Chapter Text
Dawn broke over the skies of a small market town by the sea. The orb of morning light slowly ascended form the hills, shining down and breaking the night. A fragment of its radiance pierced through the upmost part of a bell tower and waking the creatures within it. A pair of canaries lived there; one red and one blue. Risen from their slumber, the red canary flapped its wings while the blue one was “tidying” their nest and when the bells of the tower rang, the two birds took off from their pedestal and into the hue of blue and yellow. They circled the town for a while; passing above the crimson-colored roofs and going through the stone arches. The pair then settled down in front of a closed window. They chirped merrily and occasionally pecked on the wooden frame, without a care for the world… until the wooden covers of the window snapped open; startling the two birds and caused them to fall of the window. The culprit: a maiden about 5 feet tall with a pink, bob-cut hair. Still wearing her nightdress, the girl inhaled the morning air before exhaling in a quick, single puff.
“Yup! Today’s another beautiful day!” said the girl gleefully. She then stepped back from the window and proceeded to prepare for the day. Few minutes have passed, she exited the bathroom fully dressed in a white shirt and grey skirt under a burgundy Lolita trench. The maiden sprint through the hallway, passing arrays of doors on her left and right.
“Good morning, Mr. Satoshi!” the girl greeted an old man, who just left his room, before going down the wooden stairs.
“W-what? Oh-” the old man replied in a crooked voice, “G-good morning, dear.”
At the end of the staircase was a large room filled with long, wooden tables and chairs covered with patterned table cloth and unlit candle stands. The girl looked around the room and among the small number of people present there. Then, her eyes caught sight of a tall man in his late 20s with brown hair that covered his right eye. The man was moving from the counter to the backdoors while carrying a crate filled with bottles, some empty, some not. So, the young girl decided that it was a good idea to surprise him from the back. Setting her plan in motion, the girl sprinted as fast as she could before leaping towards that man.
“Good morning, Big Bro!” the girl blasted her words. Her arms were both locked on the man’s neck, almost as if she was choking him. Utterly startled, the man’s body was dragged behind on its own, causing him to release his grip form the crate. Luckily, he regained his balance and reached for the crate just before it could hit the floor. The man released a sigh of relief… before quickly turning around with a vexed expression. The girl didn’t think this through very well.
“Argh! I told you not to do that!” the man scolded her while pulling her right ear. The girl held on tight to his hand, trying to get it off of her.
“Uwaa~! I’m sorry!” the girl pleaded silly, “I just want to give you a morning boost, that’s all~!”
“Yeah, but don’t do it so suddenly! I could’ve died for all I know!” the man continued to scold her, but immediately stopped when she put on the face of a sad, wet hamster, making him hesitant. The man groaned before reluctantly releasing his hand from the girl. “Whatever, just eat your breakfast and get ready for work.”
“Okie-dokie!” Emu’s expression immediately changed into a cheerful façade and seemingly sparkling eyes.
“I swear, you’re like a bomb of energy that’s about blow up at any moment…” the man muttered under his breath.
That’s right, this was just another day in Phoenix Home, a combination of both an inn and a tavern founded by the Ootori family. Located just outside of Castel’s capital city, it was a safe haven for travellers and traders alike to rest and protect themselves from the dangers lurking beyond the city wall. It was one of the many investments their family made. Emu’s father, Kounosuke Ootori, was a well-known businessman well-versed in the matters of hospitality and trade guilds. Currently, both him and his wife were settling in capital of Kakuriyo, an island kingdom surrounded by natural barriers; secluded from the other four main kingdoms. Since the eldest daughter was studying abroad, Kounosuke decided to leave the Phoenix Home at the care of Emu and her two brothers, as well as making this a learning opportunity for them.
And so, every moment of Phoenix Home was teeming with life, whether it was from Emu’s unlimited supply of energy or from the bickering of her brother scolding her. Though it seems that the place was always loud, it was almost never unbearable. The patrons enjoyed the atmosphere and sometimes willing to join Emu’s antics; savouring every minute spent in that place before having to continue their journey. Even though she liked to spend her time having fun, Emu never forgot her jobs and duties. Her role was that of a housemaid and her job desk includes cleaning the place, tidying the rooms, as well as serving the patrons’ needs, both in the inn and in the tavern. Though many ought to think that this was far from interesting, it was not the case for Emu because she had eyes that could see “fun” in everything she does.
Once her breakfast was done, it was when her day truly began. She stared at a mirror before giving both of her cheeks two light taps. She was ready to face any shenanigans that’s in store for her.
“Emu! We have an order of bacon and eggs for Mr. Kaeru ready to go!” said her brother, reaching her from the kitchen window.
“Aye-aye, Big Bro!” Emu galloped towards the window, placing the wooden plate of the well-prepared meal onto the tray she was carrying. The crispy golden-brown bacon, still oozing its rich juice, along with the over easy eggs that were generously coated with creamy mustard sauce; Surely, this was an ideal dish to start the day.
“Here you are, Sir! Hope you enjoy it!” said Emu as she served the dish to the sapphire haired man.
“Thank you, dear.” the man replied, “I haven’t had a home-cooked meal since I’ve started my travels.”
“Excuse me, dear.” a woman with brown ponytail called her from across, “Can I get the malt pancake with berries, please?”
“Sure thing, Ma’am!” the girl answered before turning towards the kitchen window, “One malt pancake with berries for Ms. Matsuri!”
“Malt pancake with berries, coming right up!” her brother replied, giving an “ok” sign with his hand.
“Ay, girlie! Give me two bottles of beers, would ya?” said a man with an eyepatch.
“No problem, one-eyed guy!” said Emu, giving a thumbs-up.
“It’s One-Eyed Man!”
This was the morning routine for Phoenix House. Emu would run around the tavern accept and serve the patrons’ orders, as well as cleaning duty, while her second brother, Shousuke, gets busy in the kitchen. Technically, there’s another brother managing the place, but he’s in charge of the financial and technical matters, so he rarely helps them during breakfast hours, but that’s quite alright. Emu has a supply of energy that can last until midnight while Shousuke is basically a master at the kitchen, so everything’s under control.
As she was “patrolling” the area, Emu could hear various conversations from the patrons. Rumors, intels, conspiracy theories, you name it. Be it public or discrete, information can easily be found in places of gatherings such as this. Normally, Emu couldn’t understand what they were discussing about, so she would simply ignore them. However, one particular conversation caught her attention; A conversation between two man who seem to be sailors.
“So, they are really pulling the trigger, huh?” asked the man wearing a bandana. The second man took a few gulps from his mug of beer before putting it down and giving answers.
“Damn right. Those Kakuriyan bastards…”
“I still can’t believe they’ve decided to close up the entire kingdom”, the man reiterated, “Don’t they care about the lives of merchants like us?”
“That’s just how it works: the higher ups get to make the rules while underdogs like us are forced to bite the dust.”
“Still… Do you know any reason why they would enforce it?” the man continued to ponder.
“Something about ‘restoring the kingdom’s glory’, I guess? I don’t know.”
“W-well, where should we do our business now?”
“Hmm…” the other man rubbed his beard, “I mean, Port Orion is always open, and if you feel adventurous, you can always go further south.”
“I’m not going to that depressing hellhole.” the man retorted, “Besides, it won’t be the same as the trades we do in Umiyuri. That place was like a gold mine.”
“True… Also, it’s a shame that I can’t eat those delicious strawberry mochis anytime soon-”
“THEY’RE NOT SELLING THOSE MOCHIS ANYMORE?!” Emu shouted while slamming the table, appearing seemingly out of nowhere and almost made the man choked from his beer.
“Uhh… Y-yeah…” the bearded man answered hesitantly, “I’m sorry, who are you-”
“Uwaa--! This is a mess!” Emu began rambling, “The ooey-gooey chewiness of the mochi and juicy, freshness of the strawberry fruit inside; It’s basically a match made in heaven! A party in your mouth!”
“You didn’t even answer the question-”
“What would I ever do without such delicacies?! How long must I wait?! Weeks?! Months?! Years-”
“QUIT HARASSING THE CUSTOMERS!!” Shousuke emerged, karate-chopping his sister’s head.
“Oww--! Why’d you do that for-” before she could finish, Shousuke gripped the back of her clothes and dragged her like a sack of potato.
“Shut it! Kitchen! Now!”
“UWAAAAHHH--!!”
She had done it now. Being taken to the kitchen, Shousuke’s domain, meant that your fate rested within his. Whether he would “let you live” or “give you divine punishment”, it’s all up to him. Emu could do nothing but sat there on the floor, bearing the face of a wet, weeping hamster.
“WHAT did I tell you about eavesdropping?!” Shousuke scolded, glaring sharply at her while crossing his arms.
“I’m sorry, Big Bro, but I can’t help it.” Emu whimpered, “People talk all the time. I’m bound to hear a conversation or two.”
“Hearing a conversation isn’t the problem, jumping out of nowhere and harassing them IS!” Shousuke just sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose and trying to make sense of his sister behaviours before turning around. “Whatever just… please don’t make any more fuss, okay?”
Emu stayed silent for a while, then something sparked inside her head, “Those men at the table, they were talking about Kakuriyo. Did something-”
“None of your concern!” Shousuke barked, dismissing her sister’s further curiosities.
“Right… Sorry…” said Emu, turning her eyes towards the floor, followed with a small hollow laughter. Almost as if she was genuinely disappointed. Shousuke released a long breath before answering.
“Heisekai Decree. The Kakuriyo Shogunate have decided to close the kingdom from any influences from the other kingdoms.” the elder brother explained, “This includes trade, communication, diplomacy, transportation… Everything. No one’s getting in and out of there that easy.”
“How long do you think it will last?” Emu asked, slightly tilting her head.
“Who knows.” Shousuke shrugged, “Last time something like this happened was during the War of the Great Five and it took decades before it was abolished, even after the war had ended.”
“But father is still working there, isn’t he?” Emu asked further, showing genuine concern. “Will he be alright?”
“Father is a smart man. He’ll come up with something.”
“I know, I know. It’s just… We won’t be seeing him anytime soon, will we?” Shousuke was stunned. His usually oblivious younger sister made him realized of how severe Kakuriyo’s situation is and how it will directly impact their family. Emu, of all people, stated a realization of the uncertainty of their future. It was almost frightening. Shousuke didn’t have any words of reassurance, but that’s okay. Not everything can or need a “look on the bright side” mentality.
“I guess we won’t.” an honest answer. Both of the children stood there in complete silence, before Shousuke decided to change the subject.
“Tsk-! Why the hell am I talking about politics with you? We got more work to do!” the man reached his pocket for a small pouch before tossing it over to Emu. She swiftly caught it, then placed it near her ears while shaking it. Loud clinking could be heard. “Turns out someone forgot to restock the almond spice and fae bread. That’s why I was looking for you in the first place.”
Emu took a peek at the pouch and saw a number of gold coins along with a few colourful jewels tossed in there.
“Without them, we will have to cancel today’s lunch special of Sweet and Salty Chicken Tender Sandwich with Cheese, which will be bad because apparently it’s a customer favourite.” Shousuke continued while checking on his stew-like dish, currently simmering in a pot. “Think you can buy those for me?”
Emu quickly closed the pouch and put it in her left pocket, then she turned towards her brother her usual smile, as if she had forgotten about the somewhat depressing conversation she had. “Leave it to me!”
“What are waiting for? Get to it!”
=======
Minutes had passed since Emu left the place and walked down the sturdy stone path. Once arrived, Emu couldn’t help it but to rush into the marketplace. It was an ocean of people and stalls. The young maiden spun around, observing the various tents of traders as far as the eye could see. The buzzing and chattering of people filled the air, accompanied by the scorching haze of the sun.
“Fresh, organic fruits and vegetables right here at Najima’s! Can’t get any fresher than this!” one man said.
“May I fancy you at some potteries? Crafted by the best hands of Naya!” another man said.
“Oh, young lady! Care to buy some of my aromatics? I assure you; no man could ever resist them!” this time a woman said it.
“FRESH FISH!! We catch ‘em, you buy ‘em!” the last one nearly startled her. So many temptations lurking around that place. If one’s not careful, one might end up lost in there with more purchases than one should. But Emu told herself to stay strong and focus on her objectives: almond spice and fae bread. Luckily, she knew a place where she could buy both of them. In the middle of the marketplace, there’s an outdoor bakery ran by an old couple. Their goods were always warm and fresh, but the stocks were limited and it was a matter of first come first serve. Emu dashed towards the blue and white stall and greeted them.
“Good morning, Mister and Misses Kamiyama!” Emu shouted, waving her hand at them.
“Ah, if it isn’t young Emu.” the elder woman greeted back, “My, my. You’re as energetic as ever, aren’t you?”
“Umu! You two are looking fine and healthy as well!”
“Aw shucks, Emu! You really are a dear!” the elder man replied, “Now what can I get for you today? Some of our famous honey breads perhaps?”
“Not today, Sir. Right now, I need some almond spice and some fae bread.”
“Ah, you’re in luck! We still have one last batch of those breads. Wait here while I get some for you.”
“And I’ll get the spice ready.” the elder woman reached for the spice cabinet whiled the man packed some golden, ellipse-shaped bread into a paper bag. The woman then returned with a pouch, filled with the light brown spices, and placed it along with the breads. Emu took a peek at the products, she smiled and nodded before giving them few pieces of coins.
“This is perfect! Thanks for the bread!” said Emu, waving at them before leaving.
“No problem, dear. Come back any time soon.”
Emu rushed her movement towards the exit, holding the paper bag with both of her hands, as if she was hugging it.
“Alright! I’ve got the bread, I’ve got the spice, now it’s time to go home!” said Emu to herself. But just as she was about to reach the exit, a sudden force rushed towards her from her right. It came without a warning; causing her to fall and scattering the bread to the ground. Emu hissed quietly from the pain while rubbing the back of her head. When she got her vision together, she realized someone had run towards her and that person was laying right in front of her. Emu stood up and tried to help them. She couldn’t get a good look of that person because they were covered by their grey cloak.
“I-I’m sorry! Are you-” when she was about to help the person, another man emerged. He was 6 feet tall, riddled with muscles, and a beard that reached down to his belly. With bloodlust and anger written on his face, he grabbed the person up high by the tip of their hood.
“There you are, you piece of SHIT!!” the man shook them roughly off the ground, “You fucking thought you could get away from stealing my wares?! HUH?!”
The boorish man threw them hard to the ground; landing right in front of Emu with her hood uncovered. It revealed a visage of a young girl, about the same age as her, who had a pair of purple eyes and long, greyish-green hair with its front strands tied to the end. She was sulking and trembling, bruises could be seen all over her. The buyers and vendors turned their eyes towards the scene along with their whispers and mumblings. The green-haired girl tried to stand up, but the boorish man caught her by her neck and this time, he had a saif with him. He was ready to kill.
“P-please, Sir… I’m very sorry-” the girl tried to retaliate, squirming as she tried to release the man’s grip, “I-if you let me go, I p-promise I would pay it off-!”
“BULLSHIT!!” he tightened his grip, “You resorted to stealing for this one, how can you be sure you could pay for next time?!”
The boorish man unsheathed his curved blade before throwing the girl back to the ground. She dragged her body backwards as the man before him walked closer, pointing his blade at her. There was no mistaken; he was ready to kill.
“In case you don’t know: in this kingdom, the people make the rules.” said the man as he lifted his saif. The metallic blade reflected the blinding sunlight, “And MY rule says: those who steals from must pay… with their BLOOD!!”
Audible gasp was heard from the people. The boorish man swung his sword with all of his might and the girl could only close her eyes tight, accepting her.
“STOOOOPP!!” Emu rushed forward and stood before the man, shielding the girl. The bearded man paused his movement, stunned by the sight of a pink-haired girl, breathing heavily, who’s trying to protect a random stranger.
“Back off, kid! This is a matter between me and that thieving rat!”
“P-please, Sir! L-let’s not be too hasty-!” Emu panicked, waving her hands here and there while trying to solve this problem, “Surely; If you can explain the problem-!”
“The PROBLEM is that this scumbag had the gall to STEAL my produce!” the bearded man scold back, causing Emu to squeak, “You thing those shits don’t cost money?! Where’s my money!!”
“I-if you need the money, I could… I could pay for her-!” Emu took out the money pouch and opened it for man. She was trembling for she did not know if this would work or not.
“BAH! What can a little girl like you possibly give me-” the man paused. He knew something was wrong, but what. Oh, that’s right: how in bloody hell a girl like her got that much money?!
Holy shit! This girl is rich! the man thought to himself. Without hesitation, the man snatched the entire pouch from the girl and sheathed his saif. He glared at the green-haired girl and gave her a warning, “You may have gotten away from this one, but the next time you steal from me, I will not hesitate to slice you on the spot!”
The man walked away and the crowd began do disperse. Emu dropped her body to the ground, exhaling a long breath of relieve. However, it was short-lived as she immediately rose up and approached the other girl, currently kneeling on the ground with her head nodded down.
“Hey, are you alright? Did it hurt? Do you need anything?”
“Why…? Why did you help me?” the girl spoke in a raspy voice, still facing down.
“Isn’t it obvious? That man was about to hurt you or worse, and he even had the nerve to accuse you of stealing.”
“But I did steal from him!” the girl’s voice cracked. Her head was nodded down, so Emu couldn’t see the expression, but she could saw her tears dripping onto the ground, “I was… all alone and hungry. I have not a single coin on me and nobody came to help… Weeks have passed… I couldn’t take it anymore… He was right to be angry at me, he was right to kill-”
Without second thoughts, Emu walked towards her and gave her a hug. The girl’s purple eyes widen, crystalized from the bundle of tears. After so many years, she never thought that she would feel a warm hug from someone again.
“Don’t say that! You worth more than what you’re letting out.” Emu spoke in a gentle manner, a rare sight for a girl like her, “Even if you make mistakes, there’s no reason to throw away your life like that.”
Strange… This is the first time she heard someone who actually encouraged her self-worth. For the longest time, even before she left her kingdom, people would always tried their very best to degrade her; to make her feel like trash, to mark her as someone who would never be good enough for anything. The girl was so used to the degradation that when this person, a complete stranger, saved her life and tried to comfort her, she didn’t know how to react. All she could do was to lean on the pink-haired maiden’s shoulder and cry. She sobbed audibly and her tears began to stain the trench. Emu simply smiled while gently petting her head.
“There, there. Everything’s all right…”
They remained there for a while, uncaring for what the thought of the people passing, until the girl was stable enough; enjoying the silence and recollecting herself… That is, until her stomach let out an audible rumbling. The girl’s face immediately turned red and it looked like she was about to cry again. Emu giggled in an attempt to lighten the mood.
“There’s no shame in feeling hungry! If you like, I can take you back to my place. I’m sure we can cook up something for you.” Emu stood up from her place with a hop and proceeded to brush her skirt. She then marched her steps towards the exit gate while the girn in green chased after her.
“W-wait-” the girl spoke. Just as she was about to finish her sentence, Emu paused, then merrily turned around; smiling as she reached out her hand.
“Oh right! My name’s Emu Ootori. Nice to meet you!”
There it is again, the same situation as before. It was the second time someone offered their hands for her. First time it happened was during the midwinters, when the season was at the coldest and she was at her lowest point. When she took those hands, her life spiraled down the rabbit hole of regrets and insanity. But this time was different. She couldn’t feel any malice from Emu, nor could she see any form of vile intents from her smile. Only a genuine act motivated by empathy.
“What are you waiting for, Miss… Erm-”
“Nene… It’s Nene Kusanagi.” the girl replied, taking Emu’s hand. “And, please… Take me with you.”
=======
It was a long afternoon for both Emu and Nene, but they had finally arrived in front of a three-story building made from pearl white bricks. At the top right of the crimson door was a round-shaped hanging wooden sign. Inscribed on it was an image of a phoenix circling itself and the name “Phoenix Home” written around it. Emu took a deep breath, still holding on the timid Nene’s hand, and pried open the door.
“Big bro! I’m ba-” a pair of hands suddenly emerged before her. They grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up. Emu couldn’t process what the hell just happened. When she got back to her senses, she realized what she was dealing with: a pair of twitching magenta eyes, filled with annoyance and was ready to give her a long-ass lecture about potatoes (probably). It was at this moment she knew that she fucked up something. Nene just jumped backwards, covering her mouth so that she wouldn’t get tangled in any weird bullshittery.
“Where the HELL were you?! What took you so long, huh?!” Shousuke shouted while shaking his sister vigorously, “What part of “go buy fae bread and almond spice” don’t you understand?!”
“UWAAAHH-!! I’m sorry, Big Bro! Honest!” Emu squealed. Her eyes were spiraling and her head was getting dizzy.
“Thanks to you, we have to cancel today’s special for tomorrow, which means DOUBLE the workload for us!”
“AWAWAAA- I-I can explain-”
“Well, you better! Because if you don’t, I’ll-”
“*sigh* That’s enough, Shousuke.” a stern voice called. Approaching them was a tall figure wearing white shirt under a stripped maroon and black vest along with a pair of deep brown dress pants. The man had black hair with his bangs combed to the left and a pair of pale pink eyes behind his glasses. Shousuke dropped Emu back on the floor, leaving her visibly fidgeting.
“But Keisuke-” Shousuke attempted to retort only to be hushed by the man. He then turned towards Emu and got close to her.
“Surely, it’s not too much trouble to perform such simple order, is it?”
“I know, I know.” Emu answered, still fidgeting, “But before you say anything, I just want to say that it’s a long story. So, let me explain…”
Emu told her two brothers everything: about her encounter with Nene and her conditions, about her troubles with the shopkeeper, about everything. She told them completely and truthfully. Nene simply put her head down, afraid of what reaction she would get. Keisuke sighed and pushed his glasses, then he turned towards the green-haired girl.
“Young lady… Is all of this true?” the man asked, to which Nene gave a nod, still putting her head down. She closed her eyes tightly; bracing herself for whatever judgement may lay upon her. Keisuke opened his mouth and said the following,
“Shousuke, go back to the kitchen and cook something for this girl to eat!”
“Eh?!” Nene quickly lifted her head up in disbelief.
“Wha- Um- I mean- You got it, Boss Man!” Shousuke rushed back to his post without a second thought.
“And Emu, shouldn’t you be back at the dining room serving the patrons?”
“Sir! Yes, Sir!” Emu gave his brother a salute before zooming through the halls and into the dining room. Nene stood there in shock. She expected to be scolded or taunted by them. But instead, she was treated like a normal guest of the inn: with kindness and a welcoming attitude. Keisuke walked towards her and tapped her right shoulder, which made her jumped slightly.
“Well figure something out about your situation. But for now, don’t be shy and have a seat. Make yourself at home.”
After the man left, Nene took a deep breath and began to walk towards the dining room. She scouted the area around her, still uncertain on what to do or how to react. She found herself an empty table for two, though she would only need to occupy one. The timid girl rested herself on the smooth, wooden chair and continued on her sight-seeing. She could see the sight of people laughing while devouring their meals. The group of ladies shared their dwindling tales while the group of gents lifted their mugs and took a toast after their hard day of work. This atmosphere was… pleasant.
“Here you are, Miss: a humble cream soup with a side of bread and a cup of tea!” Emu presented a wooden bowl filled with the rich and creamy soup, chunks still visible, and a pair of toasted sourdough slices next to it along with the floral tea served in the chiseled wooden mug.
“Thank you. Um… How much do I owe you?”
“Nothing! Big Bro said that it’s on the house, so don’t worry about it!” the pink-haired maiden answered, leaving Nene even more puzzled.
“Hey, Miss! Can I get a refill here?”
“Ah! Coming!” Emu hurried to the table across. Nene tried to reach out for her, but she slowly abandoned that gesture. Maybe she really didn’t need to worry. Maybe she should just enjoy her meal. She grabbed the wooden spoon before her and dipped into the bowl of creamy goodness. She slowly stirred her soup, making sure that she got a little bit of everything, and scooped up a spoonful of chicken, carrot, potato, and mushroom. She waited for it to cool, the put it in her mouth. She chewed, and chewed, and chewed, and…
…Tears began to drip again.
It was delicious, for sure. The thick and buttery sensation from the soup base mixed with the earthiness of the meat and vegetables was something that couldn’t go wrong, but this soup meant something more to her. The fact that a group of strangers were willing not only to invite her in, but to also provide her food and drink with little to no cost was too much for her. It was the first time people were genuinely willing to care for her.
She took another spoonful of the soup and remembered times when she had to scavenge from expired can food to last for that day. The thick, moldy texture of what once called food and the pungent scent she had to endure; replaced by the warm, chunky soup that was kindly served to her. She took a bite of the bread and remembered times when she had to steal from a stall and being chased down, only to return with half of a stale bun. The dry and solid bun she had to swallow; replaced by the smoky and filling taste of the butter toasted bread. She took a sip of her deep-brown tea and remembered times when she had to drink from the puddle on the street, left by the rain. The foul and murky water that she had to consume in order to survive; now replaced by the floral sensation from the tea that could calm one’s soul. The life on the run and the life before that; she had left it all, never to return. Perhaps this is home…
“Thank you… Thank you…” Nene whimpered as she was finishing her dish. There were no such thing as truly kind people, but maybe the Ootori family was an exception.
=======
Night fell. The halls that were filled with life a few hours ago, now stood completely silent in the dark. The only lighting there was the light of the flames emitted by the lantern Keisuke was holding. He placed it on the table and sit across the green-haired girl while his siblings stood on his right side.
“I apologize for only being able to help this much. Also, I hope my sister didn’t give you too much trouble.”
“Oh, nonono! Please don’t be!” Nene waved both hands around, “I should be the one thanking you instead.”
“There’s no need to be too formal. We’re simply fulfilling our duty for our patrons,” Keisuke pushed his glasses; grinning ever so slightly, “Though we are still curious as to how you arrived here.”
“Actually… I ran away from my home in Vaaela.”
“Wait, all the way up from the north?” surprised, Shousuke asked, “You must have been through a rough time.”
“Why? What’s wrong with Vaaela?” Emu asked; pulling on her brother’s sleeve.
“Remember how we talked about how Kakuriyo sealed itself from the rest?”
“Uh-huh!”
“Yeah, imagine that but ten times worse.”
Nene nodded down upon hearing that statement; fiddling with her own fingers. It’s true that getting out from that kingdom was almost nigh impossible due to its strict government and impenetrable barrier. However for Nene, escaping Vaaela was still easier than escaping… her, but that’s a story for another day.
“Any particular reason on why you left?”
“It’s a bit personal, but… I’m just tired of how people treat and use me. I wanted to live with my own choices for once; to be able to freely follow what I believe as right… I’m sorry if it sounded selfish…”
The Ootori siblings stood quiet for a while. Keisuke smiled at the image of a girl attempting to free herself from the chains of others. He leaned forward and patted on Nene’s head.
“Your motivation is valid. It is not a sin to want a free life of your own,” the four-eyed man explained, “We hope that in Phoenix Home, you are able to live the life that you wish for.”
“R-really…?”
“Yup! You are welcome to stay under our care,” Shousuke grinned, “And if you’re looking for a new job, well, we could always use someone to get Emu out of troble.”
“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?!” Emu pouted; hitting her brother’s shoulder.
“Thank you, all of you… I’ll never forget your kindness and will forever be in your debt!” Nene stood up; giving the trio a bow.
“Lift your head up, Miss Kusanagi. It’s only in our nature to aid those in need,” Keisuke replied, “For now, you should get some sleep. Although, I hope you don’t mind sharing a room with Emu for a while.”
“Right!”
An hour had passed. Nene had tucked into one of Emu’s nightdresses and was ready to call it a day. Frankly speaking, the cutesy pink clothing did not match well with her hair nor her eyes, but it was a much better option than her ragged outfit. She stared at the bed before finally dropping her body head first. It was a long day for everyone, so perhaps she deserved a good rest.
“Psst-! You awake?” Emu whispered; peeking at the bed’s side as Nene rolled her body to face her.
“I was going to… What’s wrong?”
“Hehe~! Check this out!” Emu giggled. The petite maiden walked backwards; reaching for a lever next to the bookshelf. She pulled it and caused the trap door in the centre of the room to open and the ladder within it to lower. Perplexed, Nene got out from the bed and followed Emu upwards. At the end of the ladder, she realized that it led her to the roof’s balcony. There, she saw Emu sitting there while humming and looking up the night sky. Nene followed her lead and looked up herself…
It was miraculous. Hundreds of shooting stars traversed together as they orbit the curved horizon; creating an arch where they would emerge from the east and sink to the west. From the earth, they seemed to travel in a very slow manner; as if the night had fallen into slow motion. It was a sight she intended to cherish.
“It’s beautiful!”
“It sure is,” Emu answered; not taking her eyes off the celestial spectacle, “It only happens once every four years and only during the warmer months…. We call them ‘Swimming Stars’.”
“What a lovely name…” Nene walked closer to Emu and sit right next to her. She smiled as her eyes reflected the arching sea of stars. Her body felt lighter and lighter. The next thing she knew, she was already sleeping on Emu’s shoulder. The pink-haired girl turned towards her before putting on a relieved smile; wrapping her hands on the resting maiden’s shoulders. Nene never knew what home truly meant, but perhaps this was the closest answer.