bones and blades

im trying to find you

Did I say something? Oh no…maybe I did say something weird. What if she doesn’t want to be friends anymore? That’s worse than having no friends at all…Mama will be mad…I can’t tell her though. I can’t tell anyone! That’d make me a bad friend…

Zeroro nervously entered through the brass doors of her house, dropping off her backpack lazily by the door. Her little brother’s laughs were audible from the dining room.

She wearily slouched down into the ivory seats at the table. “Hi, Mama.” she said, obviously sounding monotone.

“Hello, sweetie! How was your friend’s house?”

Well, Mama… “It was great! We looked at her baby photos since her older brother brought them out, a-and I even got to talk to him…he’s famous!”

“Famous? Oh my, is he a comedian?”

“Mm…he’s a…something in the Keron army! Giroro said she’s going to join someday.”

Zeroro’s mother smiled at this. “Oh dear…I’m afraid girls can no longer join the army. She could be a great nurse! If she plans to become a soldier, that cannot happen for her, sadly…”

She looked confusedly at her mother. “Why can’t girls be soldiers? Girls are very, very strong! You should have seen Giroro ward off the bullies that steal my lunch everyda-“

Zeroro was met with a glare. “So that’s what’s been happening to your lunch? I knew something was suspicious…”

“P-please don’t be mad, Mama! They stopped now…Giroro took care of them.”

“Well, this Giroro sounds pleasant. You should invite her family over sometime, I’d love to meet them!”

Phew…dodged that one… “Okay, Mama! …Oh no, I forgot to do my homework! I’ll eat after that.”

“Okay, Zeroro! Don’t take too long!”

Zeroro dashed up to her room and quickly slammed the door shut. She didn’t actually have homework, she’d just give anything to get out of that conversation.

What had happened today was so sudden she didn't have time to think it over. She plopped down in her queen size bed and pulled the covers up above her, beginning to wander off into her mind about the possibilities. She eventually drifted off, her mind still whirling. 

Giroro stared out the window into the vast black sky. She let out a sigh before tumbling on her back into bed.

“Garuru…I’m gonna stay home, ‘kay? I need to get stronger so I can fight beside you.”

“Still can’t believe you’re buying into that myth of strength…”

“Myth? Whaddya mean?! You taught me this!”

“Listen here, kid.” he smirked. “Strength isn’t how much you can physically exert yourself. Sure, that’s some of it, but what’s a warrior without some emotion at the core? You seem to think you can only have one or the other, but really, the true strength is a mixture of your soul and body. Problem is that the army only looks for the one in your blood.”

She looked at Garuru for a while, trying to take it all in. 

“But…you called me weak just now for cryin’ like that.”

“I’m sorry ‘bout that. Never really took what I said into account. If anythin’, being brave enough to express yourself like that in front of your friend is better than being void of emotion.”

She stared back out the window again, trying to find some stars in the seemingly endless black sky. 

“I guess you’re right.”