Fate and Freedom IV: No Long Goodbyes

Arashi rushed up the stairs of the ruined Hikari Castle. Despite being...well, ruined, the staircases and other such structures had managed to stay intact. As he emerged from the staircase, he froze at the sight of of a bautiful young girl, perhaps a year older than him, the gentle breeze tugging at her long, flowing, glossy red hair, and shining, pale icy-blue eyes, gazing down at the rubble below her. Arashi had known Tsubaki all his life. They were good friends, but he could never muster thr courage to ask her out on a date- three quarters becuase he was too shy and one quarter becuase any date around here wouldn't be much better than a normal outing. He paused to gaze at her. Suudenly, a hand latched onto his shoulder from behind, nearly making him cry out in alarm. He turned around to see his brother, Rakurai.

"You seriously have to stop doing that. You're gonna get me killed one day!" Arashi whispered, careful not to alert the young girl ahead of him. He stood impassive for a moment, not sure how to handle the situation at hand.

"Arashi, just trust me. I've done this before. Stop worrying yourself sick planning out the perfect moment. Just be impulsive!" his older brother said, pushing him forward, making him cry out, causing Tsubaki to turn her head. Arashi turned to behind him to berate his brother, only to find he had vanished.

"Arashi? Hi!" Tsubaki said, a little louder than normal. Arashi began to walk forward to join hewr at the precipice of the castle roof (where, unbeknownst to him, his parents had faced the current ruler of the region eleven long years ago) to join his admiree, but she met him halfway, squeezing him like a plush toy, so hard he could just about breathe.

"What brings you up here?" she purred, cocking a thin, wiry eyebrow.

"Um, I just came to, uh, say goodbye," he mumbled, struggling to maintain eye contact. Tsubaki chuckled girlishly.

"That's so nice of you! Thanks!" she replied, hugging him again. This time he was able to move his arms enough, without hurting them, to hug her back. She let go, clearing her throat gently and brushing her hair out of her face with her hand.

"Kasai...it's a long way away...but I have to go...there's...something I have to do there. Something that's really important to me. Y-...You understand..right?" she said cautiously, as if regretting something.

"Yeah. I get it. Good luck." Arashi said, almost confidently, maintaining eye contact firmly. He almost jumped as Tsubak leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.

"You're a really good listener. See ya around, Arashi," Tsubaki mumbled, briefly losing her confident and bouncy demeanour before quickly rushing off down the stairs.

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(rest comes tomorrow)