4) The Child on the Lake

Late Morning, in the snow filled forest, walked a man, Gourd in hand, blade at waist, as he walked seemingly aimlessly.

"This forest seems to be far larger than I expected. I have seen nothing but trees and white for so long..."

Eventually, the trees gave way to a large, frozen lake, in the middle of the forest, with trees surrounding it from all sides.

"This would have been a beautiful sight during the Spring or Autumn... too bad I get to see it during the winter. Ah? There's someone on the ice..." he walked along the edge of the lake, stopping when he was near to the person, who was wearing a black cloak, walking slowly on the ice.

'It is but a child... do the adults not teach to never walk on such unclear ice? How irresponsible.'

"Hey kid! Haven't you learnt to never walk on snow covered ice?"

*Thud*

The sudden voice from behind the child startled them, foot slipping on the ice, as they fell to the ground.

*Crunch cr-cr-crack*

Fault lines appeared on the ice, rifts about to form, the ice ready to give under the child, about to drop the child into the ice cold water, potentially killing him.

"Kid! The ice is going to break! Get away from there!" Isshin yelled, but the child just sat there, frozen up, looking straight at him.

*Whoosh

Crack- bang! Blub-blub-blub*

Isshin moved, instantly appearing next to kid, carrying him by the waist, before instantly travelling back to the lake side, back onto hard ground, where he put the child down gently.

"What name do you go by, little one?" he asked, patting the shoulder of the child, the action making the hood of the cloak fall off, revealing the face of little girl, her gem like eyes full of tears.

"Waaaaahhhh!" she hugged him, bawling her eyes out.

"It's ok, little one, you are safe." he soothed her, gently hugging her back. After a few minutes of crying, she fell asleep, her tired and afraid visage, giving way to a peaceful face.

"Kuhaha! Seems like she used all her energy crying! But to wear such rags for clothes, and only covered by a thin cloak, in such cold weather? She isn't wearing any shoes either, her feet have blisters from walking barefoot on the cold ice... she looks like she would have died any minute from the biting cold, the ice of the lake being her grave. What a cruel fate to suffer for such a young girl. She shivers even now..." he felt pity. Pity for the shivering, emaciated girl, as he took of his Kataginu, draping it over her, only to frown.

'My clothes are too thin as well. It won't be able to keep her warm.'

*Sometime later*

*Crack- fizzle*

"Humm- ah? Where am I?" the little girl awoke, near a bonfire, warming her to her cold bones, as she saw a tall man roasting an enormous piece of meat over the flame, a delicious scent wafting in the air, causing her stomach to grumble in hunger, having not eaten in so long.

*Grrr*

"Hm? Oh, you're awake, I see. Kuhaha seems like you're hungry." he laughed, looking at her face, which was reddening in embarrassment.

"Well, dig in. The food's ready. Be careful, it is hot." he spoke, as he took a piece and ate it, having a swig of the Gourd. "Ah, I wish I had some Sake with me..."

"Who... who are you? Why did you save my life?" she asked, cautious of the unknown man.

"My name is Isshin Ashina! As for why i saved you, Kuhaha! Why would one need a reason to save a child's life?" he replied, puzzled yet amused at the question.

"Let's leave that aside, what is your name?"

"..."

"Go on, don't feel shy, I'm not going to eat you." he laughed at his own humour.

"I... don't have a name... everyone just called me 'girl' or other things."

"Hrm? What are your parents doing, not naming their own daughter?"

"..."

"Kuhaha! A shy one you are, aren't you. Very well. But not having a name? That won't do, so I'll grant you one myself!"

"You... you will name me?" The girl asked, her eyes shining with hope and anticipation.

"Hmm... I've decided. Your name will be Mio! In my country, it refers to the beautiful Cherry Blossoms. Bear this name well."

"Woooaaah! But, what are Cherry Blossoms?" The little girl, now named Mio, asked?

"Hm? You have never seen Cherry Blossoms? How unfortunate. Perhaps, one day, you shall see it. Now, let us eat, little one, or this old man might just keep talking all night."

"Hehe! But you're not so old! You seem like a young adult!" she replied merrily.

"Hoho! It seems so, little Mio."

*Crunch*

"Aaahhh! It's hot! Hot, hot hot!"

"Kuhahaha! Eat slowly! The food isn't going anywhere!"

It seemed as if... The silent,unforgiving white forest, had become a merry place, if even, it were for just a moment.

...

A/N: Had some more free time, so released this chapter. Might also release a bonus chapter today as well, but can't confirm.

Its my first attempt at an emotional conversation, so I might have made mistakes, or the flow of conversation might not have been so natural, so I'm open to any advice regarding this. Please be kind with me, cause I'm a rookie writer.

Also, donate powerstones! We're barely in the top 100, and we need to push upwards!