City of Colors

Three

Year 145

Life was quieter now. Emptier, without Aria. Kira tried not to notice. She just kept trying to distract herself, make it through the day. Because everything in her head was swirling, to jumbled to sort out. She just needed to focus. She needed to forget but refused to.

Kira looked in the mirror, examining her reflection. Fire-brown eyes, vanilla blonde locks, pale skin. The purple ribbon in her hair felt artificial, out of place. It belonged to someone else. Swallowing, she untied the bow. "I can't." She muttered quietly. "I'm sorry Ari. I'm not ready

-

Kira didn't spend much time in the orphanage, spending more and more time out. Sometimes she'd go on walks and not know where she was headed. Or she'd walk into the garden, far away from everything. And she'd scream. Or hit something. She'd lose track of the breakdowns. If she was in the orphanage, she was in her room. Kira hated how she was like this, how she could barely function properly. It was pathetic, how she was fragile. She wasn't breakable. She was better than this. Or at least that's what she told herself.

Mrs. Armitage still sends her to school, despite everything. "Emotion will not take away from education," She chided, sending Kira down to the kitchen. Kira doesn't bother to complain.

-

The first third of the year past quickly, without much issue. No one bothered her, except Sondor, and, although she felt guilty to admit it, she was grateful. Kira could focus on her work and not have to think about everything that had happened over the past few months. She wasn't on the verge of losing it anymore, and she didn't act like a complete mess. But her head was just so crowded. Sometimes she's see something random, like a girl with a hair ribbon, and she'd feel everything all over again. She could only ignore it. Ignoring got easier as time went on, but dealing with the grief.

-

"You've got me now"

-

"Hey!" there was a knock on Kira's door. Kira cracked an eye open, and, decided it wasn't worth it. "Hey!" another knock. "Are you going to keep moping all day?" A voice said from behind her door.

She groaned, rolling out of bed and hobbling to the door. It was an off day, Kira didn't want to do outside. "What Sondor?"Kira grumbled, peeking through a crack in the door. Sondor Everwood, Mrs. Armitage's assistant stood before her bedroom, a bemused grin permanently plastered on his face.

"Can't I check on one of my charges?" He asked, blue eyes twinkling. Kira scowled, but that only made him look at her sympathetically. "I was going to ask you if you to come with me and buy some pound cake, since the berries are in season."

Kira blinked. "What?"

"Pound cake," Sondor repeated, "Just you and me, since you haven't been out much."

Kira swallowed. Gosh, she was a sellout. "I don't have anything better to do," Kira mumbled, trying not to show her slight excitement.

"Great," Sondor said. "Glad I could cheer you up some."

-

She doesn't realize she's been avoiding people until someone actually talks to her. Narus MoonGlade is the one to talk to her. She hasn't known him for long, he probably switched academy's or something. But he seemed a bit laid back.

"Hey, it's Kira right?" Narus asks absentmindedly, plopping himself down besides her.

"Yes," she said slowly, not knowing what to think of him. Why was this almost-stranger sitting with her? "What do you want?" Kira said, shooting him a skeptical glance. 

"Geez, okay. Cutting straight to it." He mumbled, taking a bite out of his lunch. "Well, I guess I'll be honest with you" Narus said, setting aside his bread. "I wanna lunch buddy to sit with."

Kira made a face. What? "I," She said carefully, fully prepared to say no. But then he looked at her with an oh-so familiar smile, and she stopped. "I guess you could sit with me." She said, purposely making her voice reluctent.

"Gee thanks," Narus grins, finding her grumpiness endearing. "It's been awhile since I've had a friend."

-

"It's been awhile since I've had a friend." the new girl, Aria, said. She was small, with pale olive skin and long slick locks. Kira thought it was beautiful, in a wild, untamed way. Her hair was a mess, silky strands scattered. Jaded green eyes, slightly red from past memories. "It's been awhile since I've had much, now that I think about it." Aria said, rubbing her neck sheepishly. Her fingers subconsciously brushing the edges of a scar.

"I..." Kira said, trying to find the right words. But Kira Dedicade has never been good with words. Instead, she pulled the girl close. Pressing herself tightly against her, in what she hoped was a comforting action. "Don't worry" She said softly indignantly, "You have me now."

-

"Yeah." Kira said, smiling slightly, looking at Narus again. If she squinted just right, she could see Aria's smile. "It's been awhile since I've had one too." And after a moment, she gives him a piece of her pound cake.

"Gee, thanks!" Narus said, taking a large bite out of it. It's too big, and he ends up choking a little. Kira laughs, but refuses to give him another piece. "You have to earn it." She said.

"aw, you're mean." Narus whined. 

They eat lunch together for the rest of the week.

-

Later, she ties the purple ribbon around her neck, letting it rest above her heart. And she doesn't take it off.

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notes: So Kira's starting to recover now, but I won't be able to write her full grieving process. Her ability to grieve is important to her character though. I've never lost anyone extremely close to me, so all of my writing is based off the internet and interviews with friends. Please let me know if this is somewhat accurate. 

I've introduced Sondor as a sort of older brother figure, and I've introduced Narus. I don't really know what I'll do with Narus's character, but he's going to help Kira with some of this heavy stuff. 

Next up, a time skip. Kira's getting tested.