Teach Me to Be Strong

Kaeda. She wrote the name in the ice-chilled water, each letter frozen temporarily underneath her fingertips before dissolving in the streams current. The ribbon of water flowed off the top of their mountain all the way to the village bellow. It was said that when the stream froze over the Suzuki Clan would die out, and its secrets would be frozen beneath the streams opaqueness. If ever someone were to come along and make the stream flow again they would gain the Clan’s knowledge along with anyone who drank from the stream henceforth. 1

She raised her head up from her prone position and peered into the glassy surface as if trying to find something hidden within its shallowed depth. She noticed her hair then, being tugged at by the water, teasing her as it danced in the minor movements of the stream. 2

/“Ouch, Kaeda that hurt.” Akina reached her hand up to rub her scalp, trying to smooth away the snarl Kaeda had tugged at.3

“Don’t be such a wuss.” Kaeda swatted her hand away and fixed the knot of hair until it untangled from the thread. “Hold still I’m almost done.” Wrapping the thread around her strand of hair a few more times. Kaeda let out an exclamation, the hair decoration completed. “There!” Grabbing the mirror at her side Kaeda’s arms encircled Akina showing her her reflection. 4

She starred at her reflection, her albino features prominent in every part of her bodily structure. Her diluted light blue eyes, her translucent skin, her flaxen hair partially braided into a crown; leaving the rest to hang down her backside and the newly woven braid with the bell dangling at the end of it. 5

Akina grasped the mirror and Kaeda’s arms dropped to hug her. “Now you look more like a shinobi.” Their eyes met in the mirror Kaeda’s strength holding her like always, willing her to believe in the impossible. She was always there, always looking out for her. 6

She turned the mirror over and gently placed it in front of where she sat. Her hands still grasping the handle, turning her knuckles pink as she starred trying to figure out how to express the gratitude that lay jumbled within her. 7

Biting down on her lip Akina said the only thing that came to mind. “Thank you Kaede-chan.” She released the mirrors handle, and folded her hands in her lap demurely. Raising her face to Kaeda’s even though her eyes welled Akina managed to choke out, “Thank you for everything.”/8

She wiped away the tears that had loosened from her burdened soul and laid her head back down on her arm trying to block out the image from the stream.
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