Sachiaretoinoru

[Guest]

Tomoe was certainly speechless, she was too late to do this but she would do it nonetheless because it was the right thing to do despite not doing the right thing right but the end, the wildflower did the thing right.

But again the last days were too much hectic, Yakuza disbandment and the loss of one's purpose was a blow that the strong willed and minded Tomoe recovered from. Certainly, it was not the end of the world. Undoubtedly, there was something to be done provided that the wildflower returns safely from Okinawa. At such point, she would tell NIN of her true identity and real name.

There was this small rectangular table in between them both where Tomoe toke the posture of her favorite way of sitting which was Seiza. In front of her, there was NIN on the other side. On the table, there was a birthday strawberry tart with seven candles on it. Tomoe was late whole seven days, she truly felt the disgrace but she would amend for that.

Gomen, NIN. Tomoe clapped her hand in apologetic manner and bowed seeking forgiveness with her midnight dark hair reaching the ground and her bangs covering her black pearl eyes.

She felt really embarrassed..

OOC:

Sachiaretoinoru: to wish someone luck; to wish someone well

[NIN]

As soon as NIN was told that there wasn't going to be anymore Yakuza, she was so confused. She had never learned the meaning of "ya-ku-za" but she thought it meant something close to "fa-mi-li-ah" like what they talk about in Esparian gangs. She had been quiet all week. They had returned from Kyoto and into Edo and she hadn't giggled...questioned or even grinned. Her mind was at odds with one another. Her childish side wanted to desperately see Waka, Matt, Marcus and even that witchy lady with the deflating and reflating titties. Her heightened intelligence for her age provided her with the other side too. She had Nee-san and also knew that seeing waka would only hurt any future development of other Yakuza groups.

NIN was sitting criss cross and her round chin on the edge of the table, staring at the cake. She would usually jump up and wonder what sort of goody-deliciousness she could muster from that western food. She would wonder why it was on fire and questions by the handful would be thrown at naka like a belt full of string-plucked grenades. Though now...

She was sad that all she had known was gone and something new and scary lie just ahead of her. The only hand she had to hold, the only person that not only knew of her existence in this city was sitting right across from her. She questioned this: if NIN had gone, would no one miss her? If naka was gone, would no one miss her but NIN? Dark thoughts led to dark feelings. Not as intense as those that had gripped her nearly a year ago. Everything had come full circle, unbeknownst to even the snowy-white haired girl.

NIN looked up, a bit confused. " Why Gomen? Did you do something bad?" She looked down at the cake. " Is this an apology-cake?"

[Guest]

"Why Gomen? Did you do something bad?"

In an essence, yes. Tomoe was not able to bring the happy birth day cake on time, on her birthday. Her NIN was truly innocent to ask her that question or actually did that mean?

"Is this an apology-cake?"

Ah, so that was it. A bowing Tomoe raised her head while her doll-like face took the mantle of a shy smile emphasized by her flowery faint red lips. Tomoe decided that she needed to better this smile for the sake of who she cherishes such as NIN. The lady in black and white was amused by such an assumption. Her NIN, she never received a happy birthday cake before? that's mean no happy birthday presents?

Eh! Tomoe paused for a second Eeeeeeh! she would leave her position on th ground and sat down behind NIN hugging her from Behind while her snow white face would rest on NIN's right shoulder just beside the crimson eyed albino's cute face You see, this is actually a happy birthday cake..a cake presented to whoever advances one year in life..there are also presents given to said person They should go later to buy a present since Tomoe didn't know yet what would prove interesting for her little sister.

So happy birthday, NIN! I guess buying you a gift is in order.. Tomoe waited to see NIN's reaction, perhaps there was a question she needed to ask or an inquiry to be made.

However the wildflower, deep in her thoughts wondered why NIN didn't receive such a thing before? then again there was a matter of great importance that Tomoe wanted to discuss with her little cute sister, a serious one that held back her current curiosity for a while.

[Shula Brighton]

{BUMP}

[NIN]

Her One-san suddenly hugged her. HUGGED HER! Man, One-san must've done something REALLY BAD! Did she break on of NIN's toys? Did she put chicken in her lunch? Or something worse? GASP!! She must've forgotten to pick up the weekly Shonnen Jump from the store! No!!

Thought he hug was warm and comforting. WAS this an apology? Seems a lot sadder than guilt.

You see, this is actually a happy birthday
cake..a cake presented to whoever advances one year in life..there are
also presents given to said person

She got to have PRESENTS?!?! More coloring books and cosplay outfits filled NIN's minds at the comment of presents. Not only that but she got to have two sweets in one day!? One here and the usual snack between lunch and dinner. Yummy!

So happy birthday, NIN! I guess buying you a gift is in order.


" So I was born on this day?" NIN looked out the window. It looked like the same one she had jumped out of from sheer curiosity. Yes it seemed like that day today. The day she was born. She leaned forward at the cake. It looked so yummy, and after they get presents! She remembered that presents is something that someone gives you. So no color pencils? She wondered something even more than the presents and the cake. NIN turned and pointed at the cake, grinning. " I get presents AND a cake? But why is the cake on fire?"

Did One-san get bored and decided to add small candles to things like the Grand Earl on D. Gray Man? Or was the candle's supposed to ward off the evil spirits that she keeps talking about? All she knew was that it was weird and the wax was getting on the tasty cake!

[Guest]

Yes, you were born in this day. Tomoe never knew that NIN disliked Chicken in her launch, the former was an avid fan of chicken though, especially when it comes to Ramen with chicken. Regardless, Tomoe made some researching about her NIN. The orphanage the latter lived in, Tomoe through inquisitive efforts was able to grasp when NIN was born in this day however there was no other information to be gained, NIN was shrouded in mystery. It seemed that crimson eyed, ivory haired little girl came to existence from nothingness. Well, you are supposed to blow those candles this is how the tradition goes, NIN-chan.

There were bound to be presents and the duo had all the time, it was all like water in their hands abundant and profuse. But there was another matter at hand, The wildflower wanted to speak with her infant twin despite the irregularities in their shape. You should blow your candles, make sure to blow them all in one sweep. Once her NIN would lay the flickering lights to rest, Tomoe would start dividing them into portions then giving a slice first to NIN then another to herself. Of course, a plate, fork and knife were prepared, though of plastic nature of course.

Tomoe didn't say much as she took her seat back in front of NIN, opting to watch her younger sibling eating her strawberry cake with a quite smile on her doll-like face.

[NIN]

Blow them out? On the day of her birth? But that would put her spit all over the cake. Was that the tradition? Spit-cake? Oh well, if Naka-nee says spit on the cake, might as well spit on the cake if she was gonna have some either way.

She looked at the tiny flames. They looked so cute and tiny in their little perches like kings in their own right. She remembered an old Hanukkah tale that they had to light candles for eight days, but only had enough for only one day. So the leader said "light them so we may have light, instead of none at all. For he would surely forgive us if we use up what we can" Whoever the "he" was, that "he" felt so moved that the "he" magically made the oil last for the whole 8 days instead of the 1. Maybe she could be like the "he" at the end of the eight days and extinguish the light that had lasted too long.

Seven small candles laid atop the strawberry cake as they were all along the surface. She stared at the tiny flames and her long thought stopped. She deepened her voice for it to sound at least a little bit like a male's and said with a gracious tone " Candles of Hanu- " she forgot the name of the story, but continued anyways " You have burned long enough!" And with a sweep she clapped her hands over the candles, extinguishing them. She smiled and watched at her one-san distribute the triangles of deliciousness.

As she munched through the soft food, she wondered if Naka nee knew the Hanu story. If she did, did she know it better than her? Did she know the "he"? " One-san, Who is "he"?" She guess she wasn't being clear enough. " There's a lot of stories that people talk about on Chrispymas and Easter. Who is the "he" they talk about?"


NIN pulled one of the candles from her cake and stared at it. The blackened end looked like a tiny person who's days were gone. Poor little stick man on his high perch. Maybe it wasn't his time after all. Though she wondered...was fire alive? Or is it only able to exist to consume? NIN wasn't able to answer that question and she wouldn't be able to for a long time. That type of philosophy was set later in her years. She may be smarter than most children, but there were things that her brain wasn't physically ready yet. She may be a genius in her own right, but she grew just like any other child.

[Guest]

" Candles of Hanu- " Ah, The candles of Hanukkah. Well, there were things that Tomoe herself didn't know, living in a traditional Aerugese house didn't help much acquire general knowledge but thanks to that, she honored the old ways. The Aerugese generally respect old traditions, participating mostly in every festival dressed in colorful 'kimono's. Oh, The lady in black and white enjoyed them all, she enjoyed 'Hanami' the most. However the difference between the wildflower and he others that she respected traditions and followed them.

Who is 'He'? Well, Tomoe would be able to tell her more about Izanagi and Izanami, the creation of Aerugo. How Izanami died and how her husband, Izanagi came to her rescue to find how his beautiful turned out to be, and in fear he ran from the deadly lands of Yomi while his wife screamed in woe that she would take thousand life of the living everyday, Izanagi promised her in return that he would bring thousand and five hundred everyday. Aerugese mythology was pretty different than others..

Tomoe didn't answer her by then, but soon the answer would leave her cherry blossomed lips in order to satisfy her Kawaii ivory haired sibling. In everyone's heart, there is a candle but of a different nature. While it is lit, we are able to wakeup from sleep. But when it flickers and the light is spirited away..it is when we sleep for eternity. Tomoe paused as she her right hand was raised to rest onto the midsection of her chest, over the heart I wish that my candle would be strong enough to see you when you become to full bloom, NIN.

The wildflower paused, the conversation between two flowers would continue. For that reason, I wanted to speak with you regarding an important matter. We will not be able anymore to see waka-sama. So what about it, NIN? would you stay living with me? I would love to take care of you, making a new fresh start leaving all behind us, for the new adventures ahead.

Tomoe was serious, her tone of voice spoke true of that while being herself amazed explaining how things went to a small child this earnest. But the matter was indeed grave, Tomoe knew what she was going to do but she wanted her NIN to be on her side.

[NIN]

As usual, Naka-nees words lit up her imagination as she imagined different candles, lamps and other forms of light within each others' heart. Some had electric lamps and some had wax lamps. Some even had old fashioned oil lamps. Every single one each was unaware of, yet shining in their own way. Their radiance glowing within them Be it dim or blinding. As they put their heads to rest back into the ground or in a golden pot, their light was simply blown out, turned down, or switched off. Though the world would never be dark. Why? Because the souls of each person would glow brighter in memory of the other. Then another would replace it. though not completely. Never completely.

It was the same business with this. No Waka samma? No pudding man invading space and taking over? No taking names and kicking butt...?

The color drained out of her face and imagined Waka's dragon bulb lamp break against a concrete floor. Was...he unreachable because of that? The cake in her mouth that she had been eating with frivolity felt like grit on her gums just with the thought of waka not being there. No waka, no underlings, no marcus, no matt, no...

Naka would be there though.

NIN looked at the cake, and the candles that had been pulled from the sugary goodness. Naka did all of this because she cared. Did she really want NIN? Or was it still a gomen-cake for no waka? A Go-Ke? Who knew. Was Waka gone-gone? She didn't want to know. Not yet.

The first question whether Naka would say that he was alive or dead. Even then, NIN wouldn't want to know the answer. If he was alive, NIN would want to know why she couldn't see him. If he was dead, she would also want to know why and might not like the answer. In all circumstances, Naka was growing less and less like a nee and more like a.... Haha*. A mother and her kid.

The dreaded feeling of death was rinsed away with a warm feeling. So boiling and slow it felt like hot molasses. It resided down to where her lamp was and then spilling inside of her stomach, making a big smile spread across her cake-filled face. It was love. Not the type of love where you see your favorite manga, or when a story gets really good. Or even when you haven't seen a friend in a long time. It was a love that you felt when you had a bad day and nothing went the way you wanted it to. You drag yourself home and someone opens the door and gives you a big hug.

A hug of "welcome home"

She put her cake to the side and flopped on whatever was closest. Her head and arms on the table or her head and arms on Naka's lap. NIN remembered there was a manga named "Fresh New Start" or "Tsugou No Ii Kimi", but she couldn't read it because it had plastic over it. Whatever yaoi was, she liked the pictures on the covers.
A fresh start? Can we make covert names like secret agents? You can be agent white and I can be agent black, and whenever there's something wrong like abduction or our cover was blown we can use our real names!"

NIN knew the gravity of the situation, but she couldn't help it relating it to other stuff. Naka had been taking care of her for so long that she couldn't imagine anything else. So moving with her to another place would be fine. All in all, the most difficult of it was to forget waka and the yakuza. Well, she could never forget them. She would miss Waka, she would miss the crying drunk man, and she would miss the loud cars outside that lulled her to sleep with her sushi pillow. It would be a small aspect in her life that she never really knew, but just like water over the rocks; it marked a niche in her soul that would only get deeper with time. What it would do to the flow of her life is still undetermined.

NIN frowned and grew serious for a second. " Where are we going with the adventure?"

*Haha: mom
Hahaoya: impolite way to say mother
Okaasan: polite way to say mother

[Guest]

NIN was quick to make the decision and that brought joy over a doll like face with hues of midnight and shades of snow white. Tomoe's black pearl eyes glittered with happiness despite being mainly dark in nature. Did you hear of the Amae? because it was happening by then. Since that Tomoe would be sitting in front of her on the other side of the table. NIN would support her albino visage marked with a twin of crimson orbs, by the force of her arms while Tomoe would pat her head.

Ah, secret agents. There was this secret that The lady in black and white never told anyone from the yakuza that she assumed a false identity. It was time to reveal the hidden and uncover what was behind the veil.

NIN.. Tomoe began to play with that ivory hair of hers My true name is..Shin-Ai, you may call me Ai from now on. she paused a while, it was time to tell her own tale. I hail from the beautiful Okinawa where the golden sands of the shore meet with the sapphire waves of the sea, there the red sun always dusks and dawns flirting crimson withing the horizon. Ah, it has been long time since the time I left. It was quite the reminiscence that the wildflower's words kept coming like the cherry blossoms gracing the wind in the midst of the Hanami My father is a yakuza lord, there. Almost a year ago, I made a mistake..that left me out of fear on the run away. And so, I became Nakajima tomoe.

It was time..

I need to return back to Okinawa to reconcile with my father Matsudaira, Hisamitsu. If I retrieve my true identity And I need you to come with me. It was the conclusion, Ai truly feared her whole-heartedly traditionalist father who applied the rules of the Yakuza by the book. Shin-Ai needed NIN to gain courage of someone cherished at her side which was quite strange but perhaps Ai's maternal instincts would let her be calm and steadfast.

Shin-Ai despite her cold appearance was trembling feeling the cold sweat of terror and fright. She would retract her patting hand raising ultimately figuring out that such snow white hand was shaking..

Nanda!

[NIN]

NIN closed her eyes and listened to what Nak-...Ai-nee was telling her. About Okanawa, that she was with the Yakuza just like NIN when she was little because her father was the lord of Yakuza. Would that make Waka the Duke of the Yakuza? A bunch of things came to realization. That NIN had a grandpa now, that she was going to live in Okanawa, and that Ai-nee was shaking. Why was she shaking?

Because she was happy?

Because she was scared?

Or maybe a bit of both...

NIN opened her eyes again and grinned. Not getting the situation at all. " Good! It's really good to go back and apologize. If you run away, you just feel bad inside." She took Ai-nee's hand and put it to her cheek. " Plus, I get to have a grandpa. A f-." NIN bit her lip. She didn't have a problem calling Waka her dad, or Ai-nee her sister....She couldn't call them her family just yet. Not just yet.

What name would NIN have? Did she have to make a new name? Of course! If Naka was going to change her name back her her own, then NIN would have to find a name too. The little kid lurched forward into a roll and stood up...then turned around to face naka. She wanted a new name too. She looked around for an idea. She knew that most manga they name it obvious. Like Naruto is a noodle shop and he likes noodles. Ichigo is first leader but he has red hair like a strawberry. The only person that defined NIN so far was with the people she was with. She learned Drachman from her friend Kean. She learned confidence and tactical skills from the Yakuza. What did she get from Naka?

Maybe....a name.

NIN leaned in and grinned. " This is an adventure for two. Your grandpa will be happy to see you." She sat down facing Naka.

"Now choose my name please."

[Guest]

" Good! It's really good to go back and apologize. If you run away, you just feel bad inside." IF things were that easy. For a second, Shin-Ai wished her mind would be mantled with the same cloak, NIN was having. Hope is indeed a beautiful thing and children are full of them being free from the casual fears and worries, the adults were suffering.

The Ivory haired albino with crimson orbs took Ai's shaking quickly responding for the plea of assistance with such gesture of reassurance signified by resting a snow white palm over a young mushy cheek. Ah, children are capable of things, adults were not able to do. By such simplicity, things could be quickly done and matters would be easily resolved. " Plus, I get to have a grandpa. A f-." What did NIN want to say? What was that crucial that would make bit her lip in state that resembled remorse and regret for something that wouldn't be said.

" This is an adventure for two. Your grandpa will be happy to see you." Ai giggled and replied in return in calm thanks to her NIN He is my father and your grandfather, NIN. But, I am glad you would consider him as such. but what happened next, really did surprise her. To have the honor of naming a child. Ai feared that the name, she would conjure wouldn't come to NIN's liking. So, the lady in black and white had a thoughtful moment.

If I am darkness, then you are my light. You are now Hikari of the Matsudaira clan. This much, I vow, Hikari..that I would protect you with my life. This much was already said. Question was, did find her new name pleasant.

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