#m-vigil

Surely, it's because of the Spring Festival. It encouraged students to wear clothes other than their school uniform, it didn't matter what, as it was a time of cordial events, programs, games, and a fireworks show.

He and [Name] weren't keen on dressing up. As they were raised in a traditional household, they decided to take out their usual apparel from when their family was still wealthy.

He didn't expect the attention on [Name] to be this ridiculously big, though.

Was letting his sister visit his classroom a bad idea? He didn't think so, since she looked very happy fitting in the theme of their traditional cafe, serving visitors with a charming grin that had some falling to the floor with a lovestruck gaze.

He wished he was kidding, but he knew [Name] had that effect.

So what was his role? Well, he took to 'guarding' and 'welcoming' guests at the threshold of the classroom, a faux sword strapped to his obi.

“Thank you for your time,” he dipped his head in gratitude after waving off a pair of giggling girls that fussed over how the Kaedeharas fit the theme so well, one of them going as far as to blow him a kiss.

He smiled, half awkward and half flustered, waving as he fumbled with the guard of his sword.

“That's [Name], right? She's so pretty.”

His ears perked, but he didn't give them the time of day, playing oblivious as a group of boys passed his way, walking suspiciously slow, ducking their heads and peering through the windows.

“Hey, hey, I didn't know she looked this pretty. Hah, what about we...”

His brows furrowed.

Now, it wasn't as if he hadn't heard one or too many compliments about his older sister, he respected that. But when those whispers became a tad.. unprincipled, for a lack of a better word, he had to step in.

The group of boys was snickering, pushing each other around, and stalking closer to the entrance to the classroom. He leaned off the wall just as they were about to open the door.

“Heh, yeah, let's go and-”

“I'm afraid our tables are full, good sirs,” he quipped, cutting them off. “You may have to return a little while later.”

“Eh, no it's alright, we'll wait inside.”

He smiled. “That'd disrupt our servers, please leave and return at a later time.”

“Nah, we insist! We'd even help serve-” vermillion eyes snapped towards the hand that reached the sliding door, and he grasped the student's wrist with prompt attention, his smile tight.

“Leave.” his thumb pushed the guard of his sword from its scabbard, faux metal catching a bright scintilla from the sun, making them yelp. “Please.”

“Okay, okay! Geez..” with frowns and disappointed looks on their faces, they pull themselves away from the door and leave, hands in their pockets, nudging each other by the elbows.

Kazuha's shoulders sagged, breathing in relief. He heard a lot of things, not many were good good, but he managed. Filtering through them was a breeze, but not if it was against any of his friends or family.

The door opened behind him and [Name] popped out, looking bewildered. “I thought I heard some voices, did potential customers leave? We have a free table at the corner..”

Kazuha turned to her. He wouldn't interfere with his sister's social life throughout—he knew her classmate Ayato was interested—, but he wasn't going to have anyone with remotely dastardly intentions come close.

“Nee-san,” he smiled, “it's fine. They'll come back later. Is your shift done? You want to play, right? I think the games at the booths are open now.”

✧ commissions open

“I...” he trails off for a number of reasons.

Why is there a child here? How can she be here?

His quietude is taken in stride, with the little girl circling him about in what he can deduce is both excitement and scrutiny. He hasn't felt so uncharacteristically small in someone's discerning gaze.

The girl smiles at him, “Ah! Are you a wanderer? You seem to look the part, mister!”

“That I am.” he finally finds his voice to respond, having let go of his prior surprise. He really shouldn't be so floundered, though.

This is a mirage, after all—anything can happen.

“I knew it!” the jubilant exclamation makes him smile, even though his chest squeezes. “Then, maybe you're looking for a way out? There's a huge ship over there, come, come!”

He is already being dragged along by the hand before he can answer—not like he'll turn down the offer.

Just as what was mentioned, the Alcor in the stretch is a couple of minutes away, floating in an empty space. Even from afar, he can tell how the mirage has whittled it to perfection, mimicking the original vessel to a tee.

If he's going to be honest, though, then he's a little lost.

He wonders whether he should be astounded over the phantasmagoria's uncanny ability to create things from his subconscious or be astounded by how the little girl doesn't seem fazed at the oddment of it all.

Kazuha observes the girl's silver tresses and eyes the section of vermillion that fades to crimson. Her pink kimono is tidy and she appears out of place in this disheveled domain.

Like a single dendrobium amid the shipwreck on Nazuchi beach.

“May I ask why you are alone?” he questions, seeing a couple of familiar structures located on other floating islands. “An estate lies in the distance.”

He wonders if the others are there, navigating through the labyrinth for the—hopefully—last time.

“I'm not ready...”

Hm? The samurai blinks, puzzled at the answer. Not ready?

He pauses his steps when the child does, her head tipped down and her smile no longer present on her visage. It is an unusual sight, dismaying to witness.

“Father said I should stay outside for a while, so...”

Kazuha respects privacy, especially that of a stranger's. Most reasons are personal and are preferably hidden, but he can't restrain his own curiosity. After all, the one before him is...

“Can I...” his uncertain murmur doesn't go unheard, and the set of [c]s fixate on him as though weighing the possible ramifications of divulging her problems to a stranger.

The samurai is a little thrilled that the youngster's pretty shrewd for her age.

“Well, mother said I'm going to be a big sister today.” she ends up revealing with a crestfallen sigh. “I don't think I'm prepared to be one, I'm going to be so bad at it!”

Oh. It's... well, he's not expecting that out of the endless possible answers he could've heard. Not like he's against it or anything, of course.

In fact, he's rather astounded.

Dismay paints the round, youthful features of the little girl, implying just how burdened she is with her self-doubt.

To see such a sight pulls his lips down, at least, until he brings them back up in order to display himself as a model of assurance.

“Hm, with the way you're so concerned, I believe you'll be a fantastic sibling.” Kazuha quips, unable to stave off the growing smile when he's met with a marginally misanthropic stare.

“How can you say so? You don't know me, mister.”

To think she's a little cynical—or perhaps just chary.

“I am a stranger to you, as well, yet you are helping me board the ship.” he says in an 'as-a-matter-of-fact' tone, accompanying it with a firm nod. “You've a good heart.”

He can tell that his words are taken into consideration, the silence looming over them indicative of the cogs working in one's mind. It isn't long until the child is looking back at him, voice still tiny, though far from being uncertain as she was earlier.

“... Do you think I'll do good, then? Truly?”

The ends of her pink sleeves are being picked and fumbled away with her fingers.

Hesitantly, Kazuha pats her head, relaxing when it's received with a brightening gleam in the eyes. He nods, chest filling with warmth.

“You'll be excellent.”

Cheeks flushing with the same color as her kimono, the little girl stutters, as though unused to the assurance.

She has a tiny pout on her lips that she battles away with a beaming smile. Far, far brighter than the first one she wore.

“... Yes, yes, you're right!” she claps her hands with a giggle, “I have to be strong so I can be good! I'll keep your words to heart, mister! Now let's get you on the ship!”

Invigorated, she latches onto his bandaged hand—only to yelp an apology following the delayed assumption that he's hurt. He chuckles at it, shaking his head and saying that it's fine.

With the granted permission, he's tugged away again, only much gently this time. Like she does not believe that his hand isn't hurting hence her gentle hold.

It's warm.

For someone who's only known the coldness of grief for the past few months... this feels nice.

Kazuha almost bites his tongue when the child races up the uneven wooden gangway leading towards the Alcor, the latter nearly tripping over the steps.

When she manages to catch herself, however, he relaxes, sighing as he follows her up. He notices that she does not cross the threshold, nor does she question the lack of the crew.

She stays standing atop the last wooden board outside the ship, whilst he's already in the breadth of the vessel. His chest squeezes once more.

“Hehe, father will be happy that I helped someone out.” excitedly mutters the girl before gasping, struck with a realization.

“Ah, that reminds me! I need to go back home now! Take care-.. ?”

Her words fall short when the samurai lowers himself to her level and pulls her close in a bewildering yet warm embrace. How sudden.

“Mister wanderer,” her voice rings, a little muffled. “You're not going to abduct me, are you?”

His soft laughter is already rolling past his lips before he can even register them. He does not let go just yet. “Of course not. Forgive my sudden embrace, I am just reminded of my sibling.”

A gasp.

“Then that must be why you're traveling, right? So you can go back home!” Concludes the child after she's freed from the embrace.

She sounds enthused at the concept of him having a sibling, just like her. In a sudden burst of boldness, she holds onto the hands that held her once and shook them with vigor.

He doesn't understand the need nor the reason, but he goes along, waving and shaking her hands in tandem. The handshake makes the girl giggle until she's pulling away.

“Don't keep them waiting, they'll certainly miss you because you're family. I'll be going now!”

His hands hold the remnants of the warmth of another and he clenches his fingers in an endeavor to preserve them for a little while longer.

Standing back to his full height, he overlooks as his small, fleeting companion rushes back down to proper land with as much elegance as she can exude despite her haste.

Gone is the void in his chest, replaced with a mellow bud of melancholia, soon to bloom into one of acceptance.

To his surprise, the child stops then swivels, raising a hand to wave at him from the distance.

“Ah! Thank you again, mister!” he can still see her smile even from afar, “By the way, I'm [Name]!”

“I know.” his words are heard only by the wind as he smiles, feeling his eyes sting with water. Though they do not fall.

Ribbons of pink eventually cover the running girl until she is gone from sight, much like the phantasm she was in the first place. Still, he is ever so grateful.

Kazuha holds onto his scarf, lifting the fabric close to his eyes as he expels a shaky breath.

“Thank you, too.”

Even if the wound in his heart remains fresh, he is thankful for having seen her. Seen her smile, seen her be alright, seen her be alive.

“Nee-san.”

His wonderful older sibling.

a/n: so an angst/comfort piece for vigil :')) i think this cured my heart a lil' from writing mercy lmao.