Note : Hello, first of all, I hope the first chapter was okay! And I made VERY, VERY TINY changes to the previous chapter. I am also EXTREMELY HAPPY to see that the first chapter had a lot of views and visitors, and would like to say "THANK YOU!" for reading the first chap! I probably also used to much full-stops for this chapter -_- Hahahhaha! Anyways, enjoy and review! :D
The White Clover
Riko jumped up from her bed. She was panting, the image of dark, red liquid, still fresh in her memory. She was covered in sweat as adrenaline rushed through her body.
When she had cooled down, Riko got up from her bed and went into the toilet. She brushed her teeth and took a cool bath.
It's been a long time since I dreamt of Niji onee-chan... We moved from Fukuoka to Tokyo since then...Hyuga too... Is he going to go there too?... Mmmhhmm... It doesn't matter... I'm going to see onee-chan today...
A gentle smile spread across Riko's face as the sunlight shone on her damp hair, which made the droplets of water look as if, they were actual diamonds, sparkling amongst her hazel hair...
Suddenly, a loud but, gentle voice broke the silence of the morning...
"Riko! Come down! Breakfast's ready!" the voice of her mother sounded throughout the silent house.
Riko snapped out of her thoughts and grabbed a towel.
"Ok! I'm coming!" replied Riko, who quickly dried herself and changed into a long, pale peach blouse and dark jeans.
When Riko got to the kitchen, she saw her mother serving a few slices of bread, with a few other ingredients on the table. Before she sat down, Riko looked around the house for her father.
Riko's mother noticed her and said, " He just left. He said that he had an important appointment so he'll go later,".
Riko nodded and sat down to eat her breakfast.
Riko looked up at her mother's back. The morning light shone across her face, making her wrinkles seem more obvious... Her frown grew deeper as she cleaned the plates..
Why are they always so quiet when we have to go there? I-It makes everything seem so sad and depressing... They should move on soon.. It's not good for them to always carry the burden...
"I'm going to buy some groceries before I go so, you should go first. Ah! And remember to buy some flowers," said Riko's mother.
"Omphkay," muffled Riko, with her mouth filled with bread.
"Bye," said Riko's mother, who left through the front door.
"Bye," she replied.
Riko got up and cleaned the plates. She got her keys, purse and bag, and went out through the front door.
As Riko walked to the flower shop, her mind wandered to her past memories, with her sister...
~ Flashback ~
"Onee-chan! Onee-chan! What should we name the song?!" said Riko, cheerfully, jumping up and down.
"Hmmm... Ok, what were you thinking when we were writing the song?" asked Niji.
"I kept thinking about the pwetty flowers, in the fields, where we were walking along the other day," said Riko.
"There were, daisies, sunflowers, clovers and... dandelions..." said Niji.
"How about 'Tanpopo'?" Niji continued.
"Tanpopo?" said Riko.
"Mhmm.. " continued Niji.
**(Tanpopo = dandelions)
"Onee-chan, Tanpopo sounds weird! Why Tanpopo?" asked Riko, and pouted her mouth.
"Because it means a gift to a loved one and this song is our gift, only between you and me," said Niji, who smiled gently and pinched her sister's nose.
"Wahhh~ Ok! Tanpopo then! " asked Riko, who rubbed her nose and frowned at her elder sister...
"Ah! Onee-chan, do you know a lot about flowers?" said Riko.
"Uhhmmm... Not really.. I know a little about flowers since our home is surrounded by fields," said Niji.
"Oh... Then what is your favourite flower onee-chan?" asked Riko.
"Hmmmm... I love all the flowers, Riko... Because, each flower, with their own meaning, resemble the people that I love. That's why, I can't choose, so I love them all!" replied Niji with a big smile.
"Ehhh! Then what flower am I?!" asked Riko.
"You're a daisy," replied Niji.
"What is the meaning of a daisy?" asked Riko impatiently.
"A daisy means innocent, purity, faith and simplicity," said Niji and caressed her sister's soft, hazel hair.
"Ohhh.. Then what flower is onee-chan?" asked Riko.
"Onee-chan is...Uhhmmm..." Niji looked up at the ceiling, thinking hard.
"I don't know... Hehehe... How about this, promise me you'll tell me what flower I am next time, when you know more about flowers, ok?" said Niji.
"Ok! I promise!" replied Riko, cheerfully.
"Ah! I just remembered, I have a flower to give you," said Niji and took a slender, transparent vase, with a delicate, white flower, from the desk behind her.
"What flower is this, onee-chan?" asked Riko.
"This is a white clover. It's holds a secret message from me," said Niji whose eyes grew widen, trying to be sarcastic.
"Ohhh! What secret message?!" asked Riko, following her sister's lead.
"I leave it for you to find out," said Niji, and sticked her tongue out at her sister.
"Ehhh! Hmph!" exclaimed Riko, who crossed her arms around her chest and stomped away.
~ Present ~
Niji's laughter echoed in Riko's ears as she snapped back to reality...
... White clover...
Riko entered the flower shop and asked the florist to wrap a white clover and 9 dandelions together.
"White clover?" said the old, female florist, when Riko said her order.
"Yes, a white clover and 9 dandelions. Do you not have any white clovers?" asked Riko.
"Ah! Yes, we do. I was just surprised as not many people order white clovers... It's meaning is very deep and seldom used for any festivities or occasions, like valentines or weddings. But, why only one? You see it's meanin-," said the florist.
"I know it's meaning... Can you help me wrap them up quickly as I'm in a rush? Thank you," said Riko, and smiled politely.
Riko didn't want to be reminded of the meaning of the flower... It pained her, to think about it... It pained her heart to think about her sister's promise... The flower was Niji's symbol of promise to her... To stay by her side, forever...through the song...
We made a promise that day, to tell onee-chan her flower... But, onee-chan made another to me... In fact, we made two... Two promises... Ah! Two promises!
"I'm sorry but, can you add another white clover?" said Riko, panickly.
"Sure, no problem," replied the florist.
Author's note : I recently read a few stories about flowers, so I wanted to add a little about it to mine... And I wanted to keep the importance of Niji (Riko's elder sister) to Riko by still using the term "onee-chan". Please write reviews for me to improve on my story! And, last of all, I hoped you liked it and thanks for reading!
