Chapter 23: Choices

*Wind*

Aku awoke in a familiar plain of grass looking into the light blue sky. He felt himself slowly sinking into the ground.

*KNOCK*

*KNOCK*

Aku sat up in bed looking around as he grabbed a white tee. The knocking gave him a few unpleasant memories but he got up nonetheless.

*KNOCK*

*KNOCK*

Aku walked to the door and swung it open.

"Who is it?"

Aku looks out the door to see the largest grin he's ever seen in his life on Tarin's face.

"You're late Aku!"

"Late to what?"

"I told you to meet me in the courtyard yesterday. Don't tell me you forgot?"

"You never told me when or even where we were going."

"That doesn't matter now, get dressed and hurry back out here."

***

Aku and Tarin started walking down the valley between many houses.

"Where are we going?"

Aku walks with his hands in his pants pockets. Looking around with a confused look on his face.

"That doesn't matter right now, but don't you want to know how your sister is doing?"

"How is she?"

"Well her physical condition is still catching up with her Demon's Aspect raw power but all around you'll be happy to hear her recovery has been rather fast."

'Her Aspect.'

Aku thought about that night, the night he saw the world he never wanted to see come to fruition.

"I don't know what happened exactly but I could only imagine it wasn't pleasant, fun fact she's the reason I found the two of you."

Aku appeared to be puzzled by that statement; he realized he never asked why Tarin was there that night.

"Why were you there?"

"I'm after a group of people. I was on the trail of someone very powerful when your sister's eye was forced open. I mistook her Aspect for someone else's so I started to go towards where I felt the presence, that's when I found you two in the alley."

'So It wasn't just my imagination, her Aspect was really that powerful.'

"Regardless your sister will be sent to live with you again later today but I'm sure there will be rules and stuff I don't know. I'm not all that interested in all of that."

Tarin suddenly stopped.

'Huh?'

"Aku, do you remember what occurred in your hospital room a couple days ago?"

"No not much…I remember trying to see my sister, that's about it."

"Well you challenged me! To be quite fair I'm a man of my word so I'm offering a challenge."

A black luminescent door suddenly appears in front of them.

"We are going to spar!"

"What!?"

Aku looked at Tarin like he was crazy.

The door swings open

***

The door swings open

*Beep* 

*Beep*

A nurse looks into the room seeing Yaki slightly hiding under a blanket just covering the bottom of her face.

'She's new?'

Yaki looks at the new nurse with a feeling of ease but a strange feeling as well. She smiles without reason.

"I hope the bandages are nice, I made them myself specifically just for you. I was worried if they would fit or not but I do hope they help you in a way."

"They work…a lot."

Yaki's eye had felt less painful since she had the bandage placed on her.

"Thank you."

"My name is Ms. Ezzy but you can call me Ms. Frizzy if you'd like. I would hope your name is Yaki or else this would be an awfully awkward conversation."

"Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"You're hiding still?"

Yaki thinks to herself about the few scars on her face still. Slowly she lets the blanket fall.

"OH MY GOD!"

Ms. Ezzy was taken aback.

"What? What!"

Yaki jumped out of her skin, however, Ms. Ezzy went back to a calm state with a smile.

"Nothing, it's just I just didn't expect to see the most beautiful girl ever."

Ms. Ezzy stood up and walked towards the door with a smile.

"I came to tell you we are moving you into a home with you brother later tonight. Until then I suggest you enjoy the free food for a bit."

*Creak*

'I'm…I'm beautiful?"

Yaki's left eye teared up.

"I'm beautiful."