Bound to Earth

36: Ex, Death

"I already washed the dishes." Mirai slipped her backpack on, grabbing another onigiri off a plate. 

"You did?" I rubbed my eyes and stepped up to Valentino. Brynjar had snuck into my room sometime in the night and warmed my bed. The change had been so subtle, I hadn't woken.

Valentino wrapped an arm around my shoulders and kissed my cheek. He was always too cheerful for mornings, him and Alistar. "Good morning, Beautiful." I grumbled and snuggled into him, too tired to be nice.

"Yes. I put new food on the kamidana and Val helped me wash the dishes." Mirai slipped her shoes on, the rice ball hanging out of her mouth. Her backpack seemed to be twice as full, items clinking with every step she took.

I reached for her backpack and pulled her to me, quickly unzipping it to peer inside. She wasn't one to sneak things out of the house but I wasn't so sure about the boys. "What are you carrying in here?"

"Malachi packed me an extra lunch." She tightened her ponytail and dusted off her clothes. Her bangs had grown in length since I'd taken her in, falling into her eyes. Neither of us knew how to trim them and I didn't know where to go to trim them. "He said I needed to eat more if I wanted to be strong."

"Yeah, but I don't think you can finish this much food." I reached in, intending to take out a few items from her lunch when my fingers met cool metal. I trailed my fingers down the metal until there was a solid grip. Pulling out the dagger, I gave her an unimpressed glance. "Hey. You know you can't take weapons to school."

Her cheeks darkened to a shade of pink. She used her bangs to her advantage, brushing them so I couldn't see her eyes. "I tried telling Alistar that, but he wouldn't listen."

Alistar teleported to my side, taking his knife from my hands. He shuffled around her backpack until he successfully hid it again, completely dismissing what I said. "She can't walk to school alone without any protection. As long as she doesn't get caught, she'll be fine."

With a small glare at Alistar, I took the knife out and tucked it into the waistband of my sweats. When he gave me a sheepish look and reached for my hips, I side stepped him. "No, they check the kids' backpacks every once in a while." It was why I no longer gave her any weapons to take to school.

"Who put the bow in your hair?" I gave her ponytail a small tug, noting the small braids weaving into it. It was the handiwork of Malachi. Perhaps he'd know how to trim bangs.

"Malachi did my hair this morning." She ran back and grabbed another onigiri. The girl could pack away enough food to rival Brynjar.

"Why didn't you wake me up this morning?" While she munched on her snack, I checked the rest of her pockets, and subtly patted her down. Alistar had managed to hide pepper spray and a small switchblade. I didn't stop until I pulled three more weapons out and Alistar's jaw clenched.

Her eyes dropped to my hands. She was completely unconcerned with the excessive amount of weapons I'd found. "You were tired, so it's okay."

I sighed, resisting the urge to lecture her or push her for the truth. "Thank you." I followed her to the driveway, leaning on my fence in the exact spot she leaned on the day we met. It'd become a small ritual every school morning. "Have a good day at school and make sure you kick some ass."

She huffed and crossed her arms, walking backwards down the street. The twinkle of humor in her eyes teased me. "How can I, when you took away all the weapons Alistar gave me? And why can you curse but I can't?"

"I'm a grown adult, kid. Look where you're going before you trip and get run over." There were so many small things that stressed me out that I never thought possible. Did she remember to pack her lunch? Look both ways before crossing the road? Are the kids at school treating her well? Did I need to severely scare and traumatize one of them? But I wouldn't shelter her too much, keep her from experiencing life on her own.