The Journey of Two Sisters: Book 4 of the Kinstone series

(Me)

The storm finally ends a couple days later, having left a considerable amount of snow on the ground. With it, so has our time here. The nagging part of me that is kitsune constantly screamed, not wanting to leave the village let alone the region itself.

I know this is taking a risk. Strategically speaking, it just makes more sense to just stay put and wait out everything. Our coven might be able to cripple Regulus and his allies, maybe even stop him completely. Yet here I am, packing up and placing my belongings into my backpack once more.

The plan is to leave soon. We’re not in a hurry per se, but in a few days another storm is supposed to hit. So it’s better to leave now as opposed to lingering longer than we have to.

I cleared off my table the night before, closing up my books and notebooks, stashing everything inside my bag. The last piece to put away is my music box. I sigh softly, stroking the lid. Since my time at the Ranch and here, it’s been an ever-present companion, helping to soothe my mind and heart. I take a soft, long breath and close it up, stashing it in my bag, along with everything else.

I close up the bag and stand. My ears then flick as my phone goes off. I pick it and see a message from Kenji.

“I want to see you before you leave. So come to the village.”

I smile, yet at the same time blush softly. This may be the last time I get to see him for a while, if ever. I spent a couple hours talking to my friends, who weren’t the happiest to hear of my decision. Mui and Yui in particular were the loudest voices in opposition. Yet in the end, I still have to do this.

I texted him back saying that I will before slipping my phone into my bag. I often still am amazed at how much I am carrying. I even have a solar charger I received as the gift from Tenaki-san for my phone along with my camera. Pretty convenient if you ask me. Granted, I think my camera’s never really left my bag since the Gathering.

I also carry within it my broken swords. I feel a little naked not having a weapon, or the assurance of having one. I do have my bokken and pair of Han Kote, so that’s something at least.

I grab my coat and head for the door, slowly flipping the light switch.

I hop down the stairs and towards the front door. Marron elected to house her suitcase along with one of my knights, wanting to share some of the burden. I didn’t object.

I pass by the kitchen, recalling our meals together. They were simple, just a family eating together. I let out a soft sigh, again feeling the kitsune within me wanting to stay. In the end I have to leave. It’s not as though I can never return, just open a fairy road and boom, I’m back.

But that would be giving up. I sigh, fighting it back down.

I pop over to the front stoop and slip on my boots, lacing them up tight. I stand up and tap the toes of the boots, feeling them settle against my shins. Once secured, I turn and slide open the door, heading outside.

I stand and face my house, looking it over as my tails swish softly in the snow. I take several long breaths, knowing that I have to leave this place yet again. This is my home, a place of refuge and peace. During the past month, I filled it with even more memories.

I smile, knowing that even if I leave, it’ll be here waiting for me.

I peer over towards the ocean, blushing softly as I recall my second date with Kenji. My ears pick up the faint distant sound of waves crashing onto the shore, a lullaby if you ask me. It’s also a reminder of how much I love this place.

I hear the door slide open again, watching as everyone files out. I smile softly, silently thanking each of them for being with me and for being my family.

Marron turns and walks over to me. “I’m guessing you have plans before we leave.”

I hold my arm, “Yeah, I do.”

She hoists her bag over her shoulder, “Want to go with us in the van?”

“I’m gonna head to the village on foot,” I tell her, coiling my tails in the snow.

She smiles, “Going to have one final talk with a certain someone?”

My face quickly turns beet red as I nod slowly.

She chuckles, “Okay, sweetie.”

I eye Fenris walking over to me. “Do you wish for me to take you on my back, Little Aria?”

I reach out to him, stroking his muzzle. “Thanks, Papa Wolf, but I need to do this on my own.”

He leans in closer, pressing his head against my hand. “Very well, daughter. You should hurry however.”

My face quickly lights up again. The last time he called me daughter was during a heated training session where I grew out of control. Now it’s on the verge of us leaving for the next stage of this journey. I look over to Marron, whose face is practically lighting up with a look of surprise and amazement.

I smile to her. I turn and gaze back into his eyes. In so many ways, Fenris really has become like a father to me, and now I as his daughter. I stroke his mane, pressing my face into his.

“I’ll see you in the village,” I say, kissing the side of his face.

His tails swish proudly in the snow.

I step back and see my knights and Yukari standing by the door.

“We will lock up here, Aria-chan,” says my aunt.

I smile to her and to my knights, who both are grinning with the same pride I know everyone her possesses. I step and back head for the path.

My walk through the tunnel of trees feels familiar, reminiscing of when I had to leave last spring. I will forever hate the concept of “the last day”. It’s the feeling that everything is coming to an end.

I’m leaving my home again. A place I have long since come to love, and people who adopted me as their own, claimed me as their own. I know this isn’t the same as the day I fled the Estate. Here I’m leaving of my own accord and for my own reasons. Yet the pain feels the same regardless.

A cold wind rushes against me as I step onto the main road, blowing straight into my ears. I flatten them against my head to shield them.

I can’t help but to let out a small giggle. It really has felt great being a kitsune day in and day out again. In the last month I haven’t felt the need to transform back into a human. I grin, thinking that I may have become more and more kitsune than I realized. This is who really I am deep down.

I am kitsune, through and through. I embraced this during the shrine festival and it's true now.

I pan out towards the valley below, eyeing the shrine. I’m grateful to have gone once more to it. The first is being able to finally rid myself of my nightmares and to heal my heart.

The second is for New Years. I was able to spend more time with my family and enjoy something very special that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. I know it also helped Marron with some of her issues.

In some ways, our accidental arrival here in Japan was the best thing to have ever happened to us. We are on the other side of the world, displaced months out of time, taking us out of reach of Regulus and his ilk. We grew even closer as a family, with me and Marron further cementing our bonds as sisters.

My gaze then lowers, letting out a soft sigh. I still miss my true home. I miss Velhemina, Silvi, the pups, the combat maids, the gossip, everyone. I especially miss my mother.

My arms fold across my chest. I again pray she isn’t dead. The last image I saw of her kneeling on the driveway is still burned into my mind. I sigh softly, trying to push out the idea she died on that horrible day.

A light then pops into my head.

I remember hearing another voice on the day I spoke to Miriam. I feel my heart flutter, trying to decipher the two simple words that were spoken in the background.

At the time I know it sounded like her voice, but in truth I only caught them just before the call was cut off. It somehow gave me a sliver of hope, but at the same time I still can’t peg it.

I groan, becoming even more frustrated. Right now I need to focus. There’s one final task I have to complete before I have to leave. Possibly the most difficult I’ve have ever had to accomplish.