Blue Eclipse

I [UNEDITED]

ONE: DEPART

"Kira, would you care for some bread? We've been tavelling for an hour now, you must be hungry. Or, do you want to rest for a while? Your papa must be tired controlling the reins too, do you want to stop for a while?" Mother offers bread to Kira, who is staring outside the small filthy window.

"I'll pass but, yes, we should stop." She replies, turning her face towards the carriage door.

Mother then knocks at the wood, to signal father. The moment the carriage stops, Kira and Mother are already outside.

"So I see," Father comments, fixing the reins of the horses, "how thoughtful of you, Kira."

"That was mama's idea, not me," she coldly replies. Her tone made the cool breeze of the summer day dry and weary. Her tone reminded father and mother where they were going and were about to do.

"Kira, dear," Mother couldn't find more words to say, she just focuses on opening the water's container.

"Kira, look. I know it's hard to go away from home but we need to. We need to, for the family's business." Father's tone is stiff, but tired.

She nods, but she isn't a child anymore. She is growing into adulthood. She knows it all. She is not just going to be away from home, but from her family. She is going to be left alone, in another house. Kira knew that her family had a big debt, and couldn't pay, so she was going to be the payment. It hurts on her side, that her parents had accepted that and were even lying to her. They were just, of course, accompanying her, since she saw all they packed was her clothes, and was smart enough to figure why they borrowed a carriage, and not just bought one. But she needed to be strong, to hold on. Soon enough, Papa will work and bring her back. She comforts herself to stop her tears.

"I know." She nods again, "Papa, Mama, I want to continue." Even though how much she wants to rest, she also wants to finish this once and for all and go home. She wants to be done in no time.

"Kira, your papa--" Mother starts but

"Please, Mama, Papa, whatever this is, just let me go and finish it up. Then Papa's debt will be paid." She shrugs, trying hard to control her tears from falling, trying to act like she doesn't care at all. Like she doesn't care that she's going away from everything she wanted to cherish.

"Kira.." Mother's voice cracks, "You knew?. Oh Kira, I'm so sorry, we're so sorry to put this burden in you. We didn't want you to go. But then you're all what they wanted. Oh Kira, my good good girl.." Mother finally breaks down in tears.

"Kira, I'm so sorry. But I'll promise to bring you back. Just be good, okay? The next hour, we will finally reach our destination. Kira, we will miss you." Father acts tough, but tears wells up in his tired eyes. To avoid Kira seeing it, he goes to help mother inside the carraige.

Kira-- Kira wanted to be strong. She holds in perfectly every tear that is supposed to fall. She just smiles at her parents, trying to sound cheerful like a child, "Come back for me Papa, I promise I will be a good girl."

~

A big house finally came into view after a few hours of riding.

"Is this the place? Mama?" Kira asks her mother when she sees the big house at the distance.

"Yes darling, we will drop you off. They said that you will only enter alone. I'm so sorry child. I don't know what to say." Mother responds, trying hard to control her tears again.

"I'll be fine Mama, don't worry, I'll get this debt done and go home soon. Just think of it as a job I have to attend. I'll send letters, I promise." Kira comforts, hugging her mother tightly.

"That's my good good girl, my Kira." Mother mumbles as she clutches her daughter tighter.

The carriage finally comes to a stop. Kira's heart beats faster and faster by the moment as Father opens the door to let her out. She breaks the hug with Mother and steps outside.

Father gives her the baggage and hugs her one last time, "Forgive me, Kira." And with that, father closes the door where mother is smiling encouragingly at her. Father goes straight to the reins and

"Hya!"

They are off.

That was it.

She won't see them, in a while.

Kira sighs and controls her tears welling up, she can do this. And she will. She then head straight into the house, the sun beating up her skin, and the hot breeze blowing heavily, making her sweat harder.

As she closes in the door, she was prepared to knock, but as she raises her hand, the door opened on it's own.

"Strange." She just mumbles, and heads inside.