Chapter 4: A Chance Encounter

The world beyond the orphanage stretched out before Kai, and he ventured into it with the weight of his memories and the pain of loss heavy on his shoulders. For ten days, he had wandered the woods, a solitary figure consumed by his own thoughts of sadness and rage. His fiery red hair now appeared dimmed, his crimson eyes like smoldering embers.

The dense forest seemed an endless sea of green, and the days blurred into one another as Kai walked deeper into the wilderness. He paid no mind to the passage of time; it was as if he had become one with solitude, a ghost of a boy who had once known a different life. No more home, no more family and becoming hungry by the day Kai begins to think if this was all a bad idea and if he should turn around and head back to a city to find another orphanage to live at.

On the tenth day of his solitary journey, Kai stumbled upon a cabin nestled amidst the towering trees. At first glance, it appeared to be abandoned, the wooden structure showing signs of age and wear. The windows were dark, and the doors creaked ominously as he pushed them open. Before walking in he noticed trash outside and what looks to be recently eaten can food.

Kai entered cautiously, his senses sharp, but he was met with an unexpected sight. The interior of the cabin was far from empty. A small, dark-haired figure stood in the center of the room, her bright eyes locking onto Kai with an intensity that defied her tender years.

"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice filled with a surprising boldness for one so young.

Kai blinked, momentarily taken aback by the girl's audacity. He had not expected to find anyone here, let alone a child. "I'm... I'm Kai," he stammered.

The girl tilted her head and regarded him with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. Her eyes, a vibrant shade of blue, twinkled with a mischievous glint. "Kai, huh? You don't look like a bear."

Kai furrowed his brow, unsure of how to respond to such an odd statement. "I'm not a bear. I'm a human."

The girl giggled, the sound as refreshing as a babbling brook in the forest. "I knew that, silly. I just thought maybe you were a bear who learned to talk."

Kai couldn't help but smile, despite the heaviness that still weighed on his heart. The girl's innocence and humor provided a brief respite from the darkness that had overshadowed him.

"What's your name?" he asked, his voice softening.

The girl's eyes sparkled with mischief. "I'm Hana Fugi! Nice to meet you, not-a-bear."

Kai chuckled, the sound a rarity in the midst of his own turmoil. "It's nice to meet you too, Hana."

Hana beamed at him, her small face alight with joy. "Do you want to play a game, Kai?"

Kai hesitated, his initial inclination to withdraw warring with the desire to connect with another soul in this desolate place. "Sure, what game would you like to play?"

Hana clapped her hands in delight. "Let's play 'hide and seek'! I'll hide, and you have to find me!"

Kai nodded, his heavy heart slowly beginning to lift. "Alright, Hana. I'll count to ten, and then I'll come find you."

Hana's laughter filled the cabin as she scampered away to find a hiding spot. Kai closed his eyes and began to count aloud, his voice echoing through the empty space. As he reached ten, he opened his eyes and set off to find the young girl.

The game of 'hide and seek' continued, the forest outside the cabin transforming into their playground. Hana's laughter was infectious, and despite the sorrow that had clung to him, Kai found himself drawn into the magic of the moment. Hana's boundless energy and her ability to find joy in the simplest of games were a testament to the resilience of youth.

Hours passed, and their playfulness showed no sign of waning. As the day turned to dusk, Kai couldn't help but marvel at the connection he had formed with Hana. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he had experienced something akin to happiness, a fleeting respite from the darkness that had plagued him.

When the game finally came to an end, Hana plopped down on the cabin's wooden floor, her chest heaving with laughter. "You're not so bad, Kai," she said, her eyes filled with affection.

Kai ruffled her dark hair, a warm smile on his face. "You're not so bad yourself, Hana."

In that moment, as the cabin's walls held the memories of their laughter and the forest whispered its secrets, Kai felt a glimmer of hope. Hana had unknowingly offered him a lifeline, a connection to a world that still held the possibility of light. With her by his side, Kai was determined to find the strength to face his past and seek the vengeance he so desperately sought.

Before Kai could fall asleep he began to wonder why Hana was alone, first thinking an adult would've come home to check on her by now. So he sparks the question and starts to ask why the little girl is all alone. But Hana doesn't answer. She looks away from Kai and the smile she once had turns into a sad sorrowful face. He begins to ask why someone would leave a little girl alone but she quickly cuts him off and yells she is 6 and she is not a little girl. Kai laughs and tells her one day they will both tell each other about their past.

As the two begin to call it a night Hana asks Kai will he stay to protect her. He looks over at her shocked and scared to answer but after meeting her and finally smiling after days of sadness he answers her with a firm yes. Hana looks at him and smiles and says I knew you would, Kai laughs and the two finally close their eyes.