Chapter Text
Everything was fine .
“Papa! Papa!” A young voice yelled as a child, barely older than a toddler ran up to a man with black hair.
Everything was normal.
The man chuckled, bending down and picking up the excited child. “Raika! What’s got you so excited?”
Everything was perfect.
The child- Raika grinned. “Mama let me and Azu help make a pie!”
So why….
The man let out a fake gasp, forcing his eyes to widen exaggeratedly. “She did? Oh wow! That means it’s going to be extra delicious!”
Why did it turn out like this?
The child beamed as the man started walking further into the house. “I hope it’s cherry.” He laughed. “That’s my favorite!”
Sunlight broke through the curtains of a room, hitting a slumbering black haired girl in the face. Her nose scrunched as she screwed her eyes further shut to try and stay asleep.
She wanted to keep dreaming of happier times. Times back when she was young and her father was still alive.
Unfortunately, it seemed like fate had other plans.
“Nee-Chan.” A young voice called, knocking on the door. “ Née-chan! I’m hungry . Nee-chan!”
Growling slightly, green eyes fluttered open as the girl glared at the door. “Where’s Azuma?” She asked irritably. “Go bug him! He knows how to cook.”
“Nee-chaan” the little boy whined. “I’m hungry .”
Sighing, the teenager pushed away her blankets and got ready for the day. Why was her brother such a brat? When she opened her door a brown haired boy with the same green eyes was staring up at her, pouting.
Rolling her eyes, the girl reached out and tousled the boy’s hair. “Seriously Denjiro, you make it sound like you never eat.”
“Raika-nee!” Denjiro whined. “Stop it! You’re messing up my hair.”
Letting out a laugh, Raika removed her hand from Denjiro’s head, instead draping it behind his neck and started walking towards the kitchen, guiding her brother along.
Perhaps it was fine that things changed. If everything had stayed the same, if her father was still here….she wouldn’t have Denjiro.
Raika was content to forget about her dream and carry on. That was until…. on the way to the kitchen, a reflection in the distance caught Raika’s eye.
Stopping in her tracks, she turned to look out the window. At the enormous crystal structure stood in the distance, reflecting the light of the sun.
The Crystal Palace.
Narrowing her eyes, Raika felt furry swell in her as she turned away from the window and continued guiding Denjiro towards the kitchen.
“Nee-Chan.” Denjiro whispered.
Raika hummed, turning towards her younger brother with a soft smile on her face….She hoped it didn’t look as forced as she felt it was. Denjiro didn’t seem to notice, however, turning towards Raika with sad eyes.
“Will Kaa-San visit this weekend?”
The smile fell off her face faster than it took her mind to comprehend her otouto’s question.
Kaa-San…
Raika grit her teeth.
When Raika was Denjiro’s age, both she and her twin, Azuma, still called their mother Mama. Their brothers, Shiden and Ikazuchi both called their mother mama up until that day, back when Ika was seven.
Yet here little Denjiro was, nine years old and calling their mother Kaa-San…
Why….
Forcing the soft smile back onto her face, Raika turned towards Denjiro with a tilt of her head. “Well she is supposed to visit.” She laughed.
Why…
Denjiro turned away from his sister. “She’s supposed to visit every weekend.” A squeeze on his shoulders, had him turning back to Raika tentatively, his eyes glassy.
Why…
A comforting look in her eyes, Raika pulled her brother closer. “I’m sure she’ll visit soon.” She assured him, hiding the anger that she felt.
Why did you have to be a Senshi?
The Hikawa Shrine was their home.
They were all born there.
When he asked why, Tou-san said Haha never liked hospitals. Back then he was too young to ask why, and as he grew he just didn’t care.
Now though…?
“ Seika.” A male voice called to the child as a tall man slid the shoji door open. The man had ragged brown hair that covered his eyes. “Kagero.”
The man grinned down at the black haired four year old who was holding the hand of a two year old with the same brown hair as the man.
“Come meet your sister.” The man said happily, moving out of the way to reveal a woman lying on a futon and holding a small baby with black hair.
The woman smiled at them, reaching a hand out. “Seika. Kagero.”
“Mama!” The two boys grinned, running over towards the woman who just laughed.
The four year old looked down at the tiny infant in wonder. “What’s her name?”
The brown haired man had a giant smile on his face as he proudly proclaimed. “Yuka!” With a poke to the boy's nose he added. “It means gentle fire.”
Now that same joyful man lay before him as pale as a ghost hooked up to so many different monitors that it made the boy sick.
“Nii-San….” A small voice called from next to him.
Turning slightly, purple met purple as the black haired teen glanced at the teary face of his sister. “Yuka…” Seeing the brunette next to her, the seventeen year old whispered. “..Kagero…”
Kagero cleared his throat as he stared anywhere but at his older brother. “The doctor wishes to speak to you.”
Tensing, the seventeen year old nodded before heading out into the hall.
Seika stared unemotionally at the casket that was lowered into the ground, trying desperately to ignore the sobs of his younger sister and the tears of his brother.
It was only the three of them now.
‘I’m sorry.’ The doctor had said. ‘There’s nothing else we can do.’
Now Seika understood why Haha disliked hospitals.
Clenching his hands, Seika turned to look at the raven haired woman standing a yard away. Narrowing his eyes, Seika had to fight back his growl.
She hadn’t even acknowledged them.