The Shadow of the Insect

~Chapter Five~

Shinobu woke up drenched in sweat and panicked. She dreamed how the Shadow Hashira brutally kills her. Only when she realized that she was dreaming, her heart has calmed down. "What was that just now? It felt so real..." She went to the kitchen of the house and made a detour into the little girl's room. Shinobu saw the girl panicking in her sleep. "Does she have a nightmare too?" She kneeled beside her bed and patted her head. "Shhh, everything will be better for you now" lowering her voice. "If he hadn't saved you, who knows what would have happened to you..." After a while she got up and went back to sleep.

The next Morning
Shinobu was up early, but not the first to be awake either. With tired legs and little desire she went towards the adopted girl, to wake her up. When Shinobu entered her room, she wasalready sitting upright in bed and was staring outside. "Good Morning, have youbeen up late?" The somewhat dirty girl just sat there in silence. "Does sheeven understand me?"  That annoyed Shinobu. She grabbed the girl withoutfurther ado and dragged her to the bathroom to clean her up. After they were finallyfinished in the bathroom, Shinobu dressed her in a pink Kimono.

Shinobu made her something to eat. "Eat this before you die ofstarvation." The girl looked confused at the food. "You should eat something." Nothinghappened. Shinobu got angry. "Give me that, I'll do this for you. Open yourmouth." The girl hesitantly opened her mouth. Shinobu trampled over to hersister and complained as usual. "Sister! The girl is hopeless!" "Ara Ara, don'tbe like that, okay? I just love that smile of yours, Shinobu" she answered. Shewas still nagging, "But we can't do anything with a kid who can't even thinkfor herself! It's dangerous!" With a calm voice, Kanae went to the small girl."All right, when you're on your own, you can decide by flipping this coin. Aslong as it's given a chance, a person's soul will open up, so don't worry. Whenyou fall in love with some boy someday, you'll change too." She accepted thecoin "But before we can talk any further, we have to give her a name. Shinobuwhat do you think of Kanao?" "Yes sister, I think that suits her very well.""As it is, your name will be Kanao." She laughed and beamed with joy. "Kanao,your first task is to find a surname for yourself. Maybe Aoi can help you arealmost the same age."

In the afternoon it was decided which names to choose from. There were Kochou,Kanzaki, Kuze, Moyomiya and Tsuyuri to choose from. Kanao was completelyoverwhelmed. Aoi, on the other hand, was fully motivated and wanted to persuadeher in the name of Kanzaki, she always wanted a sister. Kanao lookeddesperately at Shinobu and Kanae and signaled that none of the names interestedher in any way. Because she wanted a special name. For she wanted the name ofher savior. Kanae noticed it immediately but unfortunately had to disappointher. "I'm sorry, I don't know what Neltha's last name is, let alone he hasone. You have to make up your mind now." Kanao looked visibly sad at thefloor but then decided on the name Tsuyuri. So, the day came to an end for thenewly found family.

Shinobu, trained day after day to get even stronger and become a Hashiralike her older sister. She tried to cut up a stack of mats all day. Suddenly, it ran cold down on her back. Somebody is watching her.Neltha sat in on tree and pierced her with his cold eyes. She tried to ignore him,but he stood unexpectedly behind her, so it didn't work out. Shinobu threw her hands infront of her face out of reflex as he got closer. But he just walked past herand went to the stack of mats and cut it up while walking. She was full ofamazement, she had not even seen him draw his sword. "What a show-off"she thought.

Just in this moment , the other sisters came. Kanao immediately recognized whowas standing in front of her. It was her savior. She really wanted to thankhim, but nothing came out of her mouth. She hid behind Kanae and just peeked out. Kanaegiggled and greeted Neltha warmly and and invited him to drink tea. The threewent into the house together and Shinobu continued to train. "I don'tunderstand why she fell in love with him."

"Flower, we have a very dangerous mission together soon. I don't want youto take your little sister with you. We're going to fight three Lower Moons.She won't survive that." he said, sipping his tea. "I'm sorry,Neltha, I wish I could leave her at home, but you know how she is. I know, that you will protect her at all costs." Neltha just replied,"I can't promise you that." Kanae abruptly became dead serious,"Neltha... can you please promise me to take care of my sisters andprotect them when I...die." The Shadow Hashira looked her in the eye and said nothing. "Thank you..."

But nobody knew that this mission would change everything...

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Authors Note:
Moin Moin!~
I'm tired. I just want to sleep. I apologize once again that it is a short chapter again, I could not sleep in the last few days. Yea. I hope you like what I write I try my best that it somehow makes sense. Well, it'll be fine. 
Bye Bye ~ till next chapter!