Mira’s POV:
(During the truck incident)
*SCREEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeech* *Multiple crashing noises*
!!!
‘What…Is that a truck?!’
I am with my brother on my way to greet him my friends, Sarah and Emily. I am now in High School like my brother as a freshman. I was nervous at first, but I successfully made friends with acceptable troubles. I was always awkward around people because of my…’dishonest’, rough personality I got from my growing up in a martial arts dojo. Our dojo mainly teaches Wing Chun, Tai Chi, Taekwondo, and Muay Thai. Heibai was adopted into the family when I was two, and he was four years old at that time.
Even when I was two, I still remember the time when I first met him. His hair was very short and unstylish as it makes him look like a bald person with hair, but his unique features were his black-brown and…white eyes. He lost his right eye due to abuse from the other children in the orphanage he was in, making one of his black-brown eyes white which gave him the name ‘Heibai’.
The only feeling I felt when I first met him was…disdain…because of the first impression he gave me. When I saw his eyes, they were…empty and the atmosphere around him is gloomy and dark. I did not know what I saw exactly at that time, so I just lazily judged him to be weird and someone I should avoid like the child I was. I did not know why my father took him in at that time.
He lifelessly adapted into our life, training, studying, and working daily chores…like he is a lifeless puppet. I did not know he gave up on living at that time. Father helped gave him basic education and training, up to the point where he can babysit me at the age of six. I was four at that time. I do not remember that much when I was four, but Heibai told me I was…a rascal. The Heibai I know enjoys provoking with his words, relishing every negative reaction I make, but he is a good big brother despite being not related by blood now that I know him better.
As Heibai grew up with only one working eye, he trained with me and sometimes with Dad alone, as he is privately tutoring him for some reason. I was beginning to see why when I saw Heibai took down half of the students in the dojo around his age. He even took down the top student in record time, denying him the chance to fight back by countering in accordance with his attacks and movements. The Top Student even tried to roundhouse kick Heibai’s right temple believing he was open, until Heibai ducked and dashed low, punching his arms, stomach, neck, and then grabbed both of the Student’s legs to…throw him his own way. After he grabbed the legs with both arms, he lifted up the legs making the Student’s upper body drop with his legs trapped, and then Heibai spun around with legs in hand to build rotating force to…throw the Student a few feet away. Dad always had a good eye, as he saw potential in him. Although, that’s not all.
I also noticed something when were still growing up. I saw…traces of life in his eyes. I even saw him smile…when he saw me fell down after I tripped embarrassingly. He almost never smiled, I am sure of that. My aversion of him was almost replaced by curiosity. I decided to peek in on how Dad tutors him, and was surprised at what I saw. I saw Dad…playing with him. I did not why until…I heard Dad lecture him about how to grow up as a child, how to become a good man before he resumes the training. There was even another person, a girl, one with…medium length white hair tied to a small ponytail, blue sharp eyes, and a calm, dignifying face like that of a doll. Her name was Anastasia and she is the daughter of Dad’s friend who also ran a dojo, teaching judo, karate, and aikido around where we live. Her skill was evenly matched with Heibai’s…as I saw how they exchange their blows gracefully, with little wasted movement and how they react against each other attacks. She was above me that’s for sure. I also heard of Dad planning to have Anastasia and Heibai marry each other although to Heibai's ignorance as he is unaware of it, and started raising them together here in Dad’s Dojo. I call her Ana for short. Heibai is a little 'poor' when it comes to women though. He did notice Ana's feelings, but...he does not know what it is at the time and still does not know what it is to this day. He knows nothing about love, but Ana plans to change that with fiery determination.
When I saw Heibai talk with the girl, he was smiling. Happy. I never saw this side of him before…as it was the first time I witnessed his ‘humanity’. After that, I opened myself up to him as we grew up slowing knowing each other, looking after each other. He was always there when I was in trouble, though usually from forcing himself unto me as he finds me ‘troublesome and fun to hang around’ due to my tomboyish demeanor *Hmph*. He always know how to get me to talk what’s on my mind…with his annoying personality and advises me the best he could. He even managed to convince my crush and dragged me to an isolated room, disguised with a mask and called himself ‘Masked Man’ for laughs, and locked us in to get rid of my shyness and confess my feelings. Haha, that was the most heart popping day of my life. Our relationship did not go well though, as he moved to another city because of his Parents’ jobs. Heibai can always tell if I am having troubles on my mind from looking at me with his one good eye…
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And now…Heibai quickly pushed me away to the street to save my life, but as I was pushed…the trucked literally changed direction and headed towards me. I was scared......frozen. And right as the truck was about to him me…a blinding white light occurred…as I was sent flying from the impact.
‘Uuuunnnnnn….’
I woke up dazed…confused and hurt. The first I saw was…a rainbow kaleidoscopic window in the ceiling with symbols and paintings and when I turned my head I saw golden, polished stones for walls, floors and ceilings with beautiful decorations. When I saw this, the first thought that came that came to mind was whether or not I was in a Church for some reason. As I was trying to remember what happened, I realized I was lying on the ground face up…and felt something heavy on me. Annoyed, I tried to push whatever’s on me out of the way, but…it is holding onto me tight, and it won’t let me go. As I was struggling to be free, I heard some man speaking.
“WELCOME, HEROES! With the power of the Gods, we beseech your summons in our time of desperate need!” - ?
When I heard this, I couldn’t believe the random words that out of the man’s mouth.
‘Heroes…? What the f-…! This thing won’t come OFF!!! ANNOYING!!!!*Angrily trying to shake the heavy object off of her*’
As I finally shook whatever’s holding onto me, I finally got up with some pains in my arms. I saw I have bruises and scratches here and there, on my arms and legs. Irritated, I looked at the thing that gave me so much trouble.
‘Whatever you are…I am GONNA…...brother?’
When I saw my brother…his body bloodied, his eyes closed and his face at peace with a gentle smile……I……….no, no, NOOO!!!!!
I cried out my brother’s name instantly got down to him, trying to feel a pulse…desperately hoping he is not dead. I shook his body hoping he will wake up, as I cried out his name, again, and again,…and again…….and again…..as loudly as I can, ignoring the people in my surroundings gazing at scene in front of their eyes.
‘Big Brother must have…no…*choked up in throat**sniffle*’
Tears started to form in my eyes as my voice slowly broke apart, becoming distorted and hoarse with sadness.
‘Brother…no, Heibei, died saving my life…why…..WHY?!!’
As I cried a little while, I heard a familiar voice…
“Heibai?” - ?
When I heard her voice, I turned my head to my left towards the source and saw…Anastasia, his childhood friend…and there were other people, as I even saw Sarah and Emily. Baffled by their presence here, I questioned Ana with a broken voice.
“How are you here…You were supposed to be at home.”
She contemplated on her memories, hoping to respond as best she can.
“I was busy training in the dojo, until…a bright white light enveloped around me. I do not know how I got here after that…and is that…Oh God…” – Anastasia
As she gazed upon my brother’s bloodied body, she cupped her mouth and widened her eyes in horror. After brief moment to take in what she saw…I see tears slowly dropping from her eyes.
“How…how…HOW IS IT YOUR BROTHER ENDED UP LIKE THAT?!!! WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?!!” – Anastasia
She asked me angrily, demanding answers from me. All I can do was to respond however I can…the other people were silently staring at us, most likely not knowing how to respond.
“I don’t know…..I don’t know….we were on our way and…an out-of-control truck came by, and…it was heading right at us. Brother pushed me out of the way, but the…truck turned as I was pushed…it was going to crash into me. Brother must have……..”
My voice broke down, unable to continue speaking as I cried….How Ana reacted, she responded with curses and shouts.
“Why...WHY?! WE WERE….we were…supposed to have a happy life together. And have a family of our own and yet…you died before I can even confess to you…You…You COWARD…You…..you……….Why did you have to die…?*Breaks down in tears*” - Anastasia
Sharing her feelings…I slowly hugged Ana and cried with her……dropping our tears onto Heibai's corpse. But our cries were interrupted by the unknown man.
“Wait…Is he…NO!!! GET THE PRIESTS HERE NOW!!!!! IF WE CAN ACT NOW, WE CAN SAVE HIM!!!!! QUICKLY!!!!!!” - ?
*Let me know what you think of the chapter! :D