影と風 | Kage to Kaze | Shinazugawa Sanemi

22 - Family

Sanemi had already left before I woke up, but he'd left a note on the counter: "On a mission." I chuckled to myself, knowing he didn't need to tell me, but I found it endearing. Outside, fall had quietly slipped into winter. I'd been here for over a year now, yet time seemed to blur as if I'd always been part of the Wind Estate. I was twenty years old now, Sanemi probably twenty-one. 

I brushed my hair back as I wandered through the garden with breadcrumbs in my palm. While scattering them for the birds, a staff member informed me someone was waiting by the door. Brushing my hands off, I went to answer it. There stood a young but familiar face.

"Genya!" I beamed and, without thinking, leapt into his arms.

He looked startled, "Wh-what are you doing?!" But his arms held me, albeit awkwardly. I leaned in, rubbing my cheek against his, which only made him stammer more.

"You've grown taller, Genya! Every time I see you, you're getting bigger!" I teased, faking a dramatic sniffle. "Stop it, will you? You're making me feel old."

"He's becoming a young man." I continued to bawl into my hand to no one particular. 

"Tch, I am far from that yet." Genya scratched the back of his head, and my head snapped up: "Do you want some ohagi? I just made some." I did not even give him the chance to agree before grabbing his hand and pulling him inside. 

"Uh—actually, I'm here to see aniki..." His voice trailed off as I plopped him down at the kitchen table.

"He's out on a mission. But hey, if anyone's been giving you trouble at the Corps, tell me. I will kick their asses!" I declared, fire in my eyes and I could feel Genya slowly losing his patience.

"No, no. I just wanted to - to tell him that I am officially a tsuguko." his scarred face twisted into embarrassment, and he gladly took the ohagi which I handed him. 

"That is amazing Genya! I am so proud of you" I engulfed him into a tight hug once again, feeling his posture become rigid under my affection. "You don't get that a lot, do you?" I softly smiled at him.

"What don't I get?" he nervously bit into the ohagi.

"Hugs." I pinched his cheek, and he swatted after my hand. 

"Nemi and I didn't really receive many hugs when growing up." I could see pain flash in his eyes. 

Changing the topic, I leaned in with a smile, "I'll give you as many hugs as you want. You're like a brother to me. I actually wanted a brother so badly when I was younger." I babbled on, my memories drifting back to when my mother was pregnant, but miscarried due to my biological father having stabbed her.

"You could marry aniki, then I'd be your brother. I doubt he would mind it." Genya shrugged so casually, I thought I heard wrong.

"Huh?" I asked flabbergasted, but the teenager did not heed any mind fore he continued with:

"I bet he missed having someone around the house ever since mom died. You wouldn't even have to worry about anything either, he would take care of you and protect you just like he protected mom from dad." he continued while deep in thought.

My mind had a reboot at his words. I'd never thought of the young boys that could suffer under the wrath of men. During my childhood I always thought that women suffered violence by the hands of men. 

Genya froze immediately, realizing what he had said: "please please don't tell him that I told you that" he pleaded.

"So... would you say Sanemi's a bit of a mommy's boy?" my lips tucked into a teasing smile.