"We were given a chance to do it all over again

So bright and divine, so gentle and kind, our ordinary lives

Overflow, watch it grow with happiness."

-rachie, Town of Jade

Nagato was cold.

He pulled a blanket tighter over his shoulders as he padded over to the window. It was just barely long enough to brush against his waist, and a dull, faded blue from being washed in the lake one to many times. Still, he clung to the thin fabric as he stared through the glass. He looked past the drops sliding down, the puddles soaking the grass, up to the dark clouds filling the sky.

Nagato wondered what the sun looked like. He'd seen drawings of it in one of his books, rough, black and white sketches of a ball of light that hung high in the sky, but he'd never seen it before. He didn't think Amegakure had a sun for a long time, until his mother told him that it was there, just hidden behind the clouds.

"Mm,"

Nagato glanced back, moving closer to the bed on the other side of the room, "You awake, Oka?" he asked, leaning over her. Her face was scrunched up, but her eyes didn't open. He felt her forehead. "Your fever's gone down, at least." he murmured, sitting on the floor.

He looked out the window. Maybe one day he could take Oka with him to see the sun.

Oka had been sick for a long time. But she was slowly getting better, stronger. Her fevers used to be so bad that her teeth would chatter even though her clothes were soaked in sweat. He wasn't allowed in her room back then, but that didn't stop him from checking on her in the middle of the night when everyone else was asleep. She slept most of the time, and only woke up once or twice during the day. But back then, she never woke up at all.

Nagato turned back to Oka, pausing when he saw that her eyes were half-open. "I brought a new book to read," he said, watching her head slowly turn. He scooted forward, reaching between the mattress and the bedframe for the book he'd hidden there. He'd only started doing it after he caught his mother and father doing the same to the things that were important to them.

He brushed dust off the cover, tracing his thumb over the faded spiral in the middle. The book was older than he was. It was small too, about the size of his father's hand. The cover was sturdy, but the pages inside were yellowed. His mother gave it to him as a birthday gift. It was important to her, so it was important to him too.

Oka's dark orbs followed him as he stood, sitting on the edge of her bed. "This one doesn't have a name," Nagato told her, opening the book to the first page. He held it out to her, watching her study the drawing on the left page, of waves cresting against a shore. Most of the words on the right page were smeared or hard to read. "This story is about a princess," he began, turning the page.

It had the same drawing, except a little girl had been added, her hair flowing around her as the ocean circled her feet. "She lived on an island protected by a sea dragon," he said, making his voice low and dramatic, "The dragon would make huge whirlpools that destroyed anything that tried to cross the water," the third page showed the wreckage of a boat sticking out of the sand, with whirlpools swirling in the background.

"The dragon would only let the people who lived on the island cross the water, and only if they promised to bring something for the dragon when they came back. Everyone was happy," the page after that was his favorite. It was a painting of the sun. "It was warm," Nagato said, tracing his thumb against it. "And it never rained."

Oka stared up at him with wide eyes. "But it always rains." she said, her voice quiet and weak.

"Not there," Nagato said firmly. "There were clouds sometimes, but no rain," he glanced at her as she stared at the page, waiting a few seconds before turning it.

"But then the island was attacked." The sketch showed flames covering the island. "The princess had to run away from the island or die with everyone else she loved."

"What happened to the dragon?" Oka asked.

Nagato went to the next page. Three figures with smudged headbands poked at the water with sticks. "The attackers tried everything to kill the dragon," he read. "But nothing worked. Until," the next page was of a woman with short hair, kneeling next to the edge of the water. She held a vial, frozen in the middle of pouring its contents into the water. "The enemy made a poison. It was so strong that not even the dragon could resist it."

The princess was running in the sketch after that, her arms held up against the branches drawn in her path. Her dress was torn, and scratches covered her legs. "The princess ran and ran," Nagato said. "While her island burned to the ground behind her."

He turned to the next page. The princess was standing at the edge of a field, staring across a body of water at a tower made of metal. Her hair wasn't flowing anymore, but stuck to her back, soaked through from the rain. "The princess had to find a new place. One that wasn't like her little island. Everything was made of metal, and the buildings stretched so high in the sky that they touched the clouds."

"I'm sleepy," Oka mumbled.

Nagato glanced back. Her eyes were closed. "Okay," he said, closing the book. "I'll save the rest for later."

好感度

"Ah, you're getting heavy."

Nagato kept a tight hold around Oka as he navigated downstairs, keeping a careful eye on the steps in front of him. She shifted against him, leaning against his shoulder. He tried not to let it throw off his concentration as he took another step down.

"Tired today too?"

Oka nodded. She was always tired. There were just some days that she was less tired than others. "But I want to see papa," she said.

"Not mama?"

"Mama's gonna read to me later."

"A new book?"

Oka shook her head.

"The one about the samurai?"

She shook her head again.

"The underwater village?"

Oka hesitated.

"I'll ask," Nagato said. "I know you like that one."

He reached the bottom, relieved that he'd managed it. He carried Oka up and down the hallway before, but never down the stairs. He took her to the living room. There wasn't much space, but a small couch had been squeezed into it. Their father was sitting in the middle, leaning over a bunch of books and scrolls spread out on the table in front of him.

Nagato knew that the books were about medicine, but it too advanced for him to read.

Their father glanced up, and Nagato caught the flash of surprise in his eyes before he smiled, beckoning them over. "If it isn't my favorite red-head," he said, ruffling Nagato's hair.

"Hey!" The shout came from the kitchen.

"Its alright dear," his father said back, winking. "You'll always be my second favorite red head."

Nagato ducked his head to hide his smile.

"And my favorite little wolf," he said, taking Oka from him. She gave a weak growl and bit at his shirt when she was put in his lap. She tired herself out in seconds. "You should be resting."

"Wanted to see you," she murmured, curling against his chest.

He rubbed her shoulder. "Then you're lucky to have a big brother like Nagato, eh? I wouldn't have carried you all the way down here."

"Liar," Nagato muttered, but couldn't hide his grin.

"What? No, never," he pretended to look hurt, raising his voice. "Fusō, tell Nagato that I would never lie to him."

"Every word out of his mouth is a lie," came the reply.

Nagato laughed. He sat on the couch, just as a dish shattered in the kitchen. He wouldn't have thought anything of it if his father didn't tense, alerting him that something was wrong. He heard rushed footsteps. "I saw them through the window," she said, soap still on her hands. "They're coming, Ise!"

He was confused, until he heard voices behind the front door. His mother inhaled. Oka had been falling asleep, but her eyes shot open as she was swept up, their father's eyes flicking around the room. He cursed.

"Who is it?" Nagato asked as his mother took his hand, squeezing until his fingers hurt. She pulled him towards the stairs. "What's wrong?" he tried. He jumped when a crack appeared in the door, his parents flinching away from the bang.

"There's no time," his father whispered, looking up the steps. "We'll be trapped up there."

His mother swallowed but nodded.

They were huddled in the corner when the door finally caved in. His mother tightened her hold on him, shielding him with her body. Nagato ducked down when he saw part of a green sleeve. He tried to make himself as small as he could. Oka was squished against their father's chest.

Nagato could hear them talking and throwing open cupboards in the kitchen. He shuddered. He didn't know who they were, and he didn't care. He just wanted them to go away and leave them alone.

"We have to make a run for it," his father murmured, his tone grim. "We can't stay here."

Nagato shook his head. He was too afraid to move.

"It's alright," his mother whispered, stroking his hair. "We just have to get out of here, and we'll be fine."

"Wait, come look at this. Someone was here," the intruder lowered his voice. "The faucet is dripping, and these plates are still wet."

His parents tensed, his mother shooting a panicked look at his father.

"Shinobi, you think?"

"We know there aren't any civilians left around here."

"Think it's an ambush?"

"Let's split up. You cover the top floor and I'll look around here."

His mother covered his mouth, and Nagato realized how loud he was breathing.

"I bet you just want to take all the food for yourself before I get back-" the intruder stopped short when he came out into the hallway. Nagato watched his eyes widen, his hand going for the pouch strapped to this side.

He didn't notice his father put Oka down until he got up and charged. "Run, Fuso!"

"Over here!" the intruder shouted.

His mother wrapped her arms around him, kissing the top of his head. "Give Oka a kiss for me, okay?" She stood up as the second intruder ran out into the hallway, weapon in hand.

"Wait," Nagato whispered, reaching for her as she ran away from him. He could only watch as his father took a step back and fell, hitting the ground with a thud. He scooted back until he hit the wall, trembling at the sight of the weapon sticking out of his father's chest.

"Nagato, take Oka and run!" his mother screamed.

Nagato flinched, dragging his eyes away from his father. Oka was on her hands and knees, eyes wide. He tugged her against him, covering her eyes as their mother tilted forward. He remembered to close his own too late, after he saw the blood coming from her neck.

The first intruder cursed. "Civilians?"

"Looks like it," the second said with a shake of his head, crouched over his father. "And," he said, lifting his eyes to meet Nagato's. "They have kids."

Nagato didn't want to die.

"What do we do?"

He didn't want Oka to die.

"We can't leave them."

His eyes went to his mother's body. Her eyes were frozen open in shock. He was terrified, but she'd told him to run. It was the last thing she said before-

Nagato choked on his tears.

"We can't take them!"

He pushed himself up while they argued, refusing to let Oka look at them. Nagato grit his teeth and charged for the door.

"Hey, wait-!"

Nagato slipped a little on the blood but managed to stay on his feet as he sprinted out into the rain.

"Let him go. This way they're not our problem."

He was glad it was raining. That way no one could see his tears.

A/N: 好感度 - Fondness