19 Family

*Water Splash*

I pour water on Alice's head to wash her hair, we're currently in the bath waiting for Seako-nee to be done with cooking. Alice is currently feeling depress over the loss of her father, as expected. After I kill her father I ask Takashi-nii and Hirano-san to bury his body near a park, they nod without hesitation.

"Alice I'll be washing your hair now you can close your eyes to avoid shampoo from entering your eyes."

Alice quietly listen to my words, I start pouring shampoo on her head and wash her hair....this is awkward, what do I do?

'Solomon...solutions?'

<Ah..yea I'm not great in this department. Good luck.>

"Did he died painfully?"

Alice then broke the ice asking me a dark question.

"No..he died peacefully, plus I think he's happy to know that after he die there'll be people looking after his daughter."

Alice sat there quietly...argh damn I should have read more books on child care.

"I see...did you kill him?"

My hands stop moving...why does it bother me so much?

"Yes...I killed him."

"How..how do you do it? Our age is only 3 years apart nii-chan...so how are you so strong?"

She turns to face me with tears in her eyes...soaps starts to drip from her head onto her body.

"Because I can, I was raised with the notion that I can do what ever I want without any consequences."

My eyes turns cold remembering the past.

"Conse- what does that mean?"

"Ah right...it mean I can do things and I won't be in trouble for it."

"I see, then nii-chan where are your parents? Is that beautiful woman your nee-chan?"

"Mari-nee...oh no she's someone who's looking after me. My parents...my parents are already dead."

Alice's eyes widen by my word, I pour water on her head to wash away the shampoo and ask her to get into the bathtub but for some reason she asked me to enter with her because she felt lonely. I sigh and took off my clothes and enter the bathtub.

"Your parents...were they sick like my father?"

Alice ask while I hug her from behind.

"No..they died before the sickness happened."

"I see..."

"They were murdered, at that time I was away with my...'relatives' so it took awhile before the news hit me."

"I'm sorry."

Seeing that Alice wanted to ask how my parents die, I simply took the initiative to answer her. Maybe with this we'll be closer so she would feel comfortable around us. Then I see tears start to swell up on her face.

"I...I miss my father..my mother, I think both of them died from the sickness."

Alice lower her head hugging her knees...I then purse my lips, looking at her....how weak... I hug her tightly from behind, placing my head on her shoulder causing her face to be red.

"Listen to me...your parents may be dead, but now it's not the time to be suffering from survivor guilt. I've seen this way too many time to know what you'll be going through so I'm gonna put a stop to that. You may have lost your family, but from this day forth...I'll shall be your brother."

Solomon spew tea inside my head chocking on his drink while Alice eyes widen and tears start streaming down her face. She then turn to face me.

"Brother...you'll be my brother."

I rub her head gently while smiling...shit...what have I done. My mouth just open by itself, am I getting emotional...something is wrong with me.

"Yes, I'll be your brother, I'll stay by your side forever. Don't forget your father's word, you're his brave strong girl that can face anything...so..so it's okay cry now. You don't have to hold it back, that's what I'm here for. To support you."

Alice upon hearing this...bawl her heart out and release all her stress and pain she had endured while she hugs me tightly. Ah...this scene...why does it feel so familiar to me and yet I can't remember. Ah right all this time... I'm been struggling to remember was to no avail...those were happy memories I had with my sister...soon even I start to tear up as well.....shit how weak am I.

Mari-nee who was standing outside with clothes for Alice to wear was wiping the tears from her face and after awhile she enters to check up on us. Alice became slightly drowsy after we left the bath so I asked Mari-nee to carry her into her bedroom to rest.

I on the other hand...walk towards the door planning on exiting the house for awhile until I was caught.

"Where are you off to at this hour? Shouldn't children be in bed by now."

I turn to see Saeko-nee wearing only an apron...nice choice. When see saw me looking at her body, she became slightly embarrass and cough to get my attention.

"Well?"

"I'm going on patrol to make sure there's no horde by the time we leave in the morning."

"It's dangerous to be out alone,you should get Takas-"

"Takashi-nii and Rei-nee are having their moment, so I won't bother them. Hirano is making sure our guns are operable while Saya-nee and Chiaki-san are asleep."

"...Moments huh?"

"Does it bother you that Takashi-nii favors her more?"

Hearing this Saeko-nee lightly chuckles and came close to my ear to whisper.

"What made you think I have a thing for Takashi, when I have you."

"...Huh."

Her words caught me off guard. What does she mean by that?

"Umm..I'm sorry..you have me as in?"

"Though you are quite young..but I'll wait for you to be older."

"Eh...what? you see in that way...even though I'm a child?"

"Ara, after everything we went through and the fact you are brave enough to face all adversity put you in quite a spot in my heart. Also when we were fighting those dogs, you saw my true self...a dark and twisted woman who enjoy inflicting pain...yet you didn't judge me."

"That's because..."

"We're the same in some sense."

She place her finger on my lips.

"Now I want you to listen to me, even with all your powers you are not allow to leave without anyone covering your back alright. You'll break my heart if anything were to happen to you."

She said so smiling with a cold smile...I shiver at the thought I might make her angry.

"Alright..alright, I'll stay...if you're gonna cover me then I'll give you something."

I raise my left hand and it glows brightly, a katana which I bought at the black market emerges out of this air that caught Saeko-nee off guard. I pass her the katana to use in combat. As she unsheathed her blade she smiles while looking at me.

She crouch down exposing her breasts slightly and gave me a kiss on my cheek.

"Thanks...I can't wait for you to be older."

She walks away while preparing herself to practice her new katana. I touched my cheek and smile wryly.

<You shouldn't have given her that katana...she's using us to her advantage. I thought you were smarter than this...and what's this about being that kid's brother. We already did her a favor in killing her father. Stop getting attached to these people.>

'Why..why do you constantly remind me of that?...I am well aware I shouldn't be too invested because I'll be going to other worlds you made it sound as if.....'

<....>

'Once I leave...there's no way for me to come back is there?'

<....This is all but a test made by The Elders...they do not care for your relationships in any worlds...they want you to complete their quests and that is all...these people won't even remember you after we've completed the final quest in this world....I mean for all we know The Elders might blow this whole universe up for shits and giggles.>

'.....Damn.'

The next day...we left for the Takagi Estate.

TO BE CONTINUE..