Heart of Peace | A Kny x reader insert |

~4~

Note: This chapter is a little short about 3.2k but that's because 5 is about 12k words and covers the entire Mugen Train arc up to the end of the fight with Akaza.

A girl sat in the arms of a woman. She clung tightly to the fabric of the woman whose e/c eyes laid set on her with a strong loving gaze. The sun outside allowed the house to be bright without the need for candles. Though there was a chill in the room. The girl could feel it on her skin. So small and young. An older girl bounded into the room, holding out her arms with a smile. The woman caved and handed over the child, who immediately held tight to the older sibling. Her hands pulled at dark hair, but she was silent.

The door creaking caused both of the older ladies to jolt, while the small girl remained occupied with a fist full of her sister's hair and chewing on it slightly. "Ayaka, go to your room and play with her a bit." Though the child reached out, there seemed to be something wrong. The child didn't cry, but she tugged on her sister's hair, pointing at their mother.

"Shh, you'll get to play with Mom in a bit. For now, you get to play with your big sister!" She smiled and glided the child's fingers out of her hair.

From the outside, the clang of voices raised bounded off the walls. "I heard something new today while I was out working." The voice of a man already sounded raised and rather cruel.

"And what news would that have been dear?" The woman's voice, the mother, kept a soft lilt to her tone. She kept her composer in front of him. An unsuspecting and unafraid expression of nothing but gentle kindness.

The sound of something being banged against, most likely a wall, echoed through the walls. The small child glanced at the door, before being distracted by toys, even though they didn't seem to entertain her much. "You fucking... don't pick an attitude with me! I continue to provide despite how damned obvious that thing isn't mine." The woman must have paused, there was silence.

"She is yours dear. She is just as wonderful as our first child. You wanted another. Be grateful we were blessed with her! I almost died to give you another child for your selfish desire." A yelp sounded through the halls, the quick send of a hand on another's cheek most likely.

"You witch! That thing isn't mine. What of the one inside your stomach now? How long were you going to wait to tell me you're having another? I should say congratulations on hiding it this long. Months... the doctor said you're due in a month or two. Here I was thinking you'd simply put on a few pounds." The woman weeping wasn't hard to hear from the girls' room. Slowly, the child rose to her feet. Before her sister could grab her, the small child was out.

The young girl lunged for the man's hand as it was reaching to grab her mother's hair. She drove her mouth into the man's hand and clung with her nails as he attempted to shake her off. "You fucking bitch! Get off me, ungrateful child!" The mother was on her feet in a dash, wrapping shaking arms around the child and pulling. The child only let go after noticing the mother tugging at her.

With blood dripping from her fingers and mouth, she glared at the man. "Thing can't even speak, but it's like some rabid animal!" And yet, there was never a bit of discipline for the child. He'd tried once, but the child lashed out just as violently. The older sister came running, pausing at the scene she bowed.

"Evening Father..." The man scoffed, brushing past the older child, not paying mind to her. Daughters, in this world, this era of time, a family with no son was worth no more than a field cropless in the winter. Some get lucky and have loving families who don't mind a small house of daughters... then there are those whose homes are torn apart due to it. The family of these children appeared in the latter. The woman stared longingly after the man despite his actions, and wept, holding onto her second daughter. "Mama... what did she do this time?" This time... it echoed in the walls like a curse.