Chapter Text
"Nee-chan , can you tell me the story about the sky train again?"
Being alone in the house wasn't something new to Nene. Not by a long shot.
She was used to it by now. Years following her older sister's death, she had learned by then to fend for herself in the small, little house near the wide meadow behind it.
But today was going to change that.
She gripped on the book she hand in her arms tightly to her chest. It was an old children's storybook, the red leather cover faded in time. It was the last remaining memento from her dear sister Sakura, and it meant a whole lot to her.
The book had her favorite story inside, the story Sakura would tell countless times to her every night. She never grew tired of hearing this tale, not even as she grew up.
Because she's seen it with her own two eyes before.
"Have you heard of the sky train, Nene?" Sakura would say, as she tucked in a little Nene in bed at night. "It's a magical train that flies across the skies once every seven years."
"Where does it go, nee-chan?" Nene would ask, starry-eyed.
"Everywhere in this world. It can take you anywhere your heart desires, and can make your dreams come true."
"Can I get on the sky train?"
Sakura smiled. "Only if you're pure of heart, my darling."
The little girl pouted. "But I am pure of heart! I'm not a bad kid!"
"I know, Nene. But if you don't go to bed early, the sky train won't see you as pure of heart." Sakura laughed softly, before leaning forward and pressing a kiss on her sister's forehead.
"Sleep now, alright? I'll see you in the morning."
"Will I see the sky train tomorrow, nee-chan?" Nene asked, just as Sakura was about to leave the bedroom. The older girl paused for a moment, before turning back to her.
"We'll just have to wait and see."
After the lights were off, and her sister having left the room, Nene quickly went to grab the red book on the table by her bedside, removing her covers and hopping off her bed. She went to the big window, opening it just a little bit to see the night sky outside.
She couldn't wait until tomorrow. She wanted to know if the sky train was coming in time!
The village from below the hill their house was in was visible by the various lights that scattered throughout the place. Nene had always wanted to visit there at night, as there always seemed to be festivities going on. Her sister would forbid her, however, for obvious reasons.
She yawned, feeling the drowsiness start to get to her. About to shut the window close, she stopped when she heard a peculiar sound.
It sounded like a train chugging along a track.
Nene opened the window widely, sticking her head out and looking up. She could hear it, but she couldn't see where it was coming from! She looked behind her, making sure her sister wasn't going to come inside her room, and with a deep breath, climbed out of the window and jumped down to the outside.
She held her book close to her chest as she ran to the meadow behind their house, trying to catch even a glimpse of the train. She could still hear it, and the more she ran, the more she realized it was getting louder and louder.
Out of breath, she stopped running, and froze when she saw a large shadow looming right above her. She turned her head up to the sky, and gasped.
It was huge, but it went about in the air effortlessly. It kind of looked like a serpent, or even a dragon of some sorts, flying while the moonlight gave it a somewhat ethereal aura. She could see through the windows of the train cars, they were all lit up from the inside.
It was a miracle that no one was awakened by the loud noises the train made.
Nene thought she had seen it all, but there was another thing that had caught her attention next.
Someone was inside one of the train cars.
She could spot a person, a boy looking to be around her age, peeking from the window of the train car. He had short black hair, and big amber eyes. Nene became curious about him. How did he get in the train? Did he also have a pure heart?
And before she knew it, as the train began to pass by her, the two of them locked eyes.
Her heart began to thump in her chest.
It was a brief moment, but it felt like forever.
She didn't get the chance to say anything before the train ultimately became further and further away, eventually disappearing into the night.
That was all in the past.
Nene let out a breath. This was going to be the last time she was seeing her home. She was going to set on this journey, for the sake of her older sister, and for herself.
She was going to find the sky train. She was going to ask for it to grant her wish.
Her slightly tattered bag by her hip, she put her book inside, taking one more look at her house, before closing the door shut.
And she never looked back.