Vague as always, Hatsuharu was slow to turn, but the second he laid eyes on her, his long legs carried him through the crowd to the little girl, almost lost amongst the to-and-fro of the other arrivals. His smile was sure, if small, and uncaring of whose way he might be in, he crouched in one fluid movement. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her in close to him, one long-fingered hand stroking her golden hair.
"Kisa..." he said softly. "I was... a little unsure if it really was you. I'm glad it is."
A small laugh bubbled up from his throat as he continued to pat her gently.
No one else could hold her like this. Her curse left her unable to be held by a member of the opposite sex and at times when her heart ached for strong arms to envelop her there was no one she could turn to. Even when Yuki and Kyo were with her, Yuki was too distanced and polite and Kyo too temperamental and embarrassed to hold her.
Even when Hiro grew up big and strong, she could still see herself running to Hatsuharu for a hug when times were bad. She clung to him, hands fisting in his clothing as she nuzzled close as though wishing he could just engulf her in his warmth and affection.
"It's been so long, Nii-chan. I've been here for so long." Kisa sobbed into his shoulder, losing herself in the scent of home. "I thought I'd never see you again!"
Hatsuharu was silent for a little while, letting Kisa cry while he held her and gently stroked her hair and back. He didn't know what it was about Kisa, and he never had, but he did know he would do anything for her. If that was half-crouching, half-kneeling in the middle of a milling crowd, then so be it.
After a time, he gave a soft sound or two of comfort and moved her away just a little so he could look down at her, thumbing away her tears.
"I'm sorry I took so long to get here," he said softly.
She sniffled and nibbled her lip, fumbling for a smile when she lifted her head to meet his gaze. "You're here now, so everything is ok again." Kisa leaned up and bumped their noses together the way a kitten would. "I won't be sad anymore."
The little girl gave him a brave albeit shaky smile, the first heartfelt smile she had given anyone in months. So much loss, so many life-changing events had left Kisa too afraid to find her courage. She had no one who she truly felt loved her enough for her to determinedly pick up the pieces. Now she did and now she would follow him wherever he went regardless of the consequences.
The spark in her spirit rekindled at last.
Little fingers played with his tufty white hair and the faintest giggle escaped her lips. "Let's go have pizza."
"Ah... yes!" he replied, ducking his head just a little to allow her all the playing she wanted. "I have a map," which of course he had already told her. For some reason, he seemed oddly proud of this fact, never mind that Stevie had given it without any prompting. It hadn't even been Hatsuharu's idea.
Somehow, one-handed so he could keep one arm around Kisa, he flicked open his journal and showed Kisa the right page.
The place Stevie had marked as the Pizzeria was in one direction from the docks. Hatsuharu looked around, then pointed... in the entirely opposite direction.
With or without a map, his sense of direction was, as ever, atrocious.
After a moment, he said perhaps the wisest thing he could have, which was;
"Why don't you follow the map, and I'll follow you, since you're supposed to be rescuing me."
Comments 15
"Kisa..." he said softly. "I was... a little unsure if it really was you. I'm glad it is."
A small laugh bubbled up from his throat as he continued to pat her gently.
"Hey... you don't need to cry... I'm here now."
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Even when Hiro grew up big and strong, she could still see herself running to Hatsuharu for a hug when times were bad. She clung to him, hands fisting in his clothing as she nuzzled close as though wishing he could just engulf her in his warmth and affection.
"It's been so long, Nii-chan. I've been here for so long." Kisa sobbed into his shoulder, losing herself in the scent of home. "I thought I'd never see you again!"
Reply
After a time, he gave a soft sound or two of comfort and moved her away just a little so he could look down at her, thumbing away her tears.
"I'm sorry I took so long to get here," he said softly.
Reply
"You're here now, so everything is ok again." Kisa leaned up and bumped their noses together the way a kitten would. "I won't be sad anymore."
The little girl gave him a brave albeit shaky smile, the first heartfelt smile she had given anyone in months. So much loss, so many life-changing events had left Kisa too afraid to find her courage. She had no one who she truly felt loved her enough for her to determinedly pick up the pieces. Now she did and now she would follow him wherever he went regardless of the consequences.
The spark in her spirit rekindled at last.
Little fingers played with his tufty white hair and the faintest giggle escaped her lips.
"Let's go have pizza."
Reply
Somehow, one-handed so he could keep one arm around Kisa, he flicked open his journal and showed Kisa the right page.
The place Stevie had marked as the Pizzeria was in one direction from the docks. Hatsuharu looked around, then pointed... in the entirely opposite direction.
With or without a map, his sense of direction was, as ever, atrocious.
After a moment, he said perhaps the wisest thing he could have, which was;
"Why don't you follow the map, and I'll follow you, since you're supposed to be rescuing me."
Reply
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