his eyes and let himself soak in the warm waters, dreaming of a life he could have lead.
Meanwhile Eiashian was sitting on a stump just outside town by the path she took to mourn upon. She sighed as the stars were beginning to fade with dull morning light in the midnight hour.
"Finally a new day is approaching and this miserable one is coming to an end…" She stated exasperatedly to herself.
"The only thing that wasn't miserable was meeting Shinta…I hope we stay friends…forever." She then added thinking of the boy now relaxing for the first time in days inside her house. As she gazed upon the stars, still shining brightly enough to see very well, as she thought once again what had happened as if recapping upon it a thousand times would not make her understand.
But she hated this, this fact that she could not understand that day, as if many things were left unsaid, and many answers left unfound. Thinking upon this fact she recalled her friend, whom her meeting with again was almost completely chased away by the bright memory of her new found friend. She again sighed to herself and thought,
"He must have just been a dream…it must have all been a dream." But as she did so something amazing happened. The entire sky lit up a stunning bright purple as swirls of milky blue chased the colors around the stars and bounced off the moons.
Eiashian immediately realized this and gasped.
"Oh my goodness, this is beautiful! I have to go get Shinta and show him this!" she thought excitedly. But as she jumped up from her stump and prepared to run into the house to retrieve him she felt a gentle hand grasp her wrist and tug her back. She turned expecting Shinta yet this time it was not. It was her mysterious friend again.
"Hello again my friend, Eiashian of the stars…" he said as his words flowed like rich cream, caressing his words with a feeling of comfort and familiarity.
"Hi…" she whispered shyly as she stared at the ground. His hood was still worn up, and his cloak over his body. It hid his features so that she could only tell his blue tinted white powdered hair. His hood cast a dark shadow over his eyes so that she could not see them. Though she was quite a bit embarrassed, her friend gave her a warm and caring smile. She could see his lips curve as his face was slightly lit by the blue moon and this did embarrass her as her face again burned.
He gracefully raised his left hand to her cheek, as it too shined light blue because of the ghostly appearance. He then gently raised her head to meet his eyes. They were the color of the night sky, beautiful and calming.
"Don't be embarrassed. I'm glad you have found him finally…" he whispered gently into her eyes.
"But…what do you mean?" Eiashian whispered in question, her eyes innocent and lost. He sighed and frowned and said,
"I can not tell you my empress…you have to discover that yourself." He again began to fade and urgently Eiashian asked in a rush of words.
"Wait! Tell me your name!"
"It is Sora…Sora of sky." He said as his voice became distance and his warm touch faded from her cheek. For a moment she gazed into the empty space her friend once stood in as the sky faded into its normal starry ocean. Then suddenly she pronounced,
"Curse it all! Eiashian what are you going to do now?" thinking,
"I've…got a crush on two guys now …but…what if Sora isn't even real…and what does he mean…does he want me to be with Shinta? I'm too young for this…." She laughed at herself in this conclusion and walked towards the house thinking,
"Shinta's bound to be out of the bath by now so I'll go take my bath now." She then stepped thought the doorframe and headed towards the bathroom door.
Shinta sat, slipped almost entirely into the water now as the water slowly slipped past the cork over the hole the water was released into. Long ago his eyes fell gratefully closed and now he lay in a peaceful sleep, dreaming of places he would have liked to have grown up in and people he would have met. He was completely unaware that he had laid there for over two hours now…
Eiashian didn't even consider looking around to see if Shinta and gotten out yet, but instead assumed he had gotten out a short bit ago. She didn't even consider knocking as she reached the doorknob and slowly turned it with a loud squeak as the door fell open. Suddenly Shinta was awoken by a loud thump. He looked around to discover what it was when he spotted Eiashian at the frame of the door, laying in the floor unconscious.
He immediately knew what happened and began to blush brightly. Now clearly away he stepped out and grabbed a towel, then wrapped it securely around his waste. Carefully he walked over to her and called,
"Eiashian, Eiashian! Wake up! It's ok, really!" Eiashian could feel as she slipped out of subconscious with a dizzy feeling about her head. Steam from the hot bath water surrounded her as a figure stood above her. He was very unclear and so not knowing how it was she asked,
"Sora?" The figure smiled and knelt down to her as the steam cleared a little to reveal Shinta.
"No, it's me. Shinta, you remember me right?" she immediately blushed and scrambled to get up, only slipping in some water from the steam.
"I…I'm really s…sorry Shinta….really really sorry….I … I didn't mean to walk in on you; I thought you where already out is all…" he just smiled and replied,
"It's ok, I bet you didn't even see anything, now let me help you up." She blushed again, grabbed the frame of the door and jerked herself up. Then said while clumsily walking out,
"Actually….I did…." then ran to her parents' bedroom.
"I…wonder what she meant by that…" he thought standing clueless. He sighed then it hit him.
"OH…oh….oh boy…" he thought a bit shaken himself. He didn't know what to say but luckily when he entered the room to talk to Eiashi, she had already laid down upon the bed and fallen asleep. He smiled as her breathing slowed and innocence was the only thing read upon her face. He climbed up upon the bed and sat by her small frame. She was shivering a bit since she had fallen asleep upon the covers and didn't have anything to keep her warm, with the exception of her thin dress. Thinking she would become ill from exposure of the cold, Shinta pulled back the covers and folded some over her, then climbed into the bed and under the covers himself.
He happily closed his eyes and prayed for nightmares to stay away from this peaceful sleep as he began to drift away from consciousness. They both slept very well that night as their master Hiko sat impatiently at the door of him cabin. He had sat there for about 3 hours now and was being to get sick of waiting.
"…Don't tell me they got lost…" he mumbled to himself as he stared impatiently into the woods.
"I can't help if they have. But if they are maybe we should look for them Hiko…I mean you can't just leave them out there all alone all night long." A feminine voice said to him, walking up behind him from the table inside the small the cabin. She was dressed in a long sleeved, brown velvet shirt and blue flowing skirt. Her hair was dark brown and wore back in a tight ponytail. Her eyes were as blue as the ocean waters and just as calm as a valley pond, and her skin light. Her cheeks were naturally blushed a pink tint and her lips a soft red, painted with lipstick.
Hiko turned around to her and she gave him a bright smile.
"You know, I think it's really sweet of you to take in two kids and teach them…I never expected you to put up with more kids after that one. He was a handful when he was young wasn't he?" He sighed and frowned,
"Yeah…but at least the kid kept me busy. Living up here in this solitude has almost driven me insane. It's too peaceful really Starlit." The woman known as Starlit sighed to herself and walked to his side.
"I suppose it is to you Hiko. You know…you should settle down some time, get married, have a family of your own…Believe it or not your time is running out to have a normal life. You should take the opportunity when it is available because…you know those kids will leave and…Hiko I can't just live here. I'll help you with the children, especially the little girl but I will not have a reason to stay after they leave either. I want a life outside of that, and may get married. I know you're much older than I but you shouldn't just call it quits on your life." He sighed again and now stood up.
"I know all this Starlit. But it was my own choices that lead me to this road and now I must finish this long walk. I know you say it's not too late to have a normal life but do you realize that I'm now fifty? I know…I know you probably don't. I don't look my age after all but still…I've lived like this for too long. I can't change it now. Besides I sort of like these peaceful mountains." He then walked by her and into the cabin, then sat down in a chair by the small table by the wall of the living room. Starlit grumbled angrily as she thought,
"He just said a minute ago that the peacefulness of these mountains were about to drive him insane, now he says he enjoys it?!? Really…that man! But it seems like he's making excuses to raise these children. Maybe they are special just as his other apprentice…but then again his life eventually lead to shadows and ruins because of his mistakes…To think of it I think he mentioned training his son. Maybe he's found him, but is he going to train his daughter as well? That must be it…besides I think he told me once before that he did enjoy the peace of solitude, that's why he doesn't like the town."
She shook her head in confusion and entered the cabin.
"So what are you going to do about the children?" she asked him as she approached the table.
"We'll go get them in the morning. I know exactly where they are." He said without interest.
"You can go sleep in their room for tonight. I'll go sleep in my own room of course." He added, rising up and in a very sleepy fashion walked into his room without another word. Furiously Starlit thought,
"He's so…so…Impossible! Not even a goodnight! The nerve…he's always been like that. I don't know why I agreed to help him at all…So what if he is like a big brother to me. I he doesn't learn some manners then he'll never get along with anyone." Without another thought she stormed into the would-be children's bedroom.
The morning quickly slipped away as daybreak snuck by, but Hiko still managed to wake at first light and so both headed off to where they were supposedly at. Yet Shinta and Eiashian still lay asleep. They were both warm and comfortable and for the first time in a very long time for they felt safe in each other's company, for they had, possibly for the first time found real friends in each other.
Soon Hiko and Starlit reached the small, quant house about the outskirts of Kasuna. They crept around; searching for the right house, but of course searching the first they stumbled upon before any others. The children were still asleep when they entered the bedroom, as Starlit entered first. Immediately she gasped.
"What!?! What is it? What's wrong?" Hiko asked immediately as he rushed into the room, searching for the problem. Starlit turned to him, her eyes full of tears as she exclaimed,
"They're absolutely daring!" he grumbled under his breath as he thought,
"Really…she made me think something was wrong…that figures with her though…" He was now very irritated and would have liked to leave yet he knew he had to bring the children back and train them because with their amazing skills they would be unstoppable with training. He once again signed and said,
"What's so daring?" in a sarcastic tone as he looked around the room for them. When he found them though, he himself was surprised as Eiashian lay curled up in covers yet right beside of Shinta. Her head rested upon his shoulder, the only thing separating them was the cover. Shinta was curled up as close as he could as he too was wrapped in cover.
"Hm…" he said quietly to himself as he thought,
"They passed the first lesson very well. It seems they did come together and understand their differences after all. It'll make everything much easier now that they seem to be friends." For a moment he just stood and starred at the scene, then saw Starlit for the corner of his eye. She was starring at him with a 'oh, that's so sweet' look upon her face. At this he walked over to the bed to wake them, upset that she would do such a thing.
"Well…it seems he thought the scene is quite touching as well…Those poor children, to lose their parents at this young an age must be so traumatizing. I'm just glad they found each-other…" Starlit thought as she saw Hiko storm over to this edge of the bed.
"Wake up, it's time to go." He said plainly. Shinta barely opened his eyes to see Eiashian laying next to him, her head comfortably upon his shoulder. He smiled slightly at her innocent appearance then moved his shoulder a bit as he whispered,
"Eiashi, it's time to wake up now…" She yawned and said,
"Ok….just five more minutes and I promise I'll be up mom…" in a whimpering tone.
"I'm not your mom, and if you wait five more minutes you may not wake at all…" Hiko told her sternly. She jumped at his voice and jumped back from Shinta, realizing she had been lying on him upon him.
"I…I'm sorry…" she stuttered as her face began to burn a bright red, as she looked around the room and saw Hiko and a lady she had never seem before. Unfortunately she jumped back so far that she slipped off the edge of the bed backwards and tumbled to the floor, and landing upon her back. Starlit immediately rushed to her side and offered her a hand.
"Are you ok, dear?" she asked her. She looked up to the blue eyed lady and blushed saying,
" N…no… Oh man…Don't think anything funny ok? I just…rolled over to him…I didn't lay down to go to sleep like that…" Starlit just laughed and smiled brightly.
"Oh…that…I knew you didn't fall to sleep like that, you just instinctively rolled over close to him." Eiashian looked to her questionably, then asked,
"What do you mean by that?" Starlit this time suppressed laughter and then knelt down to her, for being about 5'6 she was towering above small Eiashian, and whispered to her,
"You'll learn that later…but you know I don't blame you for wanting to snuggle up to him…he's quite cute isn't he?" she finished with a giggle. Eiashian glared at her and said back in a hateful whisper,
"No! And he's not my boyfriend…" and at that she pushed herself off of the ground and stormed to the doorframe. Starlit just laughed at the gesture and walked over to Shinta who was still sitting on the bed and had been watching the scene. She smiled to him and said,
"My name's Starlit, and I already know you're name Shinta. Glad to meet you." She said offering a hand for him to shake. He took it with a forced warm smile, and said,
"Hi Starlit!...What's wrong with Eiashian?" immediately looking over to the doorframe where she stood stubbornly. She giggled and thought,
"Oh…this is so sweet. I bet he likes her already…" then replied figuring that Eiashi must have been the girl she spoke to,
"Oh she just got embarrassed because of the way she woke up. I think she thinks it was really bad." Her voice was too sweet for Shinta's liking but he somehow knew he could trust her.
"Well…I didn't really mind. I mean it's not like she was right next to me because the covers were separating us. Though I don't really know how she got over the pillow separating us but it didn't wake me up so I don't mind." Starlit again smiled a huge smile, her eyes shinning with tears as she cried,
"That's just…so sweet! Oh daring? Did you hear that? He didn't mind so come back over here and stop being shy." She shook her hear no as she still stood looking out the door. Starlit just signed and said,
"Fine…" Then Hiko spoke up and said,
"If you don't get over here and introduce yourself to Starlit you'll be left behind." She sighed, irritated at him and walked over to her and said,
"Hi Starlit. I'm Eiashian, g…glad to meet you." Her voice was completely monotone and obviously unhappy. Irritated himself, Hiko thought,
"Well it seems like Eiashian doesn't get along with her either." Then said,
"Well your name seems fitting enough Eiashian, but we need to think of another name for you Shinta…that's just too soft of a name for a swordsman…"
"I like it. Besides I think it fits, I think he's a little sweetheart!" Starlit exclaimed yet Hiko said nothing. They all waited for a reply when he spoke.
"No…that won't do…not at all…that would wor …well no…" they all looked questioningly to each other and giggled. They all waited patiently, thinking on their own businesses…
'I'm hungry…a grilled cheese sandwich sounds sort of nice…when we get home I think I'll fix some…'
'I'm sleepy…and why is Eiashi looking at me like that…I wish he'd hurry up and make up some new name…I want to go to sleep…besides smiling so much is beginning to hurt…'
'Shinta looks so sweet. I wonder how he can always try and wear that sweet smile…he's so sweet and cute…sigh…' Finally Hiko announced,
"I have it! You're name shall be Kenshin." Starlit said nothing, knowing that it did no good to argue with Hiko once he made a decision, Shinta just nodded but Eiashi immediately spoke.
"Can I still call him Shinta?" She asked shyly.
"You shall address me as Master, and in my presence you shall call Mr. Himura Kenshin. You can call him what you please in your own time." Hiko replied now heading towards the door. Eiashian smiled happily and followed behind Starlit until they reached the doorframe to her front door and realized that Shinta was no longer with them. Realizing this she immediately ceased her sleepy steps. Hiko went on outside, yet Starlit stopped and watched her for a moment as she stared at the frame of her parents' bedroom. She sighed and frowned.
"Maybe all this is just too much for Shinta…I think he may just stay right here until he starves. I've seen it all too many times. Poor Eiashian, she's just waiting on her new friend to return to her…her best friend to return to her." She shook her head sadly at the scene and walked to Eiashian's side and knelt beside her again.
"Listen, I don't think he's coming back Eiashian. He's really really sad and if he doesn't want to come we can't make him. He probably hurts really bad inside Eiashian, so bad it may be too much to live with." At this Eiashian looked up to her with the most innocent look upon her face, her eyes shining happily and replied,
"No…You're wrong. He'll come…" she then paused and shut her eyes and grinned as though recalling a most happy memory. Then continuing she opened her eyes and said in a whispery voice,
"He promised me…he promised he'll always be with me. And he'll never break that promise Starlit." She stood amazed at the young girl's faith in her friend, but this made her feel worse. But then Shinta showed up in the fame of the door smiling, his face wet with tears and the same warm smile upon his face. Eiashian raced to him, and said
"Are you ok Shinta?" looking upon his tear stained face. He just kept smiling and shook his head a bit, shaking off the tears.
"I'm just fine now Eiashian. But now I am Kenshin. Is that ok?" she just nodded and smiled back warmly.
Second author's note: Ok, there it is. (Gulps) Well anyways for those unwise the burial will be next chapter because, heck this is way too long already ^_^. Well hope you like it, as always flames are promoted because I know you'll flame me for this. Oh and yes…I am aware that Kenshin and Eiashian do not act their age but I'm not very good with depicting children and plus they are a bit more mature than others their age and for good reasons. Oh and sorry but the reference pics won't show up, not the url or anything for some reason…sorry…