Chapter One
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Eis quos amo
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It was a strange feeling. Like a sort of dreamlike state. You know you are awake but it feels like you were still asleep. You know, that feeling. Everything feels surreal around you. I didn't know where the hell I was. Just that I was floating as if I were on a cloud. A light opened up and I saw someone descend through the penetrated area. Every feature of that person was blurred and I couldn't make out any definite features. I tried to reach out for that person. Just as my palm made contact with it; my eyes snapped open. I was propped against a tree facing the house that we were in. I looked to my side and saw that my sister had laid her head on my shoulder. Her sleeping face looked so calm, so peaceful that I couldn't help but smile. I stared back at the now pile of ashes that used to be our house.
"Heh... If only that bitch of a shrine maiden didn't come. If only..." I felt myself growing more and more irritated by the second. Strange, I wasn't the type to get angry but I could feel annoyance building up in me. Suddenly three fingers touched my cheek and all thoughts of revenge on the shrine maiden were gone. I looked to my side and noticed that my sister was awake and looking up at me. I could tell she was worried about me because as soon as I opened my mouth to reassure her she tackled me in a hug with tears streaming down her face.
"I... I thought you died... I was so scared Sakuraki... So scared... I didn't want to lose you like I lost father..."
I didn't know what to do so I just held her close and patted her back as she cried. After my shirt was thoroughly soaked she pulled herself back but still held her grip on my arms. She smiled at me through red puffy eyes and cocked her head to the side. I smiled back at her and pulled her back into a hug. I then said to her as I stroked her gray hair.
"It's alright Sukumari... I'm here, I won't ever leave you. That's right... I'll protect you..."
We sat there in each others' embrace for what seemed like forever. It wasn't love, It was the bonds that siblings could have for each other. I loved her too much to think of her in any other way. To me, she was my little sister and right now, she needed me as I needed her. We finally broke our embrace apart and stood up. I told Sukumari to climb on on my back and she nodded and obeyed. First things first, we needed to go visit our friend Kelvin. Kelvin is a friend of our that lives with his uncle. My sister and I play with him all the time when we were little. Now he was the only one who we could turn to for help. The road to liyama, Nagano would be a long and harsh one. It was the dead of night and the breeze felt cool on my face. I looked up at the moon and then looked down again making my way through the village. The noise of snoring could be heard from every house. I tried to make as least noise as possible as I walked to where Kelvin's house was. The front door was locked; Typical. So I went around the back and set Sukumari on the ground. I then opened the back window a bit and sneaked in.
The smell of olives overpowered my senses and I cringed. Kelvin's house always had this smell and I could never get used to it. His uncle was a farmer that loved to eat olives. I made my way through the dark halls silently. It was a good thing I had been here before. I found the entrance to Kelvin's room and slowly crept in. I went to the futon that laid in the middle of the room and reached my hand out to try and wake him. Suddenly a lamp lit from behind me and I could see Kelvin in the doorway charging at me. I held my arms up but I guess he didn't see me. Once he had me pinned down he raised the lamp near my face and gasped as he saw it. I told him to get off and he obliged. He set the lamp on a shelf and sat down and I did the same. After awhile of sizing each other up I said.
"Kelvin, please hear me out on this. Your the only one I could turn to."
He furrowed his brows and said.
"This doesn't sound good..."
I continued
"Our father just died... I need your help traveling to liyama, Nagano"
He placed a hand on my shoulder and and gave me a sincere look before saying said.
"I'm so sorry about what happened. What about Sukumari? Is she still alive?"
I sighed and replied.
"Don't be sorry. It wasn't your fault. Yes, she is waiting outside right now."
Yes it wasn't his fault. It was that shrine maiden's fault. It was her fault our house was burnt down. Her fault that we have to travel so far now. Just thinking about it made my blood boil and I guess kelvin saw that because he hugged me. I sighed into his shoulders. After awhile both of us broke apart and sat down again. He then said.
"So what do you need me to do?"
I replied hesitantly.
"Um, I need you to travel with us Kelvin."
He cupped his chin with one hand and contemplated. He then opened his eyes and replied.
"Alright, but we must let my uncle know about it."
It was never easy was it? Kelvin and I got up and walked out of the room with the lamp in hand. I let Kelvin lead the way to his uncle's bedroom. We opened the door just to see that his uncle had been awake all along and was watching us. He was a short man with a white beard but he had an earnest face. Before I could open my mouth to say anything he said.
"It's alright, if you come here asking for my permission then your wasting your time."
I tried to open my mouth to retort but he clasped a hand over my mouth in the blink of an eye. He then smiled at me and said.
"Ah, wait, you didn't even let me finish. What I wanted to say was. You've already got my permission."
He released his hand from my mouth and I breathed a sigh of relief. Kelvin bopped his uncle on the head and they sized each other up. His uncle placed both hands on Kelvin's shoulders and said to him.
"Your a grown boy now, you need to explore the world, see new places, meet new people. If you follow your friend there I'm sure you'll have a grand adventure."
Kelvin cried into his arms they hugged. I stood there in the doorway watching the scene before me. It reminded me of how father was to us. He always told us things that we didn't understand. He was a kind and warm to both me and my sister. This only strengthen my resolve which was to get revenge. Me and Kelvin climb out through the back window to meet up with my sister. Sukumari hugged Kelvin and he hugged her back. Kelvin's uncle had given us some supplies that should last us the whole trip to liyama, Nagano if we conserve. Just as I was about to walk Kelvin tapped my shoulder and show me a two short swords in sheaths. He nodded at me and I knew what he meant. I took one of the swords and strapped it to my side. If worst comes to worst we might need to use it.
The three of us stared at the village that we were about to leave. The reddish hue of dusk shined behind us as we turned and walk. I could already tell that this would be a long adventure.
