It wasn’t something she liked doing by any means. The obligatory spars that put sibling versus sibling, with the expectation to push each other’s limits. While the battles could never get lethal, that didn’t make them any better. Having to fight her younger sister had become part of the norm, much to her displeasure. It certainly didn’t feel like the fun kind of roughhousing Aiko witnessed between other children. No fun was allowed here, nor was holding back.[break][break]
The last time she let herself lose... To put it simply, Aiko promptly learned to never do that again. If Hoshiko was going to win, it would have to be an honest win, for both of their sakes.[break][break]
Thankfully, today’s trial was done already. A bit earlier than usual, given the day’s schedule, but Aiko wasn’t about to complain about this. Parents dispersed from the scene, relatives went about their duties, and Aiko was left to clean up the mess once again. The battle hadn’t been an easy one, bearing bruises from her sister’s efforts for sure, but it still ended as it usually did. Hoshiko getting the blunt end of Aiko’s might…[break][break]
It was a thought she wouldn't linger on, as she returned to the training dojo where her sister was still recovering from the fight.[break][break]
In Aiko’s arms were two things. A medical kit to treat injuries, numb the pain, and a small wooden box - a bento box.[break][break]
“Mother and father have left for the day. They apparently have some meetings to attend. The others have gone home, so we’re done for the day” she remarked as she walked into the room. Making her way to the closest table in the dojo, Aiko busied her hands with pulling things from the kit, first. “If you’re up for it, come over here and I’ll start tending to you…” Her voice trailed off, before she turned slightly to look back at her sister, a look of apologetic pity in her gaze. “Or I can come to you. You don’t have to push yourself when it’s just us, remember?”
lavender locks curled and spooled along the polished wooden floors, arms tightly wrapped around bruised and battered legs. bare feet shifted and moved to place one atop of the others, toes curling inwardly as sapped breaths inhaled and exhaled through worn lungs. pale fingers curled and tightly grabbed at the grey hakama, desperate in the solace of their texture to rid themselves of aching wounds.
the girl's mind wound over and over again over each painstaking moment she failed in reacting properly to the older girl. the stabbing pains of her sister's chakrah infused fingers piercing into her points. her weak form brushing past the perfectly clean fabric of her elder sister's kimono. shoulders tensed and rose upward, fingers curling even more.[break][break]
the voice is what stirred her from her rumination. lavender bangs pulling upwards to gently lay itself upon her forehead, somber silver hues glancing over knees to see the perfect visage of the heiress. her movements remain still after looking up before eventually limbs untangle themselves to strain in clambering to her feet. folding her arms around her body, she slowly shuffles towards the elder sister.[break][break]
once she reaches towards the other, she carefully folds her legs underneath herself to sit up with a straight back. her faintly pink lips settled into a neutral line, lavender lashes laying heavy over silver hues before lifting to settle their gaze on the other girl. ever so faintly her lips quirk upwards into a soft smile, the edges of her eyes creasing to allow some warmth to fill into her somber silver hues.[break][break]
that's right, when it was just the two of them hoshi could relax a little. she couldn't be mad or sad with her elder sister, she couldn't be blamed for the situation. they were both desperately trying to do their best for their parents, and hoshi wholeheartedly only wanted to help her sister to do her duty.[break][break]
❛ are....you hurt, onē-sama? ❜ she inquires in a soft voice, lavender brows pinching together with concern. it would be outlandish of her to assume that she could even hurt her sister, but she would rather aiko be treated first if by some chance she did get hurt.[break][break]
As Hoshiko moved, Aiko felt a compulsion to tell her to stop. It’d taken a moment to notice the extent of the damage that’d been done... Seeing the sweat on her sister’s brow, the bruises she caught glimpses of beyond the fabric. It made Aiko’s stomach churn with guilt. The heiress could nearly feel her own skin pale, to which she snapped back to what she was doing with her hands. Hiding her face, she had to take a moment to gather herself, again. It was sometimes the worst when her sister smiled at her like that. [break][break]
Something inside of her broke every time at hearing Hoshiko’s concern for her. She stared pitifully at the kit in front of her, feeling so helpless in that moment. It happened every time, this wanting for Hoshiko to be mad at her, or disgust with what Aiko had done. Perhaps when she was older? Aiko could only hope. She craved some sort of rebellion, but it seemed neither of them were strong enough for that, yet.[break][break]
Father’s cane was too firm for that; it’s reach was too long.[break][break]
“I’m fine, just a bit of bruising. You’ve been getting faster” Aiko gently assured, before stepping over to kneel down with both the box and kit beside Hoshiko. Aiko’s paleness had faded to her usual complexion, heartbreak turning into a small smile back at the other Hyuga. “Let me see your injuries. I’ve got some stuff to help ease the pain…” She opened the kit, pulling out the salve first, before pausing and frowning faintly to herself. [break][break]
“... I’m sorry.” The words slipped out, as they always did in these pitiful moments. “Training days are kind of the worst, aren’t they?” she tacked on with a small nervous chuckle.
hoshi might have been quiet, but she wasn't dumb. she could see the paleness overcome her sister, but she said nothing of the matter. letting her elder sister to think that hoshi was none the wiser over the circumstances. she knew how much her sister cared, which is what spurred her to try even harder to be good enough. at the answer that the other produces, a small hand places itself at the small chest of the girl. her lips curling into a small pleased one, lavender brows pinching and pulling upwards with relief. her silver hues lower themselves, lavender lashes obscuring them.[break][break]
❛ ...thank you, onē-sama. you were so beautiful as always, i hope one day i can be as good as you. ❜ she softly replies with honesty in her tone. silver hues lifting up to look to aiko, the edges of her eyes creasing still with that gentle warmth. she was truly envious of her sister's ability, but also so proud. she knows one day that aiko will become the best leader of the hyuga and if anyone could rally their family together, it was going to be her. hoshi would do anything in her power to help with that, even so meager as it is.[break][break]
very carefully, the younger hyuga pulled up the sleeves of her kimono to reveal the deep impressions of her elder sister's gentle fist. deep bruises were imprinted into the points of her chakra network, hoshi's own movements were rather slow due to the blockage within them. nothing lethal, of course, and it would ease in time.[break][break]
lavender pigtails shook and danced in the air from the girl's shaking of her head in reply.[break][break]
❛ no. ❜ he gently answers, silver hues focusing on aiko with firmness behind them. ❛ i'm so happy to train with onē-sama. i want to become strong like you, so please... i want to keep going. ❜ [break][break]
her fingers curled into her palms, settling her fisted hands at her chest as she leaned forward with determination in her visage. her lips settled into a firm frown, showing that she was very serious about this matter. even if it hurt, she still loved it because she got to be with her elder sister.[break][break]
Beautiful was certainly not the word Aiko would consider for herself on days like these. It was a strange compliment she didn’t want to linger on, nor deny her sister. The discomfort was better bottled up, then brought forward and disturbing the honest affection in Hoshiko’s eyes. It was about the closest Aiko had to someone ever looking at her like that these days. [break][break]
How she hated it at this moment, though. It felt wrong to be loved by the very person she had just…[break][break]
Letting out a small silent breath through her nose, Aiko’s gaze trailed over bruises and pain inflicted on her sister’s arm. Now that she was braced for the sight, her expression didn’t change this time. No paling or cringing, but simply taking it in, so she could fix it. It was one of the main reasons she’d begun trying to learn medical ninjutsu, after all. As Hoshiko pulled her sleeves back, Aiko tenderly took to the task of tying the sleeves up for her with small strips of fabric. That would keep them out of the way as Aiko worked.[break][break]
It would be as she started her first knot that Hoshiko once more answered in the worst way possible. Aiko couldn’t meet Hoshiko’s gaze then, but stayed focused on the task of tying back her sister’s sleeves. It took effort to not let her exhaustion show, as she simply smiled at her sister’s determination - excitement?[break][break]
“... Why is it that you want to be strong like me? Or that you enjoy this kind of training?” she asked softly, avoiding any negative tone. It was simple curiosity, as she grabbed the minty scented salve from the kit. It’d be the key to easing a lot of the aches and pains to come from the battering to her sister’s body, for sure… She reached over to gently pull one of Hoshiko’s arms towards herself, and began to gently rub the salve into place. [break][break]
The memory of her meeting with Anotsu drifted across the surface of her thoughts, pushing her to try and understand many things at once. Though Anotsu’s questions weren’t the same as Aiko’s own, she pondered if the goal was similar. “Do you have something you want to achieve, Hoshi?”
[attr="class","kodText"]she really was just so beautiful. in time, hoshi hoped that she'd blossom into a beautiful flower just like aiko, but perhaps that was just wishful thinking. in the end, it would be fine if she didn't have that same grace or beauty. that's not what mattered the most to hoshiko at the moment.[break][break]
the questions her elder sister asked though, were a bit difficult for the young girl to put into words. her lips pressed together as she lowered her eyes, allowing her arm to be pulled into the warmth of her elder sister's gentle touch. the rubbing of the salve felt good, although it hurt in a way, but she knew that in time it would do wonders. the deep inner parts of her limbs hurt the worst, the feeling of chakra blocked. in time it would ebb away, and her limbs wouldn't feel so heavy. [break][break]
as aiko asked one more question, hoshi could lift her gaze to watch the woman quietly. that seemed an easier question and one that helped to encompass all that aiko had asked of her.[break][break]
❛ i want to become a shinobi who can protect those that are precious to her and i can't protect people if i'm not strong. ❜ she answers softly, silver hues watching the elder girl with earnestness. ❛ i learn so much from our training and.... ❜[break][break]
she glances off to the side, her porcelain cheeks beginning to flush a light pink. her lips purse together, lavender brows pinching and pulling upwards.[break][break]
❛ i-i get to...be with onē-sama more. so i like it. ❜[break][break]
It was a familiar answer, there was no doubt about that. One Aiko had said herself not too long ago. One Aiko couldn’t criticize easily for that very fact. Becoming strong to protect others was a good motivation, but the burden that came with it was suffocating. Once it was in your mind, it was hard to think of anything else. Considering any other option felt selfish, and traitorous. If you’re willing to be strong for others, why would you suddenly want to do anything else? A collar of their own making... [break][break]
Ah, that was too bitter to be said.[break][break]
A more wholesome answer surfaced, one that made Aiko’s hand stop moving for a moment. Her eyes flicked over Hoshiko’s face, studying the hint of embarrassment from her minor confession. No response came at first, as Aiko gathered her thoughts.[break][break]
“... I suppose we haven’t had much time together, have we?” Aiko prompted, shifting the subject with Hoshiko’s answer. “Not since I graduated at the least. Missions, training, the Chunin Exams… I’ve been busy” she spoke, with a soft sigh. “. . . I think doing something, together, outside of training or work would be a nice change of pace for the both of us. It’s been too long… I could treat you to dinner or perhaps we go for a walk, a trip somewhere?” she offered, hands continuing their diligent work of tending to Hoshiko’s arm.
