Seventh Moon

Shinazugawa Sanemi: Future

          "Shin – Sanemi you don't have to do this." I complained as he tucked me in like a child. With a very exaggerated roll of his eyes, he started lecturing me, "you haven't slept yet and you volunteered to do the chores? What were you thinking?" Well, I wasn't really thinking when I volunteered but I'm not going to tell him that.

Sanemi reassured me he'd do the chores in my stead and that I should just go to sleep. It was hard arguing with him so I did what he said and just gave in to the sleepiness that crept up on me.

I woke up to the strangest sight; Nobu and Sanemi chatting like old friends while little Sutan – in Sanemi's arms - laughs as her tiny hands play around with Sanemi's huge one. They both greeted me as I emerged from my room, both acting as if this was business as usual. Before I got to sit with them, Yori called me over to his room. I was so sure he was going to lecture me yet again... and I was kind of right.

"Really, a boy? That boy?" Yori calmly said. The kind of calm that is scarier than if he was screaming. I felt stupid defensive at that, "I don't know. Nobu looks more like a boy. Sanemi is a man... I mean – " I just let my words hang in the air. What was I trying to say again?

"Boy, man, whatever. Those scars of his gave young Sutan a fright! Poor thing screamed when your man peered at her. I don't blame her at all. But the strangest thing was how easy it was for him to calm her down – and to completely tame Nobu enough to let him hold his baby!" Yori shook his head in disbelief before he continued, "I don't know how you made him do all the chores in the house, but everything's in order, Sutan's not fussing letting Nobu have a moment of peace. I guess I can see a shadow of what you liked about him."

My brother really had a roundabout way of praising someone, huh? And Nobu was tamed by free labor, it seemed.

"He really is good with kids." Was all I could think to add. "I'll be completely honest with you..." Yori started, "I don't like him. And – oh, don't make that face!" I tried to look indifferent, but the knot between my brow just won't go away. "He talked to me while you were asleep."

That caught my curiosity. "What did you talk about?" Yori set his lips in a thin line, face absolutely giving nothing away. I could tell right away he wasn't going to tell me so I rightfully complained. "You said you'll be completely honest!" "I did, but what we talked about is between us. Though I expect he'd tell you that anyway." Hmm, I really could just bother Sanemi instead of him. Still, the thought of them having some kind of secret bothered me.

After we both settled into silence, I voiced the thought that ran through my head the moment we entered his room. "Am I right to assume you called me here to tell me not to go?" A deep heavy sigh answered me then. "No. Of course, I don't want you to go but... Shinazugawa was it? He's an improvement compared to your fiancé. Do whatever you want. Just know, you have a home here, and don't forget to write every once in a while."

"I won't forget this time, I promise."

Once it was dark enough for me safely travel, Sanemi and I left. We decided to go back to the house we stayed at during the mission since it was closer. And I think he was trying to make up for how we weren't able to walk around the other night as we considerably took our time walking back. At some point, he took hold of my hand, and I happily held on and squeezed his every now and then.

Sanemi said he loved me. I felt like it all happened too fast that there were things I forgot to ask, like the girl. Ugh, I felt so stupid thinking about her again! But her stupid laugh kept playing in my head. I turned to Sanemi; breath stolen by the sight in front of me. His face was bathed in moonlight making his hair glow a beautiful silver, almost like a glowing halo. Despite his scars, he looked beautiful. Yes, Sanemi and the word beautiful don't really seem to mix. Yet, it's the only one I could think of that would perfectly describe him at that moment.