- Yua...

Aiko muttered as her hands shook uncontrollably. She finally managed to take a step inside and discovered with horror that the apartment had been ransacked. The clothing drying rack was lying on the floor, the laundry scattered in the small room, trace of dirty shoes on the clothes. A broken bottle, the ashtray, books and even the fruits bowl. Everything was thrown on the floor, it was messy, dirty, scary. 

- Yua ! Yua ! She called several time , her voice cracking a bit more each time. YUA ! Where are you ?

Her throat tightened and her heart beat faster as she stormed into the empty rooms. The flat was small, a living room with a small kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom. But Aiko couldn’t find Yua anywhere. 

She stood there, in the middle of the room, unable to think, to move or to grasp the situation. She closed her eyes and massage her temple to calm herself down.

- Think, just think !

It was obvious that the debt collector had find the place and effectively put some pressure on her father. But what about Yua ? Did they take Yua ? No way… they wouldn’t… but then again, the amount of money that her father own could justify such behaviour. 

Now that Aiko was convinced that Yua had been kidnapped, she was at lost as to what to do. Was she supposed to barge in the loan shark office ? But what could she possibly offer to get Yua back ? She had no money and just lost her night job. With the money she got from Takaro and her last pay at Cheeky-Chiken dinner, she had barely enough to pay off this week payment. Perhaps she could ask for an advance to her day job. Yes, surely her boss would understand the situation. 

Aiko reinsured by this new perspective, slapped her cheeks to give herself courage and ran out the apartment.

Only to collide with her neighbour.

- Mrs Martel ! Aiko exclaimed, I’m sorry but I have to go, right now is a bit… I just… sorry let’s talk later, she continued as she walked away.

- Yua is with me. Cut off calmly Andrea Martel.

Aiko stopped abruptly and turned around. 

- Really ?

- Yes. She is sleeping in my house. Don’t worry.

Aiko let out a relieved whimper and fell on the ground, her legs giving up. And suddenly, the tears came out washing away the tension built up over the night. Usually Aiko wasn’t prone to burst of tear, but this time she just couldn’t help herself and she sobbed pitifully while Mrs Martel pat her back with comforting words. 

- Are you feeling better ? Asked the lady gently after a while.

- Yes, thank you, answered Aiko sniffing loudly, sorry, it’s been a long night.

- I can see that, Mrs Martel said with a look to her ripped jeans.

- So… what happened here ? Finally asked Aiko pointing at her house with her thumb, did the loan sharks finally find us?

- Oh dear… I wish it was their doing, whispered Mrs Martel sadly.

- What ? Who did this ? Aiko suddenly felt uneasy. Please, Mrs Martel, tell me.

- It was your father.

Aiko stayed silent. Quickly, her worries turned to an uncontrollable rage. Her good for nothing father. Again. That man, the source of all her pain and misery had the nerve to do that to her ? Barely showing up for work, he spent the little he made at gambling and drinking the night away, letting Aiko worried about the daily expenses with her three part time jobs. Not to mention the housework and taking care of Yua. Aiko was only putting it with his despicable behaviour for her little sister. She forgot the number of nights when she had to rush to the hospital alone with Yua or how many time her father hit her because he was in a bad mood. She still had a small white scar on her forehead, when he threw an ashtray at her for a reason she had forgotten.

- That bastard… she muttered as she brush the scar under her hair. 

Aiko had abandoned the idea of being related to that man a long time ago. But for her sister who still didn’t understand who her father was, she stayed at home diligently. That, and she had nowhere to go. 

- Aiko ? The sweet voice of Mrs Martel called her out.

- Yes ?

- Your sister, she continued slowly, she can’t stay here. Not with him. 

Aiko stared at the old lady, a bit confused at first. But then her words hit her and she suddenly rose up, livid. 

- Where is she ?

-Come with me.

***

Aiko closed the suitcase. She stood up silently in the middle of the room, looking around. She had cleaned up the house, and packed her things along with her sister’s. They didn’t have much, but Aiko couldn’t stop to feel pitiful when she saw the two bags that contained her whole life. 

She wiped the sweat on her forehead. As expected it was especially hot, and she had been running around all day long. She had a lot to do before her father came back, if he came back. 

She had quit her jobs first thing in the morning and received her last payment. She had to call the school and explained that Yua was transferring, fortunately since her father didn’t bother with those matters, the teacher didn’t seem to be surprised to hear from Aiko. Then she cleaned the house and collected the dozen of empty glass bottle to gather the deposits. She hated the fact that she couldn’t even leave on a whim, but in her situation she had no other choice but to glean every cents she could. 

She even took the last remaining jewels that she hid from her father to the pawnshop. With a twinge she thanked her mom from the bottom of her heart when the owner gave her a small envelope with a ridiculous amount of money. This was no time to be sentimental. 

It was now the late afternoon and a reddish light shroud the small apartment. Weirdly enough, for the first time in the 20 years she lived here, Aiko felt at ease. Maybe it was because she was finally leaving. After a last glance to the place, she grabbed the suitcases, her backpack and Yua’s schoolbag and left the house for good. 

Mrs Martel was waiting for her in front of her door.

- Do you know where you’re going? She asked, worried

- I will figure it out, Aiko answered with a smile. 

- Good, good… approved Mrs Martel a bit absent minded, and don’t you dare come back, young lady. Unless you want to end up like me.

Aiko looked at the old lady. She actually wasn’t that old, maybe in her mid-forty, but the life and her useless husband had took a stroll on her. Aiko was sure that Andrea Martel used to be a beautiful woman in her days, but all that was left from her prime youth was a sad and painful wrinkled face. 

- I won’t come back, assured Aiko intensely. 

- Good, good, she repeated satisfied, you should go, now, before he comes back. I will go get Yua, she added a bit emotionally as she went back in her house.

Aiko’s heart dropped a little when she saw the seven years old girl walking next to Mrs Martel. 

- Here, said the old woman, I packed a couple of sandwiches and fruits. 

- Thank you, answered Aiko as she took the food and store it in her bag, Yua, what do you say to Mrs Martel?

- Thank you, Mrs Martel, replied the young girl cheerfully.

- Don’t skip lunch, continued the old lady, don’t eat too much convenience store food, and listen to your sister, all right ?

- Yes, Mrs Martel, Yua said with a big smile.

- All right, off you go girls. 

- Bye Mrs Martel, exclaimed Yua as they walked away.

- Thank you, muttered Aiko with a slight bow.

Mrs Martel answered with a smile, waving her hand until the two girls disappeared in the staircase. 

- Aiko, suddenly asked Yua, where are we going ? 

- I… don’t really know, right now, she answered her throat tightened up a bit.

- Is dad not coming with us ?

- No, no he won’t. It’s just the two of us now.