After a bit of chatting about my father to Hide about some of his adventures, it was time for me to go home. I stopped to buy the new kimono I wanted and a bag of food for dinner. Going with Hide to see the fireworks would be great! I was going to go anyway and it was nice to hear about his stories, nothing more.

I arrived home and walked inside, "Papa?" I say, looking around the house, seeing if I could catch a glimpse of him somewhere.

"In the kitchen," He mentions softly. I loosen my bow that was squeezing tight around me, finally getting to loosen the constraint of having to follow the customs of wearing a bow if I adventured outside. I had barely noticed it was too tight, with all the excitement today I guess I did not realize.

I notice Father sitting at the table with his fists clenched. His body was thin and his short black hair covered most of his face. His complexion almost matches mine. He was in his thirties but he looked like a child when he was happy.

"What's wrong?" I glance at his face, concerned. He always would hold his composure but in some cases it was hard for him to handle everything alone. I was confused on why he was frustrated, hoping it would not be something devastating.

"Some people came by today. They urged me to return money I borrowed three months ago." His eyes flicker to the table for a long while then to me. I couldn’t read his emotions but I could tell he felt a sense of guilt.

Father had borrowed money from a member of a clan called the Unichi. After he was laid off from his previous job a few months back when he decided to stop working to ensure that I was okay after losing my mother. But a few months after he was able to find work as a traveling merchant to exchange goods to nearby towns.

He sighs and rubs his forehead with his right hand.I move closer to him noticing him having finished his dinner. I placed a hand on the table then one on his back. I had a feeling that this was not going to end well. In this dire moment, I hoped that I still would be able to see the fireworks, like I used to with Father. Maybe after hearing what Father would say next would change that outcome. He brushes me off as he stands up and walks over to the door.

"Luce I need to handle a few things, please stay home for the night." He says in a strong, firm tone, looking out the window that he stood at.

"But Father I-" He opens the door and disappears quickly before I could tell him I had plans. Frowning, I head upstairs. Should I leave anyway? I thought to myself, not wanting the night to end just yet. It would just be for tonight until the fireworks started and I would just meet Hide and enjoy my time there. I know it was not right to go with a stranger but something about him intrigued me.

I walk to the mirror and look at the reflection of my seldom, sad face. I have never gone against my father's wishes before but not knowing if I’ll ever get a chance to speak with Hide again made me feel a sense of dread. I should change into my new yukata, I thought, quickly moving my thoughts away from my disobedience. I walk over to my wardrobe and pull out the new yukata I bought from the market a few weeks ago. It was a dark silk purple that felt so soft under the touch of my finger. The outside had black lining at the end and on the inside, it had a light glow of yellow. It was truly a beautiful dress. I quickly put it over my thin body and smile in amazement at how everything complemented each other. I move over to my dresser and pull out a bright yellow lip gloss and place a little on my lips.

After I adjusted my dress with a yellow bow around my waist, I pulled my short hair into a bun and placed long silver pins into it, finishing the look.

I look out the window and notice it was already dark. Excited, I hurry out the door to the fireworks location.

After returning home from the fireworks, I would apologize to Father.

***

After looking around for a perfect spot to view the fireworks show, I finally found a patch on the grass. I sat down and adjusted myself to feel comfortable. Taking a deep breath in, I finished adjusting myself and watched as people chatted with others.

"Having fun, little lady?" A familiar voice spoke to me. A tall figure was standing over me, blocking the sky. I fixed my gaze to his face, noticing it was Hide.

I smile and nod, "Yes, it has been great so far. I love how they set it up at a park so everyone could enjoy it."

He nods. Just as he was beginning to speak once again, the sky lights up. The exploding noise of the fireworks captures my attention, I gaze up at the night sky full of beautiful and bright colours, some even matching my yukata. I was amazed that fireworks could still make me become filled with joy. I turn to smile at Hide, him already having sat down next to me to enjoy the fireworks as well. He looks over to me and tilts his head and smiles.

Even though the fireworks have been going on for almost fifteen minutes it feels like the fireworks were talking for the both of us. I look at Hide before I can say anything, his attention shifted to a figure that was standing near a building off in the distance. I couldn't make out his figure but the man seemed to know Hide.

Hide's expression switched to annoyance as he returned his attention to me, "I'm sorry, little lady, but I have to attend to some business."

His focus moved back to the figure. He then sighed and walked away as he waved to me, the back of his hand revealed a tattoo but I could not make out the details. However, it looked like something I'd seen somewhere in town.

I waved back. I did not mind being alone. I was always fine by myself, Father was always busy so I’m used to doing things independently. Everyone in town that was a friend of mine, was either already betrothed to someone or had moved away in the past so normally I spend time alone.

After the fireworks ended, I patted off grass that had attached to me and headed back the way I came. As I was walking, an elderly woman waved me goodbye. "Get home safely," she calls out as she hurried the other way, I nod in response and trudge along. Since I was alone and it was already dark out it was unsafe for me to be out longer without an escort in town. Father had always told me that there are more crimes at night than there were during the day so it was a good idea to be home at a certain time.

I had gotten home before the streets became empty. I slid the door open and saw Father talking to a man. He had silver armour on and seemed to be older than Father. His hair was a piercing black and was long. He stood there as his cold brown eyes were locked on Father. They both seemed to not notice me as I came in.

"Please, I already paid most of the coins I owed. I just need a little more time," he pleaded but the man had no sense of remorse.

"You already knew what was going to happen if you could not pay it back," he snarled out, making my father flinch a bit.

My face flushes with fear as I place my hand on a wall next to me. I could not understand why father had kept this from me for so long but, I could no longer take the pain of my father being scared. As I tried to move closer to them, I ended up stepping on a worn out wooden board that makes a loud noise. Gasping, they both turned towards me.

The man then flicks over his stare to me. Father notices his movements and looks my way, his eyes widening. "No....." he said weakly, his face turning a ghostly white.

"The girl comes or you die." The man pulled out his sword and held it dangerously close to Father's neck.

"No!" I shriek out as I watch the scene before me unravel. I could not let Father die. I clenched my teeth and looked the man in the eye. "I'll go," I said softly. I owed Father everything and now I had to repay it. The man nods, grinning at my bold decision.

"That's a good choice." He looks into father's eyes and moves his sword towards his head, using the butt of the sword to knock father unconscious.

"Father!" I cry out. His unresponsive body slowly slumps to the floor.

The man puts his sword away and looks back towards me. "You can come out now, Hide." I take a step closer to father, not fully understanding what the man had just said.

"Understood," a soft voice calmly replies behind me. A cold breeze shifts around me and a pair of hands comes around my chest. One of his hands shifts up to my mouth with a wet cloth. I try to yell out as I attempt to break free of his strong grip, gasping for breath as my vision begins to go dark as I watch Father slowly breathing in and out on the floor.

"Sorry, little lady." those were the last words I heard before I faded out into darkness.

                                                       ***************