The Voice of Japan

*7*

Out right panic was settled in her head as everything around her spun, her fear rising faster with each breath, but the hand on her shoulder was just the snap that set everything off within her mind.

"No! Don't touch me!" she shouted and pushed the unknown body, "Stay away!"

"Harper, it's me!" she heard them say.

That voice. She knew that voice as a slow comfort came to her. She opened her eyes attempting to take in what was around her as her tears fell. It was then she noticed she was curled up on the ground, her knees pressed so hard into her chest she swore she should've heard ribs crack. The bark of the tree pressed painfully into her back as she pushed herself against it as her eyes tried to find him.

"Harper?"

Finally she locked eyes on him, those dark browns looking into hers as he tried to figure out what was wrong. She could see him struggling to do anything to help her, yet he sat there reserved, just waiting on her. She felt like an ass for just up and running like she did, yet it was all she could do at that moment without losing her mind completely. Faint whispers filled her ears as Tomoe and Tokuko spoke gently to her, letting her know that everything was all right.

"I'm sorry Kiku." she apologized.

"For what Harper?" he asked, "You did nothing wrong."

"For being so weak compared to you. Compared to them." she confessed. "I'm not strong enough to be a capital."

"That's not true Harper, you are strong-"

"Bullshit I am!" she shouted, "All of those women in there are ten times the girl I am. They have been through things that would cripple some people to nothing and yet here I sit like a child, confused and hurt with no voice or chance to stand on my own."

She felt a tremor shake her body as her memories sat at the surface, "All because of that bastard."

"Harper, would you like to know what I see?"

Harper looked at Kiku, his face stoic and unchanged yet something was hidden behind those eyes of his. She could see his hands itching to touch hers, but they stayed upon his lap in wait.

A small smile donned upon his face as he relaxed before her, "I see a woman that has overcome so much. Yes she hides, but that is because she knows what's out there. What other people are unaware of. The dark side of the world. Yet you never let that stop you. You stood up and made your name. You even came to Japan and lived within the nation by yourself, a trek most would want someone to travel with. You have persevered over so much and yet have even more before you. You really are a strong woman Harper."

She was awestruck with him. His words hit deeper than she could have thought. No amount of therapy or sessions could have made her feel like she did now. It was as if he went and pulled the ugliness out of her, proving to her that she was more than what she thought.

"Thank you Kiku."

"It is true Harper. You are more than what you see yourself as." he sighed, "I just wish you could see what I see."

She watched as his features dropped, back into his cool self. Her mind wandered as she pulled the courage forth, maybe speaking to the man she had dreamed about for so long would help her out more than believed. Maybe, just maybe.

"I was the only girl born in my family." she began, "And I was treasured for it."

She saw his features change; from the calm and reserved to curious and hopeful. She just prayed that speaking about this wouldn't change his mind.