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

I pan over to see my knights and Fenris all walking towards me. The five of us have been through so much together. Having to flee the Estate, the Ranch, dodging covens, and having been thrown to the other side of the world.

I smirk to myself. Guess this is just my life.

“We’re prepared to leave, Your Highness,” says Orga.

I look up at Kateryna, smiling to her. She grins, readjusting her scarf, “I will admit to missing this place once we leave.”

I nod, “I know the feeling.”

I soon find myself being picked up and held tightly. I look up to find the golden eyes of Asha staring straight at me. I giggle softly, clinging to her.

“I know you have to go, but I don’t want you to,” she says.

“I know, Asha.” I try to fight back tears, choking up a little.

The ryujin gently rakes her claws through my hair. “When the time comes, I will be there to aid you, my Aria-chan.”

I smile, burying my face into her chest. “I love you, Asha.”

“I love you too. So, so very much,” she says, giving me one final tight squeeze before letting me down. I look up at her, watching as she too is fighting back her tears. She smiles, slithering back a few paces. This is hard, so very hard for the both of us. I just hope and pray that whatever may come, I won’t lose anyone else.

I turn to see nearly everyone swarming around me. They all plead with me not to leave, saying that I should just remain here with them. That this is my home.

I smile to them. “I can’t. I have to leave, I have to move forward. There are questions I need answered and if I stay here, I won’t be able to know what my destiny holds.”

They sigh, but realize that I’m not changing my mind.

My friends all gather around me, hugging me tightly.

Saya stares at me, “When you come back, I want you to spend a semester going to school with us.” Her voice chokes up, with her ears lowered.

I giggle, “I’ll think about it.”

She smiles tearfully, pressing her head against mine. “You better,” she says.

I smile.

The twins both kiss my cheek, each clinging tightly to me, purring loudly.

“We want you back, Aria-chan,” says Yui.

“We want you to be with us,” says Miu.

I smile, knowing both of the meanings behind their words. “One day.”

They hug me even tighter before slowly letting me go.

I turn towards Mayori and Ayame. Both have helped me immensely in my time here in their own ways. Without them I doubt anything might’ve gone the way it has, with Asha coming straight to my house or being able to reach out to Miriam without fear of detection.

Mayori smiles, “While we had you only for a month, it was great having you back with us.”

Ayame nods in agreement, “It’s just never the same without you here. You and your family are a part of this village.”

I giggle, “I know, and thank you for everything.” I look to my friends. “I want all of you to come visit me in America and meet my friends there.”

The five of them all grin, nodding happily. We then come together and hug tightly. I still can’t believe I have this many friends on two sides of the world.

I peer over to see many of the adults saying their goodbyes to Marron and my knights. I grin as the jorou-gumo lament at the fact that Marron won’t be working with them. She smiles, eyeing me. Somehow I get the idea that I’d be used as a model for her. An idea I actually like.

The marina workers all say that they’re going to miss having Orga around, stating that if he ever wishes to, a job will be waiting. He smiles and thanks them.

Several of the mothers gather around Kateryna. Apparently she had been scouted to become a teacher at the local school. I personally can see the elf doing something along those lines.

Many of the younger children are held back by their parents, not wanting Fenris to leave them again. I giggle, no matter where that wolf goes, children seem to gravitate towards him.

I feel a hand resting onto my shoulder. I pan up to see Kenji’s father standing beside me. “My son has truly fallen in love with a wonderful young woman. One that I would be proud and honored to call daughter.”

My cheeks flush deep red. Now his dad is talking about marriage? I’m only sixteen and have a world of other things on my mind, and marriage isn’t even close on my list of priorities. I take a deep breath and smile to him and his wife, who is beaming at me.

I quickly feel myself being ripped away from my friends and held in a tight embrace. I look up to see Hashibaba bearing a sullen smile. She wraps me tightly in her arms, rocking me gently.

“I can’t believe that my granddaughter is leaving me once again,” she says, stroking my hair.

I giggle softly, “I will come back, I promise.”

She plants a kiss on my forehead, looking into my eyes. “You better, young lady.”

I giggle, holding onto my yokai grandmother.

She smiles, holding me for a moment longer, “At least I’ll have more pictures and memories of you to cherish.”

I giggle softly as she squeezes me more time before reluctantly letting me go.

I step back from her and hop over to my party, wiping away tears which have been forming for the past couple of minutes.

I look to everyone, feeling a lump growing in my throat. They all smile as they gather around me. I close my eyes and slowly take in a deep and long breath, calming my beating heart. My hands rise up and begin to summon forth the latent fae magic that seems to be everywhere in the world.

As before, I feel the magic reach its critical point as I move my hands over the ball. With a soft smile, I hold my hands in front of me and clap them together, flinging them apart and opening the fairy road. I open my eyes, smiling as the portal is stable and swirling strong.

I can hear the villagers all whispering in awe of what I just accomplished. To be fair, while this is only the second time I’ve really done this. It’s the first while not under attack, so no mistakes.

I look back one last time at the villagers, my family and another home to return to. Asha smiles broadly as she shirohebi all try their hardest not to come after me. I giggle and turn back to face the portal.

Marron walks up beside me, draping her arm over my shoulder, holding me close to her.

“It goes without saying how happy I am to be with you,” she says softly as the five of us begin to step across the threshold.

I smile, holding onto her, “I love every moment that you’re my big sister, Marron.”

She grins, kissing the top of my head, “And you my baby sister.”

I giggle, panning over towards my knights as we venture deeper inside.

“Thank you both so much for always being with me,” I tell them.

They smile softly, bowing their heads.

“It has been our upmost honor and pleasurem Your Highness,” says Orga.

Kateryna leans in closer, clasping her husband’s hand. “I pray that our journey is fruitful and our family safe.”

I smile, feeling glad at her words.

I look over to Fenris as he walks beside me. I reach over and hold onto his fur.

“Love you, Papa Wolf.”

He looks back at me, smiling proudly, “I love you as well, my Little Aria.”

I grin, raking my fingers through his fur. I pan back up to Marron, forever thankful she stayed with me. This past month has been amazing and I was able to share so many new things with her.

She in turn squeezes me tighter to her the further we go in, feeling the portal closing behind us.