Chiyo did not linger for too long nor drank the cup of sake offered to her. She went out of the tavern with a heavy heart. Now that she confirmed that the information was still the same then there's no use in asking the locals as well. The killer is no ordinary creature, even before, it kills without leaving its trails, it mastered the ability to hide.
She breathed a sigh, mist forming under her breath for it was starting to get colder again. It was still sunny outside but a thick group of clouds is now starting to form, veiling the brightly lit sun above. And the city is as busy as ever — children's laughter echoed the streets of Zakura, a one-eyed creature showing them little tricks; then a harp played by a Tengu filled the air with ancient melody, each pluck on the string telling a tale about a forbidden love under the snowflakes. The yokais gathered around the Tengu, his music enchanting them. Chiyo walked past them and finally reached the cobblestone pathway.
Beneath the looming Torii gate, a small figure stood waiting. His thin clothing clung to his frame, barely a protection from the biting cold. He has been waiting for someone — a family — the last remaining that he has, but even a glimpse was nowhere. So he waited until noon — until the snow started falling again — until a solitary figure appeared from afar. The figure stopped from her track, her hood pulled low to her face.
A glimpse of hope.
The boy's eyes lift up as the stranger lifted the hood, revealing her beautiful face — a pale skin like a glowing moonlight, a pristine presence in the snow where cherry blossoms fell from behind — leaving trails of ephemeral beauty. He knows her, not of her name, but of her deeds. Whispered under the moonlight, where children talked about their favored guardians, aside from the king's cadre they also mentioned her in passing. The ice princess, the one protected by the commander himself.
So unhesitatingly, he hurried towards her.
Chiyo narrowed her eyes. A child, no more than five, ran towards her like his life depends on it, his small feet leaving tiny footprints on the snow —golden locks bouncing off his head, and a tanuki tail swaying left and right.
The child stopped in front of her, panting — his nose of pale pink in color.
Chiyo looked down to observe the child whose height barely reached her waist, and he did the same. He looked up, his small mouth slightly ajar as he caught his breath, and seeing that he was trying his hardest, she then decided to squat down.
"What can I help you with, little one?" She asked with a smiling tone, afraid that she might scare him off.
The boy stared back at her quietly. His eyes glistened, tears threatening to fall. He doesn't know where to start. Now that she's asking, he felt like crying. The woman kept looking at her with a concern gaze so his emotion welled up, tears fell from his eyes, each drop glistened like diamonds.
"Waahhh!" He cried.
Chiyo was stunned. The boy's wailing echoed through the field and she is at a loss on how to comfort a crying child. In a panic, she unknowingly reached out to him. Her warmth enveloped his freezing body, and he buried his face in her shoulder — weeping, and the world ceast to exist except her presence.
"Shhh... it's okay. I'll help you..." She doesn't even know what he needs but felt the need to say something.
The boy cried for hours, and as they sat outside, snow started accumulating on top of their heads. Chiyo brushed off the snow on the child's head.
"It is getting colder. You can tell me what you want." Her voice was soft, soothing his aching heart. He has been muttering about his sister in between his sobs so she already assumed that his concern has something to do with her.
"Find my sister, please!" His small voice was hoarse, an outcome of hours of wailing. "My sister!"
"Okay... tell me what's wrong?"
"My sister is missing!"
Her sister went out the night before. He was having a fever then, without receiving help from anyone, she decided to pick up some herbs at night — afraid that the boy's brain will be fried if the fever is left untreated. He doesn't want her to go, but she still closed the door behind her, leaving him alone.
He has been waiting for her since that night because he wanted to tell her that his fever have already subsided, however, morning came and her sister did not come back. The feeling of abandonment enveloped him — there was a dull ache in his chest and memories of how their parents leave the door that night started flashbacking in his mind. He was afraid. He doesn't want to be alone so he went out in hopes of finding a glimpse of her.
"M-my sister left and now she hasn't c-come back!"
"Okay. I get the gist of it, but first, I will take you home. It's freezing outside." Chiyo removed her cloak and placed it on his body. "You don't want your sister to see you in this state right?"
The boy slowly nodded, and he guided her back to the city, where there was a forgotten, desolate alley — the warmth of the sun a distant memory. The houses, small and shabby, lined up the gloomy street. Their paints have long faded, showing off the bare woods, and roofs, patched and weary, bears the scar of countless storms. The holes gape open, allowing the cold to enter one's abode.
They entered the smallest one at the end of the street, it was the oldest house compared to others. The bare woods are barely holding on, every slight movement a creak. On the floor, a blanket rest, worn-out and thin, it serves as the sibling's bed. Then a small table sat beside the makeshift bed. Chiyo roamed her eyes around, she was grateful that at least, there is a fire stove in the corner, and a piece of raw sweet potato.
"You sit there first. Try to warm up while I boil this potato for you to eat."
The pot was already filled with water. Chiyo lit up the firewood and placed the pot atop. While waiting she also tidied up the place a little— the gaze of the child following her around. Although the furniture can be counted on one hand. the place still needs to be clean especially when there is a child.
"By the way, what does your sister look like?" She started.
"She has brown hair." The boy sniffled.
"How long?"
He pointed at his shoulder.
"She is also this tall."
He walked straight to the wall near the door, his small finger touching the markings on the wood. Every month, they would check each other's height and mark the wall. It was an indication of how much they grew taller. Chiyo's eyebrows met when she touched the highest line on the wall. Her finger slightly tapped in it as realization dawned on her.
The sister, she was only a head taller than the boy.
"How old is your sister?" She asked, trying to confirm if she was just wrong.
"Oh. I forgot to tell. She's seven."
She was stunned. She thought the sister would be at least a teen or an adult. She did not expect her to be a kid as well.
"Your.. parents?"
"They died last year. "
"Oh."
The boy's eyes lowered so she did not ask again. It might be a sensitive topic to him so she just busied herself again in the kitchen.
When the water reached its boiling temperature, she took a cup of it for drinking, then boiled the sweet potato in the remaining water. After some time, she placed the warm water and the piece of steaming hot potato on the table. She beckoned for the little one to come closer, and he did.
Hands burned, the child did not complain and only ate with gusto. He hasn't eaten since morning. Also crying had made his stomach rumble even more. Just thinking about it made him shy.
"By the way, what is your name?"
"I'm Kazuki."
"So... Kazuki, I want you to stay here while I look for your sister." Chiyo said. "I'll come back again, but I cannot promise you anythi—"
A knock on the door interrupted her, and both heads turned sideways where the sound came from. Simultaneously, they come to the door to open it.
One was hoping it was his sister, the other knowing it wasn't.
The wooden door creaked, revealing the guest that had come. Kazuki's eyes drooped, and his tail went down in disappointment , while Chiyo was surprised to see the elite members of the cadre.
Gohan and Hachiro.
Both wear the face of sympathy, bearing a tragic news to its receiver.