Separated

Chapter 5 - Minori

Another chapter!!! 😘💝

Enjoy your reading time !!!🐬🐢🌻
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The trip back to the States had successfully turned into a trip to locate ourselves back to the States.

I still had no idea how to make of this.

It was a choice I had chosen. I wanted to be with my family, the idea of being separated with any of my family members was suffocating to say the least. I was quite sure I couldn't function without them. Yes, I do sound like a dependent whiny child but that was just how I operated.

Within two weeks after the trip for the wedding and my brother's meeting with the future heads of their respective organizations, my family and I return back to the estate that was my home nine years ago.

It hadn't changed one bit. The exterior was your typical western home, three stories tall, surrounded by all kinds of plants that now feels unfamiliar to me. They were by no means unappealing to the eye, they were well maintained, all the trees neatly trimmed, and flower beds filled with all kinds of botanical life. But they weren't the kind of plants I saw beauty in.

The plants life here was too loud. Demanding for attention. Bright colours and exotic smells.

I preferred flowers that were soft both in nature and smell. The ones that could shadow away and blend among other plant life. The ones that don't necessarily demand for attention, but rather allures you to look at them. Since details can only be seen once you get closer to it.

What was an unexpected surprise was that the interior of my new-old home had been refurbished a little and contained more traditional washitsu rooms with tatami floors with sliding fusuma doors, each with elaborate yet delicate art on them. The backyard area which has I remember to be boring and uninteresting had turned into a garden filled with the botanic life I love, like the maple and Sakura trees which both now held soft green leaves since it was still summer currently.

At least I'll be able to see the changing of leaves soon for the maple tree with the season soon to change to autumn. In addition, my father had created a whole new dojo area in which I could practice whatever I liked in the room for my comfort, but I do believe they were other reasons involved like his overprotectiveness like any father who has a daughter.

Nonetheless, I was thankful.

I was sure that he had assumed that I would stay in Japan but even if that were the case, he had customised the whole place to suit my needs. While my mother showed love in many obvious ways, my father showed his love for me through actions. A lot of them. He had always spoilt me ever since I was a little girl, it didn't really matter to him that I was already 21, to him I was still 7 years old – his words not mine.

What I have been struggling to get my head around was the recent discreet actions my father and brother had been conducting. They were still both present for breakfast and dinner and if I needed either the two, they were both still here but in their classical fashion of disconnecting themselves from others and their surroundings, they felt further away from me than usual.

Like today. I was informed on countless occasions and a few extra more this morning to not enter or go knew the meeting room or my father's office.

No, this wasn't something new and no, I'm not naïve to think that I live in world of rainbows and fireworks. I was brought up to find strength within myself and when times call for it, taught to kill.

But that didn't stop my father and brother from keeping me away from the front line of things. Although I had agreed that I didn't really enjoy the idea of indulging a large portion of my life into what goes within our organization, that didn't necessarily equate to the idea that I should be kept in the dark. On more than one occasion, they often left me vulnerable without control. I despise not being in control.

So here I was, grabbing my arrows and bow after changing into my dogi.

"You don't seem to be in a very good mood Ojou-sama" A voice calls out to me.

Akio Hashimoto, my father's second-in-command. He had always been an uncle figure to me and similarly to my father and brother, held very little emotion. It made him efficient and sought after solutions to problems quicker than those who held too many emotions like myself or my mother.

Despite never leaving the States and held control while my father was absent from the scenes, he had regularly contacted our family and was the go-to person when my father and brother was against some sort of idea. Such as learning all sorts of martial arts and to allow me to use rifles. My personal favourite.

But I would never dare to admit that to anyone. They needed to see me as some weak girl who would shrivel up and die by a single touch like some flower, since that gave me advantage over several situations and people.

"Your observation would be correct. But I don't suppose you won't give me the answer I wish for will you?"

"Unfortunately not. I was told to not share information about the matter until it has been finalised."

"Then I'll proceed to release my anger through my arrows."

"Should I call Kaya for some company?" He questions, knowing very well that the two of us had a well, interesting relationship. She was all bright sunshine's and full of life, while I was shadows and depleting of life. She talked a lot and had more opinions than most people I knew but I suppose that was why my brother was enamoured by her. 

"No its alright. I want to be by myself right now."

"I understand. Should you need me or your brother or father, just give a shout."

"I will." I say before making my way over towards the designated space where I am able to release arrows without worrying it will lodge itself in places that aren't desired. Not that I do that regularly, only on times where I have the urge to destroy something without dire consequences.

Stabilising my stance, I take in a deep inhale before slowly exhaling. Grabbing one of my arrows, putting it in place, I steadily aim for the target.

And then I release.

Over and over again.

Purging the irritation out my system.