Fragile
Chapter 5
Promises and Departures

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My form slowly disappeared from everyone's view as I turned the corner upstairs towards my room.

Everything was silent inside the main room.

As I was gone from their sight everyone was in a state of confusion.

Naru was heaving and panting after yelling at me while all the others were either sitting down or standing up silently. Naru's range started to die down and she soon realized what she did.

Her eyes widen and she quickly turned her head to everyone.

Everyone looked at her.

Shinobu was teary-eyed.

Suu's energetic state deprived of energy. Hugging a distraught Shinobu

Motoko and Mitsune just staring at her solemnly.

Haruka looking down onto the floor.

"What?!? He told me what I really thought didn't he!!" She yelped helplessly.

Motoko shook her head.

"But was that what you really thought?"

Naru stepped back. But soon averted away from Motoko's gaze.

Shinobu stood up, a little moist around the eyes.

"Was it?…."

Naru looked at the young girl.

"Um…not any more…"

Shinobu stomped her foot.

"Then tell him that!! That you didn't mean any of those words!! He is a good guy in my eyes and now I can see that he good to all of you too! There is no need for him be kicked out of this house!"

Shinobu's yelling surprised everyone in the room. Usually she was calm, and extremely shy. Not getting near to any boy without looking down to the floor or hiding behind one of them. Now here she was, defending a boy. Saying he is a good guy and should live with them.

This was a side of Shinobu no one had seen yet.

Naru hugged herself and looked down to the floor once again.

"But that's a little too late for that!…. My big mouth completely told Keitaro to leave or I would beat the living day light out of him! And he is in fact leaving!"

"Yes that's Keitaro all right…."

Everyone jerked their heads towards Haruka's standing form.

"Um..Haruka I know you told me and Motoko not to yell at Keitaro or make him feel uncomfortable bu--"

Haruka motion her to stop talking with a hand.

"That's ok Naru….I should have seen this coming. Keitaro is proud and stubborn. He doesn't like to be treated special. I totally forgot about that little fact because I didn't see him for a while. So because he asked you…..you two will be able to stay in the dorm."

Naru and Motoko both sighed with relief.

"But is there anyway to stop Keitaro from leaving Haruka-san?" Shinobu said again.

Mitsune then stood up.

"Like Haruka just said Shinobu. Keitaro is to proud and stubborn. I don't think he would listen to us right now….."

Shinobu looked outside through the foggy window. Everyone else soon did the same.

It was still raining hard outside.

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I entered the room I was suppose to stay in if I was staying. With my remaining hand I started to pack my clothes into the one suitcase I brought with me.

As soon as I packed everyone of my belongings, I promptly sat down unto the cold floor.

I thought of what just happened. And for once I was glad.

I was glad she didn't pity me and left me here.

I'm glad that I am being kicked out of the house.

I'm glad to be spoken to like anyone else.

The fact is a man in a girls dorm is just plain wrong. So why should I be here? Why would any man be in a girls dorm? Just because he has a special condition. No…..

Treat me like a man. So kick me out….. Don't let me stay here any longer.

When I first came here both Motoko and Naru seemed to be those kind of women. Cute,

independent, and who speak their mind.

Who don't tolerate men being even remotely near this dorm. My broken left arm is proof of that. Motoko used one of her special sword technique to try and get rid of me. But when she knew I had….this condition she didn't even touch her sword.

And Naru, she charged at me recklessly and chased me down through out the whole building. Now when she found out, she didn't do anything…

But now she has, because I told her to speak her mind, and she did.

I sighed and stretched my sore shoulder to relieve some of my tension.

Suddenly my broken left arm started to sting with pain. I gripped my cast with my other arm and endured it. I gritted my teeth and shivered all over.

After a few good moments it stopped and I decided to rest bit. I plopped myself on my futon and slowly closed my eyes.

I'm just going to close my eyes, for just at bit…

Instead of just resting my eyes, I found myself drifting into a deep slumber. Thinking of the good times I had….

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A seven year old me sat gently on a rock as I bathed in the hot spring inside the Hinata-sou. The inn that belonged to my grandma.

I wasn't alone.

Right in front of me was my little sister. The little sister that my mom adopted.

She was only 5 years old when we found her about two weeks ago. Me and Mother were coming from the market when we encountered her. She bumped into us as she was stealing a couple of food from the market we were just in.

Her name's Kanako, and she was homeless. We forced her to come with us, because it was either that or the police.

She chose us.

Later on we found out that her parents were murdered about a year ago and that she ran away from the orphanage a month ago. So we talked it out with the police and we were able to adopt her.

We only had her for about two weeks but during that time we got to know each other better.

But there was one key fact I did not give her about myself. My little…condition.

"Onii-chan! Will you stop daydreaming and scrub my hair harder!" She giggled.

I shrugged off my current train of thought and continued to wash Kanako's hair harder.

Kanako purred with satisfaction.

I chuckled at her.

"What?! It feels so good Onii-chan!"

"I'm sure it does."

Kanako giggled.

"Onii-chan?"

I stopped shampooing her hair and hugged her neck from behind.

"Yea, Kanako-chan?!"

"Do you have any dreams, like what you are going to do?!"

I thought for a moment and soon I found my answer.

"Hehe, when I was about your age I remembered one girl I made a promise with, but I think I forgot her name?"

"Well, what was that promise Onii-chan?"

"It was both of us going to Toudai."

Kanako looked over her small shoulder to look at part of my face.

"What's Toudai?"

"It is like a huge elementary school for adults! Where we learn all sorts of stuff."

Kanako faced forwards again an nodded with acknowledgment.

"Oh…Well in that case can I make a promise with you then?!"

I smiled.

"Sure, your my little sister now Kanako-chaaaaan!"

She giggled.

"OK, well I want to go to Toudai with you too, and after that we can..um…run this Inn together?"

For a moment I pretended to think about and shook my head.

"Naaah." I lied playfully.

Kanako grinned. She knew I was lying.

"Onii-chan!! Fine be that way, hehe."

Both of us giggled. I just kept on hugging Kanako while she snuggled deeper into the hug.

Kanako looked back at me and saw my laughing face and she toogiggled with a smile.

Then she did what any five year old little sister would do to their big brother at that happy moment.

She playfully elbowed my chest hard.

But I was no ordinary big brother….she didn't know that…

-Crack-

A sharp stinging pain ran up from my chest and I immediately stopped my laughing.

So did Kanako.

I could feel some of my ribs break from inside my chest.

I gritted my teeth in pain and started to fall to the side.

Kanako's eyes widen as she felt my arms loosen from her neck and slip to the side. She looked back and saw me falling to the side.

Worried, she turned around and caught me with her small arms.

"Onii-chan!?! Onii-chan!?!" She cried.

I could barely hear her. All I could feel were the unbearable pains coming from my chest. Every time I breathed it hurt. All I could guess was one of my ribs punctured my lung. I don't know how deep. But it still hurt.

"Onii-chan?!"

I couldn't respond right away.

My body shook while I was in Kanako's grasp. I was breathing hard. Erratic. Hyperventilating. Convulsing.

"Onii-chan! What's wrong!" She wailed.

Kanako tried her best to comfort me. Putting my head on her naked lap. Gently nudging to keep me awake. She could see the horrified, panting look on my face and immediately tears started to fall out of her eyes.

"Mama!! Granny!!! Haruka-Obaa-san!! Anyone!! Help!"

I looked up and just saw Kanako's pretty face. Full of tears and looking around franticly. Desperately calling for help. I only smiled but soon it was wiped away by another wave of pain as I took a breath.

"K-Kanako-chan…" I muttered softly.

She stopped her calling and soon focused on me once again. Confused.

"Onii-chan!! Whats wrong! Why are you in pain? Did I do it?! Onii-chan?" She responded hugging me tighter in her petite arms.

I coughed and wheezed which only caused more tears to form in her eyes.

"N-no! You di-didn't do it! And I just want you to know…"

I coughed some more.

"Wh-what is it Onii-chan?!"

"Just in case you didn't no….I lied….I seriously promise…to go to Toudai for you and her…and run this Inn with you…"

"O-Onii-chan…."

I only smiled and soon everything around me started to turn black. I could only hear the continuing wailing of Kanako and soon I heard footsteps coming from the in. I could only guess that was Mama and Haruka.

Soon The only thing I could feel were the tears coming from Kanako hitting my face and her gentle nudges as every thing became pitch black.

And I was out like a light.

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I jolted from my bed. I was panting, and breathing a bit hard.

I looked to my left and right. I was still inside the Kannrin room. It was still raining outside, and only a couple of minutes had passed.

Everything was still a bit dizzy and I shook my head to get back on track.

I remembered the dream I just had, and I smiled.

Kanako-chan…

I've made some promises in my life. Like the girl in the sandbox…and Kanako….and some others. And all these promises must be kept. This is the reason I go on most of the time. When ever I get hurt, or in critical condition. I think about all the people I have kept a promise with. That is what keeps me alive and what gives me the courage to go on living.

Because I would never forgive my self if I ever broke a promise…..

I gazed over to my suitcase and sighed.

I quickly picked it up, steadied myself, and started to go out.

With a happy face….

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I started to walk down the stairs again today. I took every step gently while I had my heavy luggage on my right hand.

As I reached the bottom I could see everyone was still there. As if they hadn't moved an inch sine I went upstairs. But everyone seemed to have calmed down. Especially Naru.

I scanned more of the area and soon found everyone was looking at me.

I did only one thing.

I smiled.

I soon found myself walking past them and also getting closer to the front door.

I looked back and looked at everyone for the last time. Then focused my attention to Haruka.

"Well Haruka. Thanks for having me over. Even if it was for only a while."

I bowed.

Haruka only nodded.

"Your welcome Keitaro….but isn't there any other way? I mean you're the new manager now! You don't have to leave?"

I chuckled.

"Naah. It seemed that a male is just not allowed to be in a girls dorm. It's just not right. Is it Haruka?"

I faced Naru.

"Is it..Naru?"

Naru's eyes widen but soon averted her gaze from mine. I looked at everyone else but they soon did the same.

Motoko gazed unto the floor.

Suu looked at Shinobu.

Shinobu bit her lip.

Mitsune took out a bottle of sake and started to drink it.

"You guys don't have to be like that…… I appreciate you girls speaking your mind….It was better then living under the same roof with a lot of tension between us….."

Everyone's lips parted.

"I mean I would like to be your manager when all of you accept me. And it is a fact that a few of you disagree of me being here so it is just better for me if I leave…In some way I'm grate full for what you did today, Naru….Thank you…."

I soon turned around and faced the front door.

As soon as I did so I could feel everyone's stare come back to me. Directly looking at the back of my head.

I just sighed, opened the door. Picked up my suitcase, and walked out into the pouring rain….

The door closed behind me.

I looked up and the rain poured down unto my face. I closed my eye as raindrops bombarded my face.

I inhaled and exhaled for only to continue down the immense staircase leading towards the empty and barren streets of the Hinata province.

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After walking for a minute I reached a bench.

I sat down and let the rain soak my body even more. I thought of what the girl back at the dorm would be doing right about now. They might be thinking of what just happened. Especially Naru and Haruka. Motoko might be meditating. Shinobu might be cooking…Suu might be hanging unto Motoko while she was meditating, and Mitsune would be drinking that same bottle of sake.

I shook my head to get rid of that train of thought.

That's in the past now…

-Thonk -Thonk-

I heard a bouncing of a ball in front of me.

I looked up to see a bright red small ball. In the middle of the street.

I looked even more to see a cute young girl in a pink rain coat about to step out of the sidewalk and enter the road.

Time slowed down as I looked to the right. There a high speeding car came rushing in. I looked into the drivers seat and sure enough the driver was completely drunk.

I looked back at the girl and it seems she didn't notice the car. My eyes widen as I continued to see her step out of the sidewalk and walk closer to the ball.

I put two and two together…and I got accident as the answer.

Time resumed normallyand I bolted from the bench I was sitting on.

The girl bent down to grasp unto the ball but instead she froze in her tracks when she finally caught a glimpse of the rushing sports car coming straight at her.

Her eyes widen in surprise as it came closer.

I ran as fast as I could and when I was as close as possible I leapt at the girl.

I grasped her and the both of us went landing hard unto the concrete.

Away from the street.

Away from the drunk driver which completely passed us.

She was safe.

We just laid on the sidewalk. The girl was still in a bit of shock and just kept grasping unto my shirt. Her mother saw the whole thing happened and came rushing into our position.

"Hikari! Thank god! Come here."

The little girl looked up and saw her mother. She instantly let go of my shirt, and stood up.

She jumped into her mothers arm as both of them hugged each other back.

"Thank god thank god! Mister thank you for saving my precious!"

She looked down.

I laid on my side silently and with no movement what so ever.

"Mister?"

"Mama? Is he ok?"

The mother bent down and nudged me gently.

My body turned slightly.

Her eyes widen with horror.

There in the side walk where I landed with her daughter was blood. Lots of it.

She looked at the elbow that impacted the concrete and it had blood all over it. My eyes were still closed and blood seeped out from a crack in my head. The blood flowing down my face and inbetween my eyes.

"Oh my god! Somebody! Get an ambulance! Somebody! Help!!!"

I still laid on my side. Completely unconscious as the rain splattered on my face and the mother shouted for help.

But only two words escaped my lips which no one could have heard.

Not the mother.

Not the child.

No one.

Promised…Kanako…

------End of Chapter 5---------