Ichigo
Out of all of us, I do admit I spent most of my time with Mikan. I guess it had something to do with my past; she reminded me of someone I used to know. She was my favorite sibling out of all of them anyway. She was always witty in some way or another. Last night Akane called for a meeting after a dinner. Mikan and I were sitting on the roof when she'd called, it'd become our tradition. We hadn't moved in awhile and stayed at the same house. This was the most we'd ever been at one house; it was our fourth day.
"Listen up." She yelled, trying to catch the attention of everyone on the compound.
Kuya and Chiya, the youngest of us all, were seen sprinting from 2 blocks away, where they'd been playing, back into the house. Their fraying dress and pants hanging loosely on their small frames, being blown back by the force of their speed. When everyone slowly gathered the way to the fire in the middle of the courtyard, Akane motioned us all to sit. We sat there for a while, listening to the cicadas chirp and glancing at the gray-once-white walls. When Akane finally gathered her thoughts she cleared her throat, every head snapping back to her. We sat in the circle according to age, and even though I was the oldest, she was the center of attention.
"You've all noticed that we've been residing here for a very longtime. I know some of you are getting antsy from waiting, and others not so much." She pauses, everyone looking at each other, some glaring, while others acknowledged those of each group.
"I know this place is somewhat comfortable, but this search must end. We've been looking for too long, and now we will find our home. We've covered so much and tomorrow will be the end of our search. Soon we'll have gone to ever home in this district. I refuse to stop until we do." Many people nodded their head in agreement, their murmuring being carried away by the light night wind.
"We will start before the sunrises tomorrow, so get your things ready tonight, we will not be returning. Tomorrow we will all search, and report our findings at the center of the border at sunset. Even though it's against my better judgment of efficiency, we will pair up. I want groups of two so no one will miss any house, I'm as tired as you are and finally want our home. I don't care who you're with, but tell me by midnight, I'll assign you directions accordingly. Carry on, and get ready." Everyone shuffled around, before getting up and filing out. I loitered around not having anything to pack because I was new. I eventually left when everyone else had left and watched as Mikan tediously packed her things away in a sack on the roof.
"That's so unlike you, you're the type to throw stuff into a sack and call it a done job." I said behind her, still watching over her shoulder.
"I guess you're right Ichi, but honestly, this is all I have and back when I was alive, I had a lot. You know going from riches to rags kind of changes you I guess. I honestly care about my stuff now, because it's frightening not having anything."
"Huh, I guess your right… Was it murder?"
"Well, you're very blunt, I acknowledge that, and yes it was," She took a deep sigh and turned to me, half her face hidden behind shadows, "My Uncle was an evil man, and had me kidnapped for ransom. The world is a cruel place when your parents don't care anymore. They didn't get the money, so to prove a lasting point they killed me off. I'm not sad, I'm the one who died, but I'm rather ashamed, my parents were greedy and jerks, they didn't care to save their own child."
"Wow… You weren't even a teenager and they abandoned you like that. That's just fucked up, honestly."
"I know…" A long awkward silence came between us, as I stood and watched her continue to get ready, it all ending with a satisfying pat.
"Ichi, is anyone partnered with you right now?"
"Well considering you're the only one I've talked to since the meeting, no."
"Alright, you can be mine, I don't have one either." She jumped down the roof before I could protest, telling Akane that we were partners.
"Honestly Mikan, don't be making decisions on your own, jeeze…" Although she couldn't hear me, I though it was important I say it. I wait for Mikan to come back up, because we'd taken to sleeping on the roof, the weather was perfect for it. We lie there in complete silence, only breaths audible, as I waited for the next day, something that would change my life, unbeknownst to me.
Hi there! Sorry it's really been awhile... Don't worry, soon I'll have time again, just not now.
I hope you liked it even though it was short!
Slipsilvermoon