Hello everyone! Very early chapter because I won't be able to update for the next two Saturdays! So, I hope you all enjoy!
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Nino's P.O.V
I knocked on the door, holding a few dandelions in my other hand. Mrs. Cesaire opens the door and greets me with a kind smile.
"Nino, dear. It is good to see you," she said. Before I could get a word in, tiny footsteps quickly ran past the woman and a small body barreled into me.
"Older brother! You have finally come to visit! I missed you!" Chris exclaimed, nuzzling his head against my stomach. I affectionately ruffle the six-year-old's hair. It has been a little over a week since I visited Chris and Alya's family.
"I missed you too," I replied, wholeheartedly, "Did you pick your flowers?"
"Yeah! I will go get them! I shall be right back!" he said before scampering back into the small home.
"It has been a while. Has it not?" Mrs. Cesaire questioned, "I do not mean to be bitter, especially today of all days. Yet, your visits have grown less frequent."
"I have been very busy with work and Alya. I am trying to visit as much as my schedule allows me to," I admited, scratching the back of my neck. Mrs. Cesaire nodded understandingly.
She had taken in Chris once Alya and I started living together. I could barely get enough food for Chris and me to eat. Adding Alya into our small family had taken its toll. I could no longer provide for everyone. Luckily, Mrs. Cesaire graciously offered to take Chris under her wing.
I promised to visit Chris as much as I could and continue our tradition that began four years ago...
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"Jasmine! We have returned from picking flowers!" I called out to my eldest sister, setting down my two-year-old brother, Christopher (or Chris for short).
Jasmine turned away from the stew for a moment and smiled at us.
"Did little Chris pick out some beautiful flowers?" she asked, sweetly. Chris waddled his way over to the older woman and presented her the flowers he picked.
"Those are the loveliest flowers I have ever seen. You did a marvelous job! I am sure mother and father will really like them," Jasmine complimented. Chris gave her the biggest toothy smile a two-year-old could. She picked Chris up and placed him on her lap.
"Where are my compliments? He was not the only one who labored over picking those dandelions," I joked.
"You did very well too," she teased, "Alright, supper is ready."
After we ate, the three of us left our hut with the flowers. We walked through the poor section until standing in front of a sign on the outskirts of the city.
The Unforgotten Cemetery.
Not just any cemetery, these were victims of a treacherous plague that happened a year ago. Unfortunately, two of the victims were our parents.
Jasmine has been working endlessly for our survival. Even I had taken a job to help earn some money. It has just been us three for an entire year. Two teenagers and a toddler.
We approached two rocks with our parents' names carved out in them. We stood silently in front of the graves, remembering our tragic loss that happened a year ago today. Jasmine suggested we start a tradition of bringing flowers to our parents every year on this day.
Chris placed the dandelions on both graves before quickly returning to our sister. She immediately picked him up and held him close. She rubbed soothing circles on his back as a way of comfort.
I take in a shaky breath staring down at the graves before deciding to lean into Jasmine's side, seeking her warmth too. None of us say anything, not daring to disturb the silence. It is like we are afraid to murmur even a word. If that happens, we might miss some sort of voice on the wind. A message sent from mother and father.
Although, the silence is becoming unbearable for me. My eyes begin to water and my body is trembling. I sniffle before feeling an arm snake around my shoulders and bringing me closer to Jasmine. I do not look at my siblings, knowing I will break at just a mere glance at their broken expressions.
"It is not fair. We are just kids. I suppose, Jasmine has recently grown into adulthood but she is still far too young to take on that responsibility. We should be a family but we are instead the shambled remains of it," I thought.
Finally, I decide to be the brave one and talk first.
"Mom...dad...we miss you," I started, "I wish you both were still here. We have missed you the same since the day you left. It does not even seem like it was that long ago but it has been a year..."
It is unbelievable how time flies by within the blink of an eye and vanishes. It still feels like father was playing catch with me just yesterday and mother was teaching me how to play wondrous tunes on her homemade guitar.
"Yes," Jasmine decided to add on, "It has been difficult without you both here but we are pulling through. When our family sticks together, we can do anything."
Jasmine squeezes my shoulder. Yet, something about the way she said her words rattled me a little. Both in a good way and...bad one. Jasmine has always been the strong one since mother and father left this world. She has never shown a sign of weakness but made sure to be caring at the same time.
When was the last time I have seen her break? When was the last time I heard her cry?
I turn my attention to Jasmine, who is wearing a disturbingly neutral face like the face of a recently deceased person.
I shifted away, unable to look any longer.
Chris obviously says nothing the whole time. His face stayed buried in Jasmine's neck.
Eventually, the sun begins to set and marks the first year of our parent's death. I know with the years ahead our loss will still affect us but it should get easier with time.
We returned home leaving a path of longing and sorrow.
Jasmine tucked Chris into his bed and gave me a goodnight kiss on my forehead. The first nights without mom and dad were rough for me. I have managed to sleep through the night two months after their departure.
Usually, I would not have much trouble sleeping. Today is different, however. I do not know why I have this unnerving feeling ruining through my veins. Is it from the anniversary of our family's loss? Is it from Jasmine's earlier oddness?
Whatever it is, it keeps me up for a few hours. I finally had enough and left my bed. She will probably be mad at me but I need to check on my older sister. I need to make sure she is alright.
I quietly creep out of my and Chris' shared room. I tiptoe over to the smallest room in the hut that is Jasmine's quarters. As I approached, I could hear the softest noises coming from her room.
The sounds of someone crying.
My heart broke in two.
A need to protect her envelops my soul. Jasmine has protected us from people and our demons for so long. I want to return the favor.
As Jasmine said, family can do anything so long as we are together.
"Jasmine," I murmured, reaching out to move away the cloth (acting as her door).
The ground shakes.
I stumble and fall onto my rear end.
The sounds of a horn echo outside, warning the entire poor section of an Akuma threat. Chris begins to wail throughout the hut.
I immediately get onto my feet just as Jasmine bursts out from her bedroom. We lock questionable gazes at each other for a split second until the earth beneath our feet shakes again. Jasmine races past me and toward my shared room with Chris.
I stand frozen on my spot, scared out of my mind. A million questions circle through my head into a mixed mess with no clear thoughts on what to do. I should do something. I need to protect what is left of my family as the eldest male in this household.
But what can a fourteen-year-old like me do?
"Nino!" my sister snapped me back into reality. I look up at her panicked, messy face before the ground shakes again. I can hear the panicked screams outside the hut over Chris' crying, sending more shockwaves of fear through me.
"We need to leave!" she shouted, pulling me towards the door. I finally break out of my fear-stricken trance and follow Jasmine outside. People are running down the streets and away from the massive, purple bird Akuma.
A monster-like crow.
It stood higher than many of the wealthy section's buildings. I have never seen such a humongous Akuma before. It is terrifying. The crow "cawed" and pecked at the ground before letting out a terrible screeching sound. I covered my ears.
The Miraculous Rebels seemed to be having a hard time holding off the Akuma (which is not surprising with how big it is and that there are only four of them).
"Vesperia, use your ability to stop the Akuma before it does any more damage!" I heard Ladybug yell at the bee hero.
"Nino! You have to stop staring and start running," Jasmine yelled at me, tugging on my arm. I snapped out of my trance. She is right. I have no time to gawk. This place is not safe and I am putting us in danger the longer we are here.
I need to protect my family.
I begin to follow them, mixing into the current of retreating civilians. At some point, a tall structure we were about to pass began to collapse.
I can tell Jasmine did not notice the danger ahead and pulled her back. She turned to me with questioning eyes before hearing the loud clatter of rotted wood. She stumbled away from the wreckage in shock. There are quite a few people stuck under the rubble and being assisted by some brave bystanders.
"Thank you, Nino. You saved me," Jasmine genuinely said, out of breath from running. A proud feeling swelled within my chest, nearly forgetting why we were running in the first place.
The crow let out another ear-splitting screech. My heart drummed to the beat of terror once again. The crow was still active and growing uncomfortably closer. Did not the hero of paralysis freeze the Akuma yet?
"Vesperia! Are you alright?"
Multimouse appeared, helping the said bee hero out from the rubble of the building that just fell. The blonde is holding her bloody forehead and shakily stumbling on her feet. Multimouse runs over to help out her ally.
"That is not good," I thought, looking around for another escape plan. Yet, it seems we are stuck and the only other path to freedom is heading back toward the giant bird.
"Jasmine?" I questioned, wondering if she had any ideas. She has the same panicked and scared look on her face, rapidly scanning the area for any way to escape. Unfortunately, it does not seem to be working.
So, I take charge. I narrow my eyes in determination and grab Jasmine's wrist. Now, it is my turn to lead her and Chris to safety—to protect them. Jasmine snaps her gaze down at me in confusion. I begin to pull her away in search of another way.
"Nino! What in the world are you doing?" Jasmine asked. She stopped at one point and held me back from going any further.
"You do realize you are heading to the Akuma, right? We have to find safety," she argued.
"This is the only way to get to safety," I replied, pointing down the street near the bird, "There should be an opening between the buildings over there somewhere."
"No, it is too dangerous and risky!" Jasmine denied, "There has to be another way!"
"I need to protect them," I thought, desperately. We do not have time to argue. The more time we waste, the closer the crow gets.
Another ear-splitting screech and the ground roughly quakes so much that we fall.
It is too late.
The crow looms over us. Chat Noir is trying to distract it by himself. Where are the other heroes? Where are Vesperia and Multimouse? Where is Ladybug? Why is Chat the only one protecting the poor section?
A dreadful feeling washed over my already cold skin when the Akuma spotted us on the ground. It narrowed its four beady eyes down at us and lets out an angry screech. The crow's wings spread and swipe at Chat Noir, hitting him across the night sky.
My heart feels like it stopped beating and a surge of terror makes me freeze, staring down the monster.
"Nino!" Jasmine called. I can hear footsteps running toward me. The crow raises its sharp talons in the air and swipes them down. Everything seems like it goes in slow motion for me. Heard the distant echoes of my sister calling my name getting softer and watching my fate about to be sealed.
I close my eyes, waiting for the talons to make contact.
"I am sorry," I heard my sister say.
Nothing happens after a minute.
I am not in any agony. I do not feel myself draining of life. Nothing.
I open my eyes.
All the air is sucked out of me and I begin to pale of any color.
Jasmine protectively stands in front of me with her arms spread out. Then, she falls back into a slump and a view of three giant slash marks straight across her body. The wounds were so deep, that some bones and organs showed. A pool of blood formed under her body.
I shake my head in denial, not believing what just happened in front of me. In my shocked state, tears poured out from my eyes and my body trembled. My breathing goes ragged.
"No...no no no no, this has to be a nightmare. This-this cannot be happening! This is not real! This is just a terrible dream! I...I will wake up and Jasmine will be okay! She is not dead. She is not dead. She is not dead. She...she-she..." I thought, unable to talk. I feel so sick, bile found its way into my mouth. I swallowed it down.
Suddenly, my instincts kick in when I do not see Chris. I jolt my head around, unable to take in the scene of my sister anymore without completely breaking apart. I do not have time for this. Chris is still in danger.
My two-year-old brother is sitting on the ground, wailing his eyes out a few feet away. Gritting my teeth, I stumble onto my feet with shaky legs and quickly run over to Chris. The crow let out a "caw."
I could not help but look over my shoulder. The crow came down at Chris with its beak open. Jagged teeth showed within its mouth. I do not stop running. I have to protect Chris! I stand in front of him, spreading my arms out protectively like Jasmine. I close my eyes again.
And again...nothing.
The crow lets out muffled noises of struggling. I reopen my eyes, gazing upon the crow struggling with the string wrapped around its beak. Ladybug is standing on a nearby building with three multiple Multimouses helping her.
"Go!" Ladybug yelled at me, struggling with keeping the crow in check. I did not hesitate to pick up Chris and sprint around the crow towards the alleyway.
I do not look back.
I made it through the alleyway but did not stop running. I have to get as far away from here as possible. My lungs burned and my breaths are shallow. My legs felt like jelly.
Eventually, my legs give out. I fall onto my back so Chris would not be crushed by my weight. I crawl to the nearest wall and lean on it, catching my breath. I can still hear people screaming and the crow's horrendous calls. I still feel the ground shaking from the crow's steps.
Chris is still crying in my arms.
My adrenaline runs dry. My walls collapse, letting devastation flood within me.
"I could not protect her," I gloomily thought. My tears continued down my face, horrified by the picture of my sister laying there dead on the ground. It would not leave my head, haunting me.
"I could not protect her," I repeated in my mind, "I could not protect her...just like I could not protect mom and dad. I...I am a terrible brother."
So, I joined Chris in wailing at the loss of yet another family member on this day.
I promise to always protect my family from this day forward.
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Chris places his dandelions on all three graves before I do the same with mine. Every year, we continue this tradition in honor of the family we lost. The image of our sister's death continues to haunt me to this day. I still get recurring nightmares.
At some point, Alya joins Chris and me. She even brought her own flowers. She places a kiss on the side of Chris' head and gives me a quick hug before leaving. Alya wanted to be here but she is working today.
Chris says a few words. Once he is finished, I turned to him.
"Can I talk alone with them? Then, we can head back to the Cesaire's hut," I asked. Chris nodded in agreement before heading over the cemetery's sign. I sit on the ground and start to mess with the grass a little bit.
"I am sorry," I started, "Those were the final words you told me. I have always wondered why you told me those words. I thought it was because you left us and could not be here anymore. But, I now know it was a different reason.
"After I obtained the miraculous, I learned more about Akumas. They are made from the essence of heavy emotions and a tainted butterfly. That crow was representing your sorrow, was it not? You had built up so much and stayed strong, you did not let yourself be weak for even a moment."
I let out a sigh and shake my head.
"I do not blame you. It was not your fault for feeling the way you did. You have the right to feel sad or mad and Hawkmoth misused it for evil purposes. I want to thank you for all you did for Chris and me."
I stand up from the ground with a smile.
"I will continue to keep my promise to protect our family and everyone from evil."
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