飛天 — Heavenly Flight

“Woah, when did you get that?”

“Who did this to you?”

“How many time have I told you to be more careful?”

“You’re saying this was an accident?”

“What a shiner!”

“If you look like this, I’d hate to see the other guy.”

“I’m not buying it, you don’t walk into a door and get a bruise like that!”

“Does it hurt when I touch it?”

“Let me kiss it better.”

“If you don’t rest, you won’t heal.”

“Another fight?”

“What happened to your face?”

“I don’t think your arm is meant to bend like that…”

“Let’s get you to bed.”

“Let’s get you to the hospital.”

“Why are you so calm about this?”

“You’re bleeding!”

“What are friends for, ey?”

“So, instead of helping you, they ran off the moment they saw what was happening?”

“You need to look where you’re going.”

“I’m not accusing anyone, I’m just saying it looks suspicious.”

“Do you want to tell me what really happened?”

“Don’t move! You’ll faint!”

“I’ve got some bandages, wait a sec.”

“You’re the clumsiest person I know.”

“I won’t let you be on your own, not when you’re like this.”

“How could you be so careless?”

“I can’t even look at you, you promised not to get into any more fights!”

Nestling into Hiten’s arms, she reached for the paper and crayons once more, going back to the picture she’d been drawing. The picture itself seemed to be one of their immediate family but it was hard to tell as it was only half finished.

Despite his womanizing reputation, he would never disvalue Souten for being a woman. She was more than a woman. She was his sister. “You wouldn’t like being a boy, I think.” he mentioned casually, hanging around the door and watching her work away on her drawing, little legs kicking childishly behind her. 

“We’re brazen and dumb, no thinking before acting, despite it working out sometimes. You’re a smart girl, and you’ve got our genes, so you’ll be just as beautiful!” Hiten laughed, a surprisingly sparkling sound, a voice he only used around her. She was special. 

          Tiny fists clenched so tight that even the tips of his little claws were pinching into his skin.

               ‘ You were cut in half–! ‘

           It just wasn’t possible - that day forever engraved within his mind. It was bittersweet, knowing that the one responsible for separating him from his father was dead.

                               —-Though it hadn’t meant it would bring his father back. 

                                      Nothing ever would.

            Angry tears of frustration tickled at the corner of his eyes, jaw clenching just as tight.

                    ‘ I–!                       I’m gonna get my revenge for what you did! ‘