Arc IXChapter14
<strong><b>IX</b></strong>
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<strong><b>Arc IXChapter1</b></strong><strong><b>4</b></strong>
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<strong><b>━━━━━━┛</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>┗━━━━━━</b></strong>
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Asami finally arrived at home after a long day. The night was still young, and the moon stood high. It was a rare day. The never-ending rain took pity on the vige, gracing Amegakure with a brief respite.
The rain had ceased, and the usual thick, imprableyer of clouds was gone. From above, down from the crystal clear sky, shimmered the moon and a few lonely stars.
The day took a toll on Asami, and the thought of finally returning home warmed her heart, despite her current home being located Pain''s loveless steel tower.
The spartan apartment Pain provided her with, barely befitted her standing, but home was home, and for the time being, her modest amodation sufficed.
Asami opened the door. “Yuki-chan~, I am home~.“
No response. Silence.
“Hmm ...“ Asami tilted her head, rubbing her chin. Where was her cute little Yuki-chan? Her Yukipie couldn''t have possibly gone missing.
Asami shook her head, dispelling such evil thoughts. Her little treasure would never disappear. Yukipie would never worry her beloved nee-san.
Asamimenced her search. In the living room. “Yuki-chan~?“
Yuki-chan wasn''t there.
In the kitchen. “Yuki-chan~, where are you~?“
In the refrigerator. “Yuki-chan~, are you there~? “
In the shelves. “Yuki-chan~, nee-san is worried~.“
In the bathroom. “Yuki-chan~,e to nee-san~.“
On the sofa. “Yuki-chan~, don''t hide~.“
Asami grew worried, her Yuki was nowhere to be found.
Asami entered her room, finally locating her missing little sister. A slight smile adorned Asami''s lips.“Found you~. You can''t hide from nee-san~.“
Yuki was sleeping in her bed, wrapped tightly in her warm, fluffy nkets. Not tightly enough for a certain caring nee-san. It was cold these days as winter was approaching. Her Yukipie was not allowed to freeze under any imaginable circumstance.
Asami took the nket and tucked Yuki in tightly. She also added another nketyer. Just to be sure. And another one to be even more sure. There never could be enough nkets.
Unfortunately, her actions waked up Yuki from her deep slumber. A most careless on her part.
Yuki rubbed her sleepy eyes, still in a dazed state. “Nee-san, what are you doing?“
Asami countered with a smile. “Nothing. Just paying a visit to my dear little sister.“
Yuki nodded. Her words made sense. “Nee-san, will you stay, or will you leave again?“
Asami patted Yuki''s head. Her hand glided through Yuki''s dishevelled hair. “Don''t worry, I will stay as long as you want.“
Yuki smiled. Nee-san''s hand was so wonderfully warm. A feeling of warmth spread through her body. Her little heart beat faster. “That makes me happy. Being with nee-san is everything I need.“ And want.
Asami chuckled in response, while ruffling Yuki''s hair. “Silly girl, you are still you. How can you tell what you want, and what not?“
Yuki sulked in protest. “But it''s true, I only need nee-san.“
Nee-san''s gentle voice, her calming aura, her infinite kindness. Nee-san was her sun, making her every day a little brighter.
Whether nee-san ever felt the same way? Whether nee-san reciprocated her feelings? Yuki didn''t know. She dreaded the answer.
Yuki gripped her nket. What if nee-san didn''t? She should better not ask.
Yuki looked up. “Nee-san, can you sing me a luby?“
Her request startled Asami. “A luby?“
Yuki nodded vigorously.
Asami raised her eyebrow. “Why?“
“It''s time for me to sleep. Okaa-san always sang for me a luby when I had trouble sleeping. You woke me up, nee-san. Now I need a luby.“ Yuki was already a big girl. She didn''t need any luby, but nee-san wouldn''t know, and Yuki wouldn''t miss out on such a precious opportunity.
Asami hesitated. “I see ... But singing is not necessarily my strength, not to mention lubies. I don''t know any luby, except for one, maybe.“
Yuki dismissed Asami''s concerns. A happy smile surfaced on her face. Her smile was infectious. “I don''t care. I only want to hear nee-san''s voice.“
Asami wasn''t fully convinced yet. “...“
“Please~.“ Yuki begged, supported by her puppy eyes. She hadn''t forgotten nee-san''s lessons. Yukiwas an attentive student.
Asami sighed. “Understood, I will give my best. Give me a moment. I will try to remember the tune. “
Yuki smiled, overjoyed like a little girl. Her cheeks turned bright cherry red. “Nee-san, what luby are you singing?“
“It''s an old luby from the distant past, from and far, far away. You wouldn''t know it.“
Yuki wondered under her warm nket. “So it is from your okaa-san?“
Asami shook her head. “Not directly. It''s far older.“
Her nee-san confused Yuki. “Then where does ite from?“
Asami chuckled and ruffled Yuki''s hair. “It''s aplicated story, a story for another day.“
Asami leaned closer and Yuki ced her head in Asami''sp. For inexplicable reasons, Yuki felt safe, protected, and loved.
Asami intoned her voice.
“Ladybug fly, fly, fly ~
Child do not cry ~
Your father went to war ~
And mother is no more ~
Ladybug fly, fly, fly ~
Child do not cry ~
The soldiers burned your home ~
You are now alone ~
Ladybug fly, fly, fly ~
Ladybug fly, fly, fly ~.“
Asami repeated her tune until Yuki slowly closed her eyes and finally fell asleep. Yuki passed out, carried away into the sweetnds of dream and slumber.
Asami kissed Yuki''s soft cheeks. “Sleep well, my cute little treasure.“
Yuki figure, her little angel. Such a serene, such a pristine presence.
The world she would create was not only for her, but also for Yuki. The girl was thest person left to her in this cursed world. Hopefully, Yuki would appreciate her work one day, the future her hands had forged with iron and blood.
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<strong><b>━━━━━━┛</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>┗━━━━━━</b></strong>
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