Book 1: Until the Light Goes Out

Part 2: Not Dark Enough

Not Dark Enough

Chapter 1

School

Yomi sat on the balcony looking out over the city. There wasn't much within the apartment save for two beds pushed together, a dresser, a night stand, and a small bathroom. Their kitchen consisted of a plug in burner, and a small sink. Said sink had three toothbrushes in it, and a bar of soap. The dish soap was in the very small cabinet that held their towels and pans. It wasn't much, it was in fact too small for a family unit of three. But it would do for now...especially since their home was destroyed.

"Yomi." The gentle voice of Raya called. Yomi climbed back into the apartment and padded over to her older sister who held up a small bento within a see through bag with purple bunnies on it. Today was a very important day for Yomi. It was her first day of school. She was 4 years old now and school was a must. She was excited about it, and a bit scared. She had never been without her sisters or father for more than an hour.

Pulling on her yellow raincoat, and red jack boots they made their way to the door. Suddenly Yomi wished Tyla was coming too, but she was downstairs in Pigsy's noodle. She had work today, and she couldn't take her to school.

"Now remember I'll be right outside the gate when you get out of school, so don't you worry alright?" Raya told her, a silly attempt to reassure her. Yomi tried to climb up Raya's arm, she wanted to sit on her shoulder like she normally did. Raya however stopped her from doing so.

"You are a big girl now and you're able to hold yourself up properly. You should start walking the way we do." Raya told her. Yomi didn't like that, she liked being warm, it was just too cold. Yomi's displeasure could be seen on her face as she walked.

Raya stood there and watched Yomi as she pouted. Her fingers around her backpack sleeve. Her eyes cast at the puddles as they walked.

"Hey...it's okay Yomi, it's not so bad. I mean I survived. I donno about Tyla though...I think it killed her with how much she complained about waking up in the morning." it was an attempt at a joke. Yomi appreciated the effort, but she really didn't want to be away from them.

"What if that bad monkey comes back?"

"Tyla isn't too happy with him. Dad, and your big brother gave him the runaround. If he comes back a third time Tyla won't be kind." Raya knew that to be true. Tyla voiced her anger about the whole situation to them the morning after. Especially after sleeping on splinters of wood.

They walked into the courtyard where a bunch of other children her age congregated with their parents. Mostly mothers.

"What's a mom?" Yomi took hold of the hem of Raya's Cheongsam. It was thicker than the Hanfu she normally wore. It was getting colder out.

"I don't know. I imagine it's a woman's version of father." She giggled at her own imagination. Although looking at all the other parents there to drop off their kids talking with the many teachers. Raya could feel a sense of longing for someone with a much gentler hand.

"Ah and this must be Sun Yomi?" A woman with black hair and equally black eyes walked over and took Raya's outstretched hand. "You must be her mother." oh there it was again, would this become a habit?

"Oh no ma'me, I'm Yomi's older sister. We don't have a mother, my older sister and I have been caring for her." The teacher blushed and nodded.

"Father couldn't come?"

"Ma'me, being the offspring of a fabled immortal being would draw a crowd and you all don't need such attention. Someone could be hurt, or worse." Raya said. The teacher looked at her and then Yomi as she nodded at the woman.

"Fabled...immortal...being?"

"Sun Wukong." They both said at one time. This was going to be an interesting day.