Arc 2 - Interlude I: Jenny Sumiko

(Mensis 28, 42 / 8:22PM)

A baby's cries can be heard. In the 100% humidity bedroom, hot sticky sweat and other bodily fluids coated the baby like a blanket.

In a room, only one lightbulb shone. Lying in bed was a woman encased in her own sweat, her breath hot and murky. Having her head up, she saw droplets of water growing from the ceiling, which dripped onto her body. In front of her, was a man with a very short prickly beard, who carried a newborn baby in his arms.

“Our daughter…”

He held his finger onto her daughter’s lips, and looked deep into the baby’s black colored eyes. Speaking in a fragile voice, he rocked the baby back and forth.

“She’s beautiful.”

Looking up to see his wife, the woman brought her hands up with shining tears. In return, her husband rested his daughter in her arms. Bringing her daughter near her chest, she rubbed the back of her bald head with her delicate hand.

“She looks a lot like you. She has your monolid eyes and your black hair.”

“And she has the same thin hair as you do. What should we name her, my dear?”

He placed his hand onto her shoulder, his palm gritted with the room’s sweat. Rocking the baby back and forth near her chest, she had kept her eyes on the baby’s crying face.

“Jennifer, but Jenny sounds cuter.”

The door creaked open, leaving the man to turn his head 90 degrees. Narrowing his eyes, he saw four kids peeking through the two inch gap.

“Should we let them in my dear?”

“Of course. I want them to see Jenny.”

Taking his hand off of her shoulder, the man walked two steps forward. His body facing the direction of the door, he motioned them with his right hand a hand signal.

“You all may come in.”

The four kids slowly walked in, their footsteps quiet on the hardwood. Their eyes pinned on the newborn baby, they ignored the humidity, despite their bodies beaded with hot sweat.

From oldest to youngest, there was a boy wearing a cowboy hat, a boy wearing a cross necklace, a girl with dark purple hair, and lastly; a boy with messy ginger hair. The girl, being in front of the group of boys, had her hands motionless to her sides.

“Do you want to see your sister Iris?”

“Yes father.”

Iris, the ten year old girl, walked forward to see her newborn sister’s face. Seeing the baby still crying, Iris placed her hands onto her mother’s arm.

“Can I hold her mother?”

“Of course you can.”

Gently giving the baby to Iris, she held the newborn in her arms. Noticing the lightness of her body, she began rocking her back and forth until … Jenny cried out even more.

“Mother…?”

“I guess she doesn’t like you. It’s ok dear, she’ll warm up to you eventually.”

Erina placed her hand onto her mouth, and closed her eyes to push up a warm smile. Looking at the three boys, she pushed a strand of her dark purple hair away from her right eye, and noticed a shy ginger-haired boy having his hands inside his pockets.

Extending her hand outward, she waved him to come forward.

“Don’t be shy Kenichi, you can see her.”

“A-Are you sure, Erina?”

“My wife wants you to go, so do what she says.”

“O-Ok Kenji!”

“Call me sir, boy.”

Kenichi bowed toward Kenji, his face flustered as he brought his hands out from his pockets.

Kenji folded his arms as he eyed the shy boy, while Erina continued to warmly smile at him. Struggling to control Jenny, who bawled her eyes out, Iris extended her arms outward.

“Take her. I don’t want to deal with her.”

“Be nice Iris, she’s your sister.” Said Kenji.

Having the baby in his arms, Kenichi looked around to see everyone staring at him. Gently rocking her back and forth, he noticed Jenny’s cries suddenly stopped. Opening her black eyes, she saw the boy’s shy face, and upon seeing it…

She slept softly. Putting her hand to her mouth again, Erina chuckled, as Kenichi glanced around the room again.

“I guess Jenny likes you.”

His face reddened, as he turned his gaze at Erina. Averting his eyes away, he looked down toward the ground, all the while the two boys behind him talked.

“Hey David. Do you think Jenny will give Kenichi a hard time?”

“Hehe … that would be pretty funny.”

Kenichi began to pout, leading his cheeks to puff out like chipmunks. Moving his head, he looked at the sleeping Jenny, and despite her being light, he felt the heaviness of her weight.

Kenji glanced at a grandfather clock near the bedroom drawer, leaving him to unfold his hands.

“Time for bedtime boys. You have a lot of training tomorrow.”

“But Kenji, tomorrow’s Saturday.” Said David.

“I adopted you boys because I see potential in all of you. You better go to sleep before I put you in the ring with Iris.”

“““Ok…”””

________________________________________________________________________

(Kalemonath 14, 45 / 8:01AM)

Four years and five months later…

At the end of winter, purple blossoms radiated in the large garden. The smell of early spring grazing across the fertile soil, it made the garden feel like paradise.

In the middle of the garden, laid a small stream, which flowed clear water that blossomed the plants near the bank. The yucca plants creating a earthy aroma, it made the garden—

Sparring can be heard, in a small field with short grass and infertile soil.

‘Couldn’t I fight someone like Gabriel?! Why is so strong!?’

Kenichi wielded a sparring stick, leaving his hands to blister against the wood. His sparring and strength amateurish, he was no match for his opponent. Because in front of him was Iris, as her long dark purple hair swayed with the stick she battered with.

Her moves practically flawless, she knocked down Kenichi, by using her stick to hit the top of his head. Falling on his bottom, he placed his hands onto his head, and saw the same stick right in front of his face.

“That hurt you know!”

“You just have a bruise you wimp. Even Gabriel doesn’t complain this much.”

Iris folded her arms as she looked down on him, while he continued to caress his head. Slowly getting up, both him and her began walking toward the other end of the garden.

As he rubbed the back of his head, Iris frowned evermore, leaving him to fluster his face. This in turn made her eyes sharpen.

“You’re shyness won’t make me kinder to you.”

“I know…”

“Be more like David. He has ten times more confidence than you do.”

“That’s because he’s the strongest one here. I’m not that strong, or fast…”

Iris stopped, and turned her entire body around to face Kenichi. Unable to avert his eyes any longer, he stared at the frowning girl in front of him.

“And you shouldn’t be that shy. Cause believe me, the world eats your type alive.”

Kenichi remained silent, which left Iris to let out a sigh. Sharpening her face, her right eyelid began to sprout a small vein, making him tilt his head downward. Feeling his cheeks burn red, her frown only worsened.

“What is it? Say something.”

“I-It’s nothing…”

“I know you want to say something, so say it.”

“I said it’s nothing…”

She turned her body around, back to the direction of where they both walked. Her hands balled into fists, she hunched her head forward, while her knuckles were on the verge of breaking.

“tch … Whatever, just follow me.”

Reaching the end of the garden, both noticed two boys waiting for them. One boy was 16, wearing a cross necklace, while the other was 17, who wore a brown cowboy hat, while eating an ice cream cone.

Kenichi and Iris stood in front of them, with Kenichi still covered in grime and dirt. His ice cream melting, David licked the melted liquid before it ran down his hand.

“So how was sparring?”

“It was nothing too bad.”

“He was weak. Gabriel put up a better fight.”

Kenichi looked down at the tall grass he stood on, while his face continued to fluster. Covering his eyes with his palms, his ears perked up as he continued to hear the conversation from David and Gabriel.

“Hahahaha … this means I’m not the weakest.”

“Hehe … don’t go to that harsh man, he’s just 14.”

“Hey, better for him than me.”

Iris sprouted out a vein along her forehead, making her clench her fists tightly. Putting herself in front of Kenichi, she glared at Gabriel, her eyes sharpened intensely. Taking a step back, Gabriel raised his hands in the air as a form of surrender.

“You’re starting to annoy me.”

“Always to the rescue with him. Like him or something?”

“No … too wimpy for my taste. What are those envelopes for?”

Iris looked down at the two evenopes the two boys had, before she subsided her veins. As for Kenichi, he lowered his hands down to his sides, and lifted his head.

David and Gabriel looked at one another, but they couldn’t make eye contact as a trickle of sweat ran down their temples. Their left hands shaking, David’s voice slightly broke.

“Me and Gabe are being drafted. Haxouburg needs all the men they could go, so they extended the age from 18 down to 13.”

Iris widened her eyes, and looked over at Kenichi. Being 14, her stomach dropped down to the pit of her intestines, leading her to shake her head softly. Gulping whatever saliva stuck in her gums, she straightened her back, as a bead of sweat trickled down her nose.

“I thought it was a bunch of riots.”

“It’s a civil war at this point, but it’s mostly been skirmishes around the countryside. Here and Aizzonia are in total war.”

“Yeah, and Kepputha and Ticia are under intense curfews. Heard the big cities like Lagefor and Clastine are filled with rioters.” Said Gabriel.

“But why teens…”

Her hands began to tremble, as she felt her fingers go numb. Noticing her softened eyes, Kenichi clutched his hands together, while having his hands and cheeks push downward.

But breaking the tension, there was a little girl with glasses, who ram into Kenichi’s left leg. Wrapping her arms around it, Kenichi faded his gloominess and softened his face.

“Kenny!”

“Oh, hey Jenny.”

Turning his attention onto Jenny, he patted her thin hair that flowed down her upper back. Clinging to him, her warmth put a warm smile on his face. He stayed put, knowing the little bundle of fire clutched him intensely.

“Piggyback!”

“Come on, I just got out of—”

“Piggyback!”

“Oh fine…”

Untangling from his left, he carried her upward with his rough hands, and placed her onto his back. Clinging around his throat and neck, her arms made breathing slightly difficult for him.

Not minding Jenny’s tight grip, he turned his face back onto the three. Using his finger, he scratched his cheek, and felt no facial hair growing along his cheeks or jaw.

“I guess this means I’ll be going to…”

“But I heard teens can be in the same regiment as their friends, so that’s a plus.”

A sense of relief breezed through them, with some of them nodding at David’s words. Glancing toward Gabriel, Kenichi noticed an evil-like smile coming from him, making Iris fold her arms.

“I also heard a myth, that if you give a girl flowers after a war, she’ll forever be your wife.”

Her hands tightened again, once she turned around to face Gabriel. Tapping her foot, the words rumbling inside her throat growled and rolled from her tongue.

“And? Your point is?”

“If Kenichi makes it out alive, I’ll force him to give you flowers.”

“Stop talking.”

Veins bulging from her neck to her forehead, she deathly glared at him with a reddened face. Raising his hands to surrender, again, he took a couple of steps back with a pale face.

While Jenny perked her ears up. Leaning her mouth next to his ear, she pushed up a bright smile, and tightened her grip on his neck.

“Kenny! Give me flowers!”

“Jenny!” Exclaimed Iris.

“Give me flowers! Pinky promise!”

“Uh, you’re still four.”

“Promise!”

The tightness of her arms slightly suffocating him, Kenichi felt air trapped in his throat. With no other choice, Kenichi raised his pinky up toward Jenny, making a vow. Letting go of his neck, she let out a cheerful smile, followed by raising her hands in the air.

“Yay!”

‘She’s just a kid, I’m sure she’ll forget eventually’ thought Kenichi.

Iris tapped her foot violently, her face clustered a bright red from both redness and something else. He shyly looked down, as he couldn’t bring himself to look at her.

“Whatever. I don’t like flowers anyway.”

Gabriel had a goofy face, as he looked at her with barely containing laughter.

“What?”

“Hahaha … you lost your crush to your little sister—”

She thrusted her right foot … into his bloodline, causing him to collapse on the tall grass.

________________________________________________________________________

(Mensis 21, 45 / 11:32AM)

One year and seven months later…

“Pick up the pace!”

The clashing of wooden sticks ruminate the garden air. On the doorstep of winter, the purple blossoms withered away, scattering onto the infertile soil they sparred on. The smell of early spring long gone, it was replaced by body odor and sweat.

“And you’re done.”

Iris smacked away Jenny’s stick, causing her to pout with puffed up cheeks. Placing her stick to the ground, not a trace of sweat littered her body, leaving Jenny to crimson red.

“You’re too slow Jenny.”

Barely containing her tears, Jenny clenched both of her fists. Her legs starting to quiver, the back ends of her teeth bit down with an exuberant amount of force.

“You’re mean!”

“You need to learn how to fight properly. How are you going to defend yourself?”

“Kenny will!”

“sighs … That damn wimp. Don’t rely on men to fight your battles Jenny, it’s not a good mindset.”

Iris turned her eyes toward the decayed cherry blossom trees, while feeling the cold wind smolder her nape. Both girls shivering from the sudden gust of wind, Iris held out her hand. Scarred with calluses and blisters, her palm was inches from Jenny’s face.

“Take my hand. Let’s get something for lunch.”

“Hmp.”

Despite puffing her cheeks, Jenny took Iris’s hand. Walking through the decaying garden, Iris felt Jenny’s hand tighten, leaving her to roll her eyes.

Looking up at the sky, not a trace of blue broke through the gray.

‘It’s cloudy…’

Reaching the end of the garden, Iris placed her hand on the sliding handle, which opened the white shoji door. Pushing Jenny in, she softly closed the door, but as soon as they turned, they saw both of their parents at the front entrance.

Kenji had his hands balled into fists, whilst his lower jaw shivered under the intense pressure of his upper. Meanwhile, Erina clasped her hands onto her mouth, as her eyes barely contained a sea of tears ready to burst. As for Iris, her eyes darkened, leaving her to let go of Jenny’s hand.

“Jenny … go to your room…”

“But I thought—”

“Just go!”

Pushing her away, her whole body shook as her breathing went irregular. Slowly walking toward her parents, each step she took creaked the oak wood, making her cusp her hands firmly.

Standing behind her parents, she widened her eyes at the two boys in front of them. Covering her mouth, she noticed both of the boys looked down with shell-shocked eyes.

‘They look older…’

Before they left, their faces had little to no facial hair. Gathering a few wrinkles on their jawline and cheeks, their lower eyelids were sulked in black, making their eyebags look monumentally heavy.

Keeping her face from breaking, she trailed the black lining of fatigue along their eyes. She couldn’t fold her arms, nor frown, as her hands quaked the more she kept her eyes on them.

“Where’s Kenichi?”

David sluggishly looked up toward Iris, without opening his mouth. Moving his motionless hand to his jacket’s pocket, Iris held her breath, leaving the world to blanket white.

He brought out…

—A small red rose—

“I’m sorry…”

His confidence faded in the wind, as he turned his head away.

Her face began to break, as she swayed her head back and forth. Walking backward, along with her heart beating against her chest, her hands and feet went numb…

Until she ran away, running to the direction of her room. Ignoring everything; every sound, every thought, every pain in her heart, she reached the end of the hall, opened her door, and slammed it shut. Hearing that slam, the four of them hear that rumble ripple their bodies; until the real event walked in.

“W-Where’s Kenny?”

A single tear rolled from Gabriel’s right eye, trailing down his cheek and jaw. Barely keeping his tears in bay, David wanted to cry, but in front of her, her voice was enough to choke on his breath.

Being the strongest boys that Jenny had ever seen, right in front of her, that image was toppled by just her question alone. Erina placed her trembling hand onto Jenny’s shoulder.

“Kenichi ran away dear … he—”

—“He’s dead Jenny. Kenny’s gone…”—

Kneeling on one knee, he extended both of his hands outward, and gave her a hug. Tightening his arms, she had her head pressed onto his shoulder, as he tried desperately to hold back his tears.

She was frozen, stuck as his hands and arms shook relentlessly under his strain. Being absolutely silent, the only sound she trailed was the sound of her heart, which pounded against her tiny chest.

All the while David looked at the ground, and shed a tear.

“I’m so sorry…”

Jenny looked up at the heavens, and thought she saw a boy from above. Flaring her nostrils, opening her mouth, her teeth clattered the more she remembered his gentle smile … which made her body loose.

And gave her no other option; but to cry.