The world was dark for a long time, I hadn't slept without a nightmare for so long that the darkness seemed almost foreboding, but I welcomed it and felt snug in its embrace. The other children would always wake me or the Matron if she felt particularly mean; I could never sleep more than a few hours before being told off. It wasn't until I felt a gentle movement and heard soft whispering near me that reality began to seep back into the world of darkness.
"Akane dear? Wake up, come on it's dinner time now." Blinking my eyes open I immediately felt the calmed energy near me, still able to feel the chaos it contained. Turning I felt a hand retract from my forehead and came face to face with a bright grin, red hair framing a feminine face. It took me a moment to register that this was indeed my new Okāsan, and with that revelation I beamed a massive smile up towards her. "That's more like it!" She beckoned me with her hand and helped me to slip out of the bed, the covers tumbling off after me and creating a mess on the floor. Ignoring the mess, she continued to hold my hand and walked me out onto the landing area before turning left and then right onto the stairs. Raising my empty right hand I grasped the wood railing to the side of the stairs and Okāsan helped me to descend them, they were a lot steeper than I remembered them being. Hesitating for a moment I focused on putting one small foot in front of the other, entirely focused on descending the stairs.
"One foot forward, one foot down, one foot forward, one foot-"
I was cut short in my musings as I missed the step and began to fall, trying to pull my arms forward to brace myself I felt a tug and soon I was back on the step I'd missed; Okāsan's arm reaching out to steady me. Looking at her gratefully I managed to finish the stairs and entered straight into a open living and dining area. Okāsan's bright hair trailed ahead as she gently pulled me towards the large wood table me and Otōsan had sat at before, there were plates of strange food already dished up and a large glass of apple juice sat at one of the spaces. A hand gently helped me onto the cushioned chair and I waited till she sat opposite me; a plate and drink of her own already present in the spot before her. Looking over beside her I spotted Otōsan and more food before him, however the mug of liquid was in his hand and he looked happy to be sipping at it.
"Sorry it's a bit late, but I just got back from my mission; I didn't think it would be a long one," Okāsan's voice rose and startled me, but a gentle chuckle from Otōsan and I was back to investigating the food in front of me. There was some kind of bowl-like plate full of rice, that much I could identify but the other was a big deep bowl like none I'd ever seen before, it was full of a strange thick liquid that smelled faintly of something both sweet and savoury. Reaching my hand up I tentatively poked at the liquid with a finger, before pulling back when I realised it was steaming hot; quickly I licked my finger and multiple tastes exploded in my mouth.
"This is amazing! It's got something in it that I feel I should recognise but don't…"
Tomatoes.
I didn't have to ponder long before my old mind gave me the answer and I smiled, I liked these tomatoes. I heard a laugh and looked up to see Okāsan laughing, then noticed that Otōsan was trying to hide his behind a wide grin. Puffing out my cheeks I quickly went to tip the bowl to eat more before Okāsan intervened and pushed a smooth metal object swiftly into my hand, it has an oval end and a long thin rod attached to the end.
Spoon.
The 'spoon' as I now knew it appeared to be used for eating with and I quickly watched both Okāsan and Otōsan begin to eat their own with it, dipping the oval end into the bowl to catch the liquid before carefully bringing it up to their mouth to eat it. After watching them repeat the process several times I was confident that it couldn't be that difficult. I stood corrected. In the next moment there was food everywhere; on the table, on me and even -somehow- on Okāsan and Otōsan. I'd not yet even got a mouthful and already it was everywhere, blushing furiously at my failure I went to try again but was stopped by Okāsan again who deemed it dangerous to let me. Sighing I glared at the spoon in my hand and then at the bowl of food, why couldn't it just do what I wanted it to. Ignoring the protests from Okāsan and the delightful laughter of Otōsan I tried again and this time managed to get half a spoon into my mouth; savouring the flavour I threw my arms up triumphantly.
"YATTA! I did I!"
In the process food went everywhere. My hand clipped the bowl and it flipped, throwing red liquid everywhere. The small amount of rice beside it fared no better as it flipped too and landed in Otōsan's lap, much to the dismay of the bright-haired man. I winced as the other bowl of food landed on Okāsan's head, swinging down to cover her eyes and I watched as a small scowl formed on her face.
"Woops…"
That alone would not cover it, this wasn't woops…this was bigger than woops. I could even see Otōsan beginning to lean away, his face speaking volumes of experience in these matters. My eyes met his and both widened in panic as Okāsan finally began to move; her hands beginning to raise toward the bowl on her head. We both cringed and sunk lower into our seats as the bowl moved away from her head to reveal a wide smile and her licking at the red streaking down her face. Glancing at each other than at Okāsan we wondered whether this was a good or bad sign, but soon she was laughing and clutching at her sides; with us following quickly in pursuit.
I can't tell how long we laughed for but soon enough everything and us were clean again, and that night I settled to sleep well fed and loved for the first proper time in my short life. Who knows why I'm here now, all I know is I will protect what I now have and cherish the chances I'm given.
Sorry for not updating in ages, I'm back now and with a new laptop I'll be able to do a lot more updating! Sorry for such a short chapter, just wanted to make sure to get something out for you all!
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and have a Happy New Year!