Koemi is leaving

Zeiden’s 10-year-old mind couldn’t wrap around what he was seeing.



The yellow crayon was dragged noisily against a piece of paper as a certain brown haired boy scrunched his forehead in concentration. It was difficult to control the little yellow rebel but he managed, and finally put the crayon down, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead.

He grinned and picked up the picture he had so painstakingly drawn, admiring it in the sunlight streaming through the window. It wasn’t the best, but it was the best he could do, and he was sure she would love it no matter what. Setting the picture down yet again, he flicked a red crayon up and caught it, proceeding to bite at his lower lip and clumsily colour in a certain symmetrical and well-known shape…



He stood small and uncomprehending a distance away. Nii-san is here…Nee-san is here…shaking his head, he frowned. Something wasn’t right. And who is that other guy?



Yet again the yellow-eyed boy surveyed his completed masterpiece. Perfect, he nodded to himself as he agreed that it was finally done. Carefully rolling up the precious drawing, he picked up his teddy bear Meiko, slung his camera over his neck and fingered with his necklace. I hope she likes it… he thought uncertainly as he unrolled the drawing and looked over it with a critical eye.





Shrugging, he rolled it back and tied a blue ribbon around it. As he agreed earlier on, it was Perfect.



Zeiden watched as the drama unfolded in front of him. No one seemed to notice him yet…he hugged Meiko closer. Nothing bad will happen, right? The boy watched as the stranger grabbed Koemi’s wrist and his eyes widened. No one can bully nee-san under my watch! His eyes narrowed at the stranger.



A smile was plastered on his face as Zeiden dashed towards the location where he was sure she would be. It was sibling instinct and it has never failed him, not once.  





He checked for the precious item in his left hand again; just to make sure it was there. He couldn’t afford to lose it, no he couldn’t, it was a gift for her like all the ones she had given him. And it was only when he arrived that he froze in his tracks.



Bad guy. He’s a bad guy. Without warning, the determined boy ran forward and, holding his items possessively to himself, pummeled his tiny fists on the older teen.



“Don’t bully nee-san!” The little boy defiantly shouted in his victim’s face as he attacked the teen. The stranger just rolled his eyes and glanced at Koemi, who immediately pulled Zeiden away from the stranger. Shocked, Zeiden dropped his possessions and allowed himself to be pulled away by his sister.

“Zei…” The yellow orbs of his sister softened as she watched the little boy look into her eyes.



An unsuspecting roll of paper tumbled to the stranger’s feet. He raised an eyebrow, and Zeiden’s eyes widened at the sight of the stranger bending down and reaching for the roll of paper.



“Don’t touch it! Bad guy!” The frightened yet infuriated child reached forward to snatch it out of the teen’s hand.



The teen held it high over his head and flipped it around for Koemi to see, as a certain familiar ribbon fluttered down to the ground.



“Zei…” Koemi started as she stared eyes wide open, shell-shocked, tears glistened in the sunlight as they flowed down her cheeks, dripped, dripped, dripped down, he hair shielded her eyes and cast a melancholy shadow.





Watch, that was all he could ever do. He watched as his light of hope was extinguished right before his eyes. He watched as his nii-san stood glaring at his own sister for some unknown reason. He watched as some stranger took his beloved nee-san away, perhaps forever and ever. All he could do was watch.



Just watching wasn’t enough. That was about to change.



“Nee-san…” Zeiden acted on his reflexes as he rushed forward and wrapped his small arms around his sister, the camera knocking against his knee. He could feel his brother boring holes into his back but he didn’t care; he wanted nee-san.



“Foolish otouto, come back,” Narashi commanded as he frowned disapprovingly at the tousled brown hair of the boy but one year younger than himself.



“No.”



Koemi bent down and went onto one knee, facing Zeiden. “Zei…Zeiden. I…I have to go…I’ll be back…” She placed a hand on his slender shoulder and lifted his chin up such that yellow eyes met yellow eyes. Tears mingled with tears.



Zeiden reached out a hand and used his thumb to wipe away at the tears streaming down her face. “Don’t cry…don’t go nee… Koemi-san.” Zeiden looked away as fat drops of liquid splashed into his palms.



All of a sudden, the hand was gone as another set of arms dragged him away, apart from Koemi. They were strong, and he didn’t resist, allowing himself to be separated from her, perhaps forever and ever.



His blurred vision could barely make out the retreating figure of the one he loved, respected, the shadow that stretched out towards him, yet shrunk back with every step forward.  She was far away, and no matter how much he reached his hand out, there would be no bigger hand to take his, no blond hair that tangled with his brown one…



“Goodbye nee-s…Koemi.” A whispered phrase by a familiar voice reached the ears of the young boy and the truth finally hit him, the impact leaving him gasping for air as he shouted out,



“NEE-SAN!”



“I love you forever.”