Night came, and the city was a tapestry of light and shadow where lanterns glowed like fireflies amidst its darkness, illuminating the city with its warm light. The boy walked ahead of her, his footprints a small trails among the snow-draped street. Chiyo watched him wander the bustling city, it was a favor he asked of her. To go with him to roam around the bustling city. He said he wanted to know everything, of how the city is at night — if it's solemn or blissful. Crowded or lonely.
It was alive with activities, vendors yelling their goods, a one-eyed poet, a drunken skeleton, children laughing, and a distant melody from a shamisen competition — most of its players have gathered every year to beat its unbeatable champion, the Kappa musician.
Everything is the same for Kazuki, even after twenty years the city still has the same vigor. It was a nostalgic feeling — and excitement is making his heart run wild, yet Kazuki stilled his emotion. He strolled around lazily, hands resting on his back. On the other hand, Chiyo silently followed him around, her foot stepping on each small footprints, leaving a bigger one instead. She smiled unknowingly, reminiscing a past she can never forget. A past where everything was still perfect, when everyone was still alive.
Back then, whenever her brother would stroll around the palace, she would silently follow from behind. Stepping on his big footprints on the snow, her small feet a stark contrast to his. Then Ryota will suddenly stop, making her bumped on his back.
"I told you to stop following this handsome brother of yours." Bending down to her level, his dark long hair cascaded smoothly to the side of his face, hiding the sharp outline of his jaw. "I am going to meet a friend. Stay here."
Oftentimes, she throws a tantrum. She wanted to go outside too, but they just won't let her be seen by anyone.
"Be good. I'll buy you candied apple when I come back. " He would said while patting her head, and it was enough to calm her down. "And don't tell mom I left again. I'll bring you next time. That's a promise."
It was a secret shared under the snowflakes.
Indeed, she was able to go outside the next day — the first time. It was a memory etched in her bones for she was running outside... running for her life, a dagger on hand, and fear in her heart.
Her head drifted down, staring at her boots. Her smile slowly faded like how her world slowly broke down that night. A memory of how her brother died began to resurface. It made her heart ache, like a thousand needles prickling her chest. It was suffocating.
Chiyo took a deep breath, and a head of golden locks blocked her view. The boy looked up, his muddy brown eyes looking at her moon-like pair of orbs.
"What are you doing? I want to go there too." Kazuki said, he pointed at the red stall selling candied apples. "Buy me those."
Without waiting for her answer, he had already taken her hand, pulling her.
"Okay... Okay. No need to pull that hard."
"I need to pull you so you can stop daydreaming in the middle of the street."
"Then call me older sister if you want me to follow you closely." Chiyo said, teasing him.
Kazuki let go, he crossed his arms, his face smug. "I am clearly older than you. Be shameful."
She laughed at him. Clearly, she was liking his attitude the more they communicated. He is so straightforward, stern, and a bit arrogant. Compared to his meek personality before, now, he acts like an adult that doesn't add up to his innocent, childish frame.
"As if." Putting her hand on his head, Kazuki tried to remove it but she only made her hand heavier. "Your height says it all. What made you think you're older than me?"
"But I am!"
"You're just five."
With her palm on his head, she pushed him toward the store. "Let's go. This older sister will buy you candied apple. And it's getting late, we need to leave early tomorrow. By the way, is your hand okay?"
"Yeah. It's healed already. I can move it freely like I'm doing now."
Dawn came. As the sun peeked through the horizon, casting a gold and red hue over the horizon. Kazuki and Chiyo prepared for their journey. Chiyo adjusted her katana at her side, while the child was a bundle of woolen cloak atop the black horse.
"If the boy gets too troublesome. Just throw him somewhere then come back." Kaito reminded her, his face not showing any hint of joke at all, and the boy briefly glance at him — his eyes glaring.
"Uh-huh. I'll see you tomorrow." Chiyo gave her husband a peck on his lips, a small smile forming in-between. "Don't cry and miss me too much."
Chiyo swung herself on the horse's back, and Kazuki settled in front of her, gripping the reins. With a small kick, the horse moved and their figures became smaller and smaller as Kaito watched them get farther.
Looking back, Chiyo saw her husband a distance away. He's still outside, watching them go. She knows that he wanted to go with her, but Kaoru has not comeback yet, so he was forced to stay back just in case something had happened to his subordinate.
Chiyo and Kazuki, travelled for almost half a day before they stopped for a meal. Chiyo made a small campfire and they huddled together near it. It was colder than the day before, the cold seeping through their bones, making them shiver endlessly. Kazuki brought out the sandwich they made, giving the other half to Chiyo.
"Why is it so cold?" Chiyo mumbled, a thick mist forming under her breath.
"I have a question." Kazuki asked. He turned a little to face her. "Last night, what were you daydreaming about? You look a bit sad."
Chiyo rubbed her hands together, then she placed her palm on her face, trying to ease the coldness.
"I was just thinking about my brother." She answered nonchalantly.
Kazuki averted his gaze, his small mouth pouting as he was hesitant to tell her about his reincarnation.
"Oh. Then what if your brother comes back? What will you do?" He asked, his eyebrow knitting together in anticipation.
But her confused expression only made him confused as well.
"What are you talking about?"
"I meant it literally. What if your brother comes back from the dead?"
Chiyo slowly shook her head in disbelief. "That will never happen."
"What made you so sure?"
She took a bite from her sandwich. "My brother is still alive."
As if lightning had struck, Kazuki was stupefied. The word echoed in his head, he felt like the world has just collided on him and he doesn't know what to do anymore.
"What did you say? Alive?" He asked again.
Surely, he is alive but Chiyo doesn't know it was him yet. So he wanted to confirm if she was talking about him or somebody else.
"Yes. Alive and kicking." She answered him confidently. "Do you want to meet him? Actually let me tell you a big secret since you're also like a little brother to me."
She lowered her head, her lips near his ear. It was a secret only her and Kaito knows, and she was about to reveal it to him. She can't explain why, but there is an unexplainable trust she has towards the little boy. As if she'd known him for a long time.
"So, here it is." She whispered, afraid that the trees might hear her secret. "My brother... actually... He is the current king."
"What?!"
Kazuki stood up so suddenly that his head almost hit her chin, she was lucky she was fast enough to dodge. Her eyebrows lifted, silently asking him what's wrong.
Instead of shocked, the boy's expression were of anger and something she cannot pinpoint. He looks like he's ready to wage a war which is very unlikely.
"What's wrong? I'm not lying, okay?"
Kazuki took a deep breath. The news has just almost made him die twice. His heart almost stopped beating.
Just who the hell is the current king for her to assume he was her brother, when he's clearly here, traveling with her.
Is he wearing his face or did someone else also reincarnate to his body just like how his spirit transferred to another?
"What's the king's name?" He asked, and the answer almost made his whole body weak.
"King Ryota, the first born son of the late king and queen."