Seal of Life

Chapter 2

"Happy Birthday!" Chihiro cheered excitedly waving around her arms before tackling me in a hug.

Laughter filled the room as I groaned, "Chi-chan! Ouch your heavy!"

"Ah Gomen, Hi-chan." She shot up quickly backing away like a skittish animal, "I was just so excited that well.."

"Oi she gets it stop being so chatty." Akihiko's usual scowl decorated his face as he lightly bonked his sister on the head.

"Ah Aki-baka that hurt!" The blonde whined hands on her head and her brother twitched in annoyance at the nickname.

"Ah guys I think we need to calm down." I giggled nervously as the two siblings gave eachother the stink eye disregarding my words.

I watched as the two started to fight, and sighed shooting an exasperated glance at the woman besides me who gave a laugh that sounded as light and magical as fairy bells.

"Ah Chi-chan Aki-kun, your sister's right there's no need to fight right now." Okaa-san reached out with her delicate hands to ruffle the two children's hair a soft smile on her face. The two children immediately stopped fighting much to my chagrin. I scowled slightly, even though my mother was only a few years older than the age I'd died at in my first life she was already so much better with children.

A warm laugh and a hand on my own head broke me out of my envy. "Don't frown like that Hitomi, you should be happy on your birthday." I looked up into a pair of warm golden eyes identical to my own.

"Hai Okaa-san!" I grinned back with ease. Basking in the warm glow and love my mother's smile returned.

Chihiro shot one last glare at her brother before turning to me, "Hey Hi-chan open your presents!" She grinned shoving a lumpy package into my hand.

I grinned back fondly at my adopted sister touched that they'd remembered to get me a gift. Slowly pulling back at the plain brown wrapping paper I removed it to reveal a delicate box. It was a beautiful and ornate wooden box covered with dark lacquer and decorated with the painted image of a golden sakura tree. With trembling hands I opened the golden clasp on the box smoothly to stare at a set of brushes, ink stones and wax for seals.

I sat there shell shocked staring at the package. As far as I could tell from the standards of people from this world we were definitely not rich, if anything we were dirt poor. The yukaku provided shelter and basic needs while food tended to be a communally prepared item. Individual money was hard to come by as most of the pay went to paying rent for the building. A calligraphy set like this was expensive even for a typical working family and I couldn't fathom how my family had managed to buy it.

"It's a joint gift from me and Aki-niisan." Chihiro smiled her sunny smile. If Aki was the brooding and serious night than his sister was a bright cheerful day. She was filled with energy and always had a constant grin on her heart shaped face.

"You really got into that calligraphy stuff and those fancy drawings looked really good so Okaa-san helped us pick out a set." She babbled on tugging at one of her blonde pigtails. "Do you like it?"

I fought back the grateful tears stinging behind my eyes, "I love it!" I squealed launching forward to give my older siblings a hug. The force tackling us all to the floor in a heap of limbs and giggles.

"Oww you're heavy get off!" Akihiko groaned shoving at us only making our laughter grow.

Eventually after more happy cuddling and laughter our little pile broke apart. I clutched the precious box to my chest, smile wide on my face. That book I'd found in the attic had taught me the art of Fuinjutsu apparently an art of runic like langauges that could not only be used to seal objects or beings, but even bend the rules of space and time. I was excited to discover there was a magical quality to my new world and immediately began to learn, less I let down my childhood dreams of learning magic.