No matter the training I've done, I still snapped when the time came. Everyone got hurt because of me, if I wasn't stopped… how much further would I have gone? The image of the frog girl's face assaults my mind again, her bulging eyes bleeding-
"Little girl-"
The sudden voice makes me jump.
"Wah!!"
I'm startled out of my thoughts by a lizard kin, almost dropping the boxes in my hand! His tail recoils back in fear as well before quickly apologizing.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you… you just looked like you needed help."
"No no mister… I'm ok thank you!"
I back pedal from them as a watch a little lizard kin boy run past me.
"Dad! Daddy! I want to visit that guitar store!"
Mister lizard's eyes freeze and gloss over with a slow blink.
"Ugh-haha, are you sure, kiddo? I'm kinda scared of spiders…"
"Oh come on dad! Fight your fears!"
The father was helplessly led by the hand, unable to resist the smiling glee of the puppy lizard eyes, shining with awe. Wukong steps out the door to Saraswati's store and greets them…
"We-welcome! Don't wo-worry! Saraswati is really kind! See?"
Wukong waves to Saraswati inside, all her four hands and giving a big, open maw smile... Saraswati wiggles her mandibles in response. Hehe she looks funny. Plop... goes Mr. lizard's tail as he freezes like a popsicle... his son skips right in with no fear. I quickly carry the boxes in as Wukong holds the door.
"Thanks Wukong!"
Plopping down the boxes into the storage room, I dig my hands into a mountain of guitar picks and wooden parts. I slowly place each one carefully into each container on a display of cool looking guitar picks... mmmm...there we go! I scooch a pick in place, and tada! A happy face hehe.... but I don't feel happy...
*Sigh*
"Sura-chan, are you ok? You're usually… a lot more energetic."
Saraswati chitters behind me.
"Miss Saraswati! I mean, ehe I'm ok! I have to help out some more if I want to buy that toy!"
"Are you sure? Don't pull yourself too much. Thanks to you, and Wukong! More people have been coming in than I ever expected in my darn life!! It makes me so nervous, thank goodness you two are here… here~"
One of her arms reached behind her and out comes a purple envelope with a little ribbon stamp on it. It drops on my hand with a little weight, I shake it, hearing the jingle of coins inside.
"Eh! Saraswati is like, the money for next week right? I can't get this right now or else Mom might say I'm a bad child… and I haven't worked enough yet!"
"Ehehe it's ok, you're my little mascot and now you're even helping the store out! And I know, you want to earn a little money to buy that figurine."
She grasps my hand, placing the envelope and nudges it towards me…. her ruby eyes full of sincerity and kindness, pleading me…
*Sniff*
"Sura-chan you're crying! I've never comforted a child who didn't run away before! Wah! Sorry did I do something bad?!"
I try to hold back my tears but I couldn't stop… it hurts, knots and aches compress my heart in waves…
"No… No no, everyone's so kind… I don't… I don't wanna hurt anyone anymore!! I'm scared!!"
Mom told me it was guilt... guilt is scary... but it's my fault. For the rest of the day, I continued to help out, but I couldn't bring myself to greet customers… what if I hurt them? I look down at my arms… the rings, they're still there, I know they're there…
"Ugh, young miss?"
"Yes!"
"Where's the replacement strings?'
I snap out of my thoughts again, quickly guiding the fox lady towards the section. It felt like my brain was running through a super misty fog all day... more so than trying to read hard books. With the sun slowly dipping towards the horizon, I tiptoe, grasping my fingers until I touch the "Open" sign, and one last push! I get enough height to flip it around.
"Good work everyone!"
Saraswati proudly exclaims.
"I'll close up shop Sura-chan, feel free to leave!"
"Ok! See you tomorrow, Wukong! Saraswati!"
The doorbell jingles before I even step out. Gold aura outlining her figure, mom greets me.
"Eh, mom… how long did you wait outside for?"
I eye her with suspicion, the guilt obvious as her eyes dart sideways.
"Ehe I never left, I got worried about you. I've been wandering around the nearby shops."
Mom's been doing that a lot lately, I can feel she's super duper worried about me..
"...thanks mom! Let's go to that toy store!"
Look down at the paved bricks and stones, I time my steps, skipping to one to the next... a slight tug makes me lurch forward and I nearly step on a crevice! I poke the giggling culprit.
"Mom! You almost made me lose the game!"
"Ehehe~ darn, almost got you~ my highest score as a kid was 1000 steps! Think you can beat it?"
The busy streets of Heiwa , the smell of ripe fruits, candy, and sizzled goods wafts throughout as evening approaches, enticing noses to stands and restaurants alike. With neon lights bordering the words: "Collector's Wonder", our final destination has arrived. I got 943 steps!! Grrrr... all because I was swooned be the smell of food and forgot about the game... well... the savory taste fills my mouth as I chew on the crunchy gold bits... fried potatoes are so good!!!
"This is the one, right, munchkin?"
Gulping down the last few pieces of fried potatoes... I save a some for mom as I give her a few.
"Yes! I think... here's some potatoes! Thank you mommy!"
"You!!" It seems to say, as the toy points intensely at me with intense green eyes. Woah, they look so cool and pretty! Figurines stood upon shelves like armies, ready to attack as they strike their poses… so many. Some were like wizards, some were robots, a lot were magical girl's I've seen on the crythoscreen!
"Limited edition, collector's edition, seasonal edition... there's too many!!"
I head spins, what does that even mean? I lean back and cushion myself on mom's stomach.
"Why don't you just ask the clerk, sweetie?"
"Mmm... I wanna find it myself!"
Where is it… I wander, pacing myself around various glass displays, shelves, and stacks. I remember seeing the poster in Kyuu's room. She looked super intense, with blazing hair and eyes, she was kind of scary ehehe...
A sign said "18+" on the figurines of the shelf to my left, I scoot over… hey they're kind of like me!! A long white haired girl winks at me with a small smile, basked in her thin clothes of only a bikini and a short dress... it looks like it's gonna slip off though?
"You can lift the skirt? What's that supposed to do?"
As I reach to touch one of the figurines on the shelf, a gentle hand clasps my eyes and I hear mom panic.
"No no no no no no you are too young for that!"
"Eh why? I wanna see!"
"Nope!"
She hugs me and turns me the other way, I pull off her hand and pout…
"Fiiiine!"
I kept searching and searching… blazing hair, blazing hair, blazing hair… an unmistakable streak of fire red and blue catches my eyes, it's her from the poster! Alycia figurine, limited edition!
"Mom! This is her isn't?"
"This is the figurine you wanted to get? Yep this is her alright, Alycia Sapphire."
I lean in for a closer look through the glass display, a foot crushing the robot under her feet, she stoically has her hand, closed in a fist, read at her side... her eyes of sapphire cuts like a sword at me... she looks mean!
"4000 Oryx?! That's almost my 2 weeks of working! Wah... thank you Sarawasti!"
I point at Alycia and ask the clerk if I get her. A centaur carrying boxes on her back comes over.
"You're in luck kiddo, she's almost sold out... one of my favorites on of the Prometheus collection I tell you."
With that, I carry the box of her figurine out the door... I smile, feeling really happy for the first time today...
"Are you happy, munchkin?"
"Yes!"
I can't wait to see her reaction! I hope she likes it... on our way home, I see a familiar stand of a jolly cat person selling pudding.
"Oi there, Misses Kitsune, kid! Want some pudding? I know the special day is coming up and all."
It's the nice mister who gave me pudding! He rubs his fluffy beard while his eyes crinkled, inviting smiles all around.
"Mister Jacob!... are you sure, I can't just take it for free again!"
"So formal, making me feel old here, young lady. I'm only 51 hahaha! Your mother taught you well."
"I can't thank you enough Jacob... Kyui has always loved your pudding. I think she likes yours the best in town."
Mom prepares to reach into little yellow bag before Mister Jacob winks at mom.
"I'm honored to hear that... please, it's on me, as a thank you for your patronage all these years. I practically watched when Kyuu-san was a bit younger growing up to be the mighty gal she is now… feels odd talking about someone who is technically older than me though."
"Oh yeah… Kyuu is super old."
Mom sniffles
"What does that make me then…"
*Glomp*
I snuggle into mom's sunflower dress
"Well you're still very pretty and amazing and awesome! You smell nice and like flowers too ehehe, so being old for you doesn't matter!"
"Awwwwww who taught my munchkin to such a sweet talker~ you are forgiven~"
She pinches my cheeks and shakes them a little.
We arrive at the door steps of our little home, and open the door.
"Welcome back, brat, mom."
Kyuu was setting up the plates for dinner. She turns to look at us, wearing her classic black gi… I wanna see Kyuu in other clothes for once!
"What you got in that bag, brat?"
"No-Nothing!! We got pudding for you!!"
Seeing through my master lie, she hmphs and interrogates mom.
"Mom, what did she get?"
Hands bent like a cat paw, mom bonks her own head playfully.
"Ehe I'm not telling~"
We wink at each other, earning another grumble out of the fiery fox. Ehehe, you can't find out! Not yet at least big sister! Eating dinner, cleaning the dishes together, feeling the warm heat of the hair dryer as mom ruffles my hair… It was a peaceful evening. About to head to bed, Kyuu pauses suddenly at the doorstep to her room and I bump into her butt.
"Hey!"
"Hey, Sura… do you want to try sleeping with mom tonight as well? I know you've been having those nightmares…"
..Kyuu
"Nope! How about you hug me while I sleep? That will help!"
"What?!.. That's absurd!...."
But she didn't stop me from entering so I happily wobbled into her bedroom and let the soft bedsheets cushion my dive onto the bed. I rolled to my side, but I didn't close my eyes… I'm too afraid to sleep. The room suddenly clicks to dark... will I dream again?
A sudden tug jolts me as I feel a big, strong arm around me... warm and gentle.
"Kyuu… thank you, big sister."
"Shut it… if you have nightmares, I'm right here."