"Right after the meeting was over, dad told me he was having second thoughts about whether he could really be in charge of a clan of Vanquishers. Isn't that ridiculous?" Yomi said to Kagura and I after she and Uncle Naraku introduced Kagura to their house.
Uncle gave Yomi a sigh.
"Don't bully your father, Yomi." I said jokingly to her with my hands resting behind my head.
"It is a very honorable position and he deserve it, so he should have more confidence in himself. I'll be troubled if he doesn't." She finishes.
"In any case," The man in question speaks to Kagura and I. "we're glad to have you both here."
Yomi and I lead Kagura to her room where she'll be using. Yomi opens the door for her and says. "So this is where you'll be staying. It's your room now, I hope you like it."
It's a good room. There are the necessities, a desk, bed, and a closet.
Kagura looks around then gives a small bow of the head to show gratitude.
I'm still wearing my drawstring bag that's holding my items. I didn't take much since Uncle and I agreed that I'm just staying here for a few days.
I walk to the stairs leading up.
"I believe my room is the same room as the last time I stayed here." I said to Yomi.
"That's right. I'm surprised that you remember." She responded.
I smirked at her and walked up a few steps. "Don't underestimate this brain of mine."
Yomi turns back to Kagura. "Let's get all your baggage tomorrow. I'll ask dad to drive us."
"It's okay." Kagura said softly. Is she shy?
"Don't worry, it's no trouble at all. You're going to be living here for a long time. Think of all the things you need, like your video games and your manga." She said counting her fingers.
"And your clothes too." I added, still on the stairs.
"I won't." Kagura replied.
Yomi and I went quiet as she entered her room. We gave a confused look to each other, wondering if everything on her back is really all she needs.
I walked back down to look into the room with Yomi. Kagura put down her bag and brought out a picture of her mother and put it onto the desk.
Me and Yomi made a slight sound of surprise.
"This is all I need." The little girl said.
Yomi and I gave another look at each other, the look of concern. We both have lost loved ones; we surely don't want this girl to experience that feeling.
After I dropped off my bag in my room I went downstairs. I take off my jacket and put it along with my bag.
Hmm, maybe I should make lunch. I could make soba or maybe they like tonkatsu.
I entered the kitchen to check what we have so I know what I can make. I see Yomi looking through the cabinets.
"If you're going to eat Pocky again, I'm going to throw away every sweets in those drawers." I told her. She always has a craving for sweets.
She gave a smile. "I'm looking for snacks for Kagura." She said still rummaging.
"Don't bring to much. I just thought of making lunch for us."
Her ears perked and she jumped from her spot, "Can you make those strawberry-filled crepes again?" She eagerly asked.
See? Sweet-craving lunatic.
"Crepes? That's not really a lunch Yomi." I sweat-dropped.
"They're still delicious." She brightly said.
Dang, I'm such a sucker when someone's so happy. I hope we have enough ingredients for all of us.
"Fine, fine." I said, giving up with making lunch.
"Yay!" She jumped happily.
Yomi put some snacks on a tray to give to Kagura. As for me, I tried to find the ingredients. We didn't have any butter so I'm trying to see if we have any coconut oil.
"How your mom Takara? Is she doing better?" Yomi asks while grabbing juice from the fridge.
I pause from what I was doing. "In all honestly," I begin. "I wish I can say she 'is' doing better." My voice goes cold. Just last year she could barely stand, now when she tries, she always stumbles. There's no cure for this illness of hers, all I can do is give her medicine to slow it down.
I hate it
"But, don't worry" I said before Yomi could question further. "My mother is a strong woman. She'll last for a long time."
"Takara…" Yomi said worriedly.
Not wanting her to question me, I grabbed the tray with the snacks and drinks and handed it to her. "I think Kagura been waiting long enough now. The crepes should be ready in a few minutes." I said smiling at her.
I went back at preparing the dessert while I can feel her eyes looking at me for a moment before she goes upstairs.
We're going need to go food shopping later. I could hardly find the ingredients that I needed. I eventually did find them though.
I put the crepes on a plate. Then, I hear two pairs of feet walk down the stairs. I see Yomi followed by Kagura.
"Oh! You're done." Yomi said excitedly. "We're heading to the dojo. Do you want to come with us?"
Now that I think about it. I've never been to the dojo before, even when I visited.
"Sure, sounds like it could be fun." I answered.
I put the crepes in plastic wrap to save them for later. Then we went to the dojo. It looked like it was in top shape. It's a good place to train. Not great, but good. At least they have their own dojo and not a backyard…
I leaned against the wall with Yomi. We were watching the young Tsuchimiya practice with a wooden sword. She swung it with precision in every move that she makes. She has very good balance with it. Good skills even for someone so young.
After she was done, Yomi walked forward.
"Master Tsuchimiya trained you alright. That's some serious talent." She encouragingly said.
"That means a lot. Thank you." Kagura replied.
"Do you want to spar?" Yomi asked. "For practice of course." Huh? This could get interesting, Yomi has good skills of her own but I wonder want it'll be like if she fought with a Tsuchimiya.
They both got ready. Yomi with a bamboo sword in hand and Kagura with her wooden. I sat on the sidelines, watching with attention.
"Don't go easy." Yomi told Kagura. "I want you to give it everything you got." After that, there was quietness, they stood still. All you could hear was the water flowing outside.
Then, Kagura moved her sword to the left. Next think I know it landed on the ground. Yomi had her bamboo sword to Kagura's neck.
Whoa, that was intense even when it lasted for a short time. There's no sarcasm to that statement. I couldn't even follow Yomi's movements. Not to mention that Kagura was able to make a single move against her.
Yomi put down her sword and said. "You know, for someone your age you have incredible speed. With a little more training, you could be unstoppable."
I got up from my spot to join in. "That's right. You're actually faster than me when I was your age. Probably stronger too." I admitted.
She shook her head. "I'm not strong..."
"Huh?" Yomi and I said with confusion.
"I'm not very good at all." Kagura continued. "A loss is a loss."
"Wait a minute, there's no need to push yourself down." I told her.
"Don't act like that. We're only training, it's nothing serious." Yomi said, trying to console the girl.
"You'll do better next time." I said, trying my own way to be comforting.
"On the battlefield there is no next time." Kagura said firmly.
Yomi did her own talking. "What battlefield? Don't feel bad because I beat you, I'm actually pretty skilled. No big deal."
"Exactly, we've trained ourselves for a long time." I explained. "So there's no need to be so self-disciplined."
"Father said that on the battlefield, you can't choose your opponent's strength. To lose is to die" Kagura told us. Wow, talk about a tough father.
"When warriors allow themselves to be beaten, the lives of countless others are jeopardized. He says that's why a Vanquisher's greatest responsibility is to stay alive for as long as possible." She continues on.
Yomi and I glance at each other, knowing what we want to say. Yet, we stay quiet.
"Losing is shameful. And my father's says that should never be taken lightly even when it happens in training."
I take a deep sigh. What's this father of hers thinking? Telling someone so young like that.
Yomi leans in angrily. "That's pig-headed. As a matter of fact, that's one of the most pig-headed things I've ever heard."
"It is?" Kagura questioned.
"You're father sounds so strict. You're young, you need to experience fun." I told her, putting my hands on my hips.
"And that father of yours sounds like a real crank." Yomi says.
"A crank?" Kagura also questioned.
Yomi points at her. "It doesn't matter if you won or lost, if someone says you're talented, you have to be happy with it."
She then steps forward and grab Kagura by the hand.
She smiles. "This time you both have to accompany me."
Wait what? "You both? What about the crepes?" I asked her.
"Bring them along too." She responds, still smiling.
I sit behind a small table and put the crepes on it. We're in Yomi's room. She went to go get controllers for a game that she and Kagura are going to play. I told her that there's no need to get a third controller since I don't really play video games.
"Hey, head's up." Yomi said to Kagura, tossing a controller to her.
Kagura catches it and Yomi grabs two crepes in front of me.
"Here, taste this." She sits down next to Kagura, giving a crepe to her and starts eating the other. Wow, she's already done with it.
Kagura gives her a look of confusion then takes a bite from the crepe.
"Delicious." She says with surprise.
Yomi grinned. "I know right? It was made none other by the chef sitting over other there." She turns behind her and points at me.
Kagura also turned and says. "My compliments."
I gave her a smile. "Why, thank you very much."
They sit in front of the T.V. Getting ready to play Dream box.
"So what foods do you hate more than anything in the world?" Yomi asked Kagura.
Oh, I see where this is going… She did this to me when I lost a bet with her; this was the reason why I decided to learn how to cook.
"Hate? I was told not to have likes and dislikes." Kagura said to her.
"Your father told you that?" She says back to her.
I made a "pfft" noise while trying not to laugh from that sentence.
"You hate something! Spit it out!" She eagerly says.
"Uh, century eggs?" Kagura says after a short thought.
I smirked behind both of them. Kagura you've made a mistake at telling her.
"Perfect! If you lose, we're having century eggs with stir-fried vegetable for dinner." Yomi tells her.
"Eh?" Kagura exclaimed worried.
Not wanting to be left out of this fun, I raised my hand and said, "I'll cook it."
She turns to me and once again worriedly said, "Eh?"
Yomi then tells her, "If you win, I'll make your favorite dish instead." She started thinking a little. "But either way, if Takara's making the century eggs, then it'll be a win-win for you
"Ready? Set, go!" She pressed play on the game.
Kagura fumbled to get her hands on her controller. "Wait, I wasn't ready!" She exclaimed. I watched from behind them as Yomi was already beating her.
"'On the battlefield, no one asks if you're ready.'" Yomi said, trying to imitate Kagura's father. I gave a chuckle for her good personation while I take a bite out my crepe.
"What? That's not fair Ms. Yomi." Kagura sadly says.
Yomi then paused the game.
"Big Sister Yomi" She corrected Kagura.
"Huh?"
"I'm not a 'Ms'." She told Kagura with a wink.
I lean against my hand as I look at both of them, looking at how great of friends they've become in a short time.
Kagura brightly smiled at her then she faced me.
"What you need?" I ask her, confused at her sudden turning.
"Big Sister Takara." She said with a bright smile.
She turns back to the game and they resume. I sat there frozen with my crepe in my hand. I was in disbelief that I was called a big sister.