Sayuri pulled her jacket tighter around her. The rain had weakened to a steady drizzle, hitting Sayuri's leather jacket more like pebbles than stones now. Her feet splashed into moonlit silver puddles. The street ahead of her is dark, with only a few dim red lanterns hanging from every few buildings or so.
Sayuri made sure to keep close to the buildings. Her brothers were out here, they could be anywhere, everywhere. If not them, then their friends would catch her, and just like that, her first night would be over. She had never left home at night. She was never explicitly told not to, the rule was just assumed; implied. But there's something about her age, something about being sixteen that gave her a drop of rebellion. Sixteen is the age of new beginnings, many mistakes, and beautifully haunting memories.
Sayuri wondered if perhaps her mother had been as free-spirited as she is. She couldn't know if her father was, she's barely seen him anymore since she was nine. He was too busy with the clan, his secret army, and the boys. She knows he must love her, she has memories of playing tea time with him, drawing with him, perfecting her calligraphy with him...they're sweet, sunny memories, but now, all that's left of him is shadows. Her brothers became her guardians, but because of their lack of experience, they smothered her. They're perfectionists, especially Shiro.
Sayuri turned a corner, into a small alley that led onto another street. She stayed close to the walls, practically blending in with them. She let a hand run along the rough wet bricks. Behind her, a cat leaped off a tin garbage can, making the top clang against the concrete.
Sayuri froze. What if someone heard that?
Stupid cat, she thought, so jumpy, I wasn't even near it!
Eventually, Sayuri looked up, but all she saw were two large buildings on either side of her, and the night sky straight over with a few bold stars stapled to it. Sayuri scanned her surroundings, but the alley was empty. Sighing, she continued forward. The street on the other side is alive with people. They shove and grab at eachother, trying to get through. Older ladies in the higher parts of the buildings watch from above, drinking their evening tea. Young men and women laugh and smoke pipes as they push past Sayuri, lost in their own worlds.
Sayuri huffed at how superficial everything seems on this street. She began to push past people, seeing it as the only way to actually advance. She eventually made it across the wide street and ducked into another alleyway. The street on the other side seemed to be much calmer, so once again, Sayuri resumed her position against the walls, and crept forward.
Where exactly she's going, she's not really sure. Nor does she care, as long as she's going.As long as she's out of that damn house.
