Sharp pain shot across Haining's forehead as her brother's finger flicked against it. She pressed her open palm to the surface above her brows and lightly rubbed the offended area while giving the older boy a fierce glare.
"Ge!" Her young voice cried in protest. "Why do you always flick my head?! It hurts so much!"
The two children stood on small, wet street facing each other. A tiny and dirty toy lay to the side, but it was neither of theirs. The little girl had once again been caught by her brother for taking another child's toy, and here she faced his stern face.
Her brother frowned and leaned down to stare her in the eyes. "Because meimei needs to be taught properly on what she can and can't do. Haining, I've told you before to start acting like a young lady."
As he spoke, the little girl crossed her arms and pouted. But he ignored it.
"You can't continue to get away with the mistakes children make, you're too old." The brother's gaze softened and he knelt before her, while grabbing her shoulders to make her face him. "You're old enough to know not to steal, cheat, lie, fight other small children... Am I right?"
Haining hated that her brother always seemed to be able to scold her without her getting angry at him. He was good at being her big brother. The little girl also knew that what he said was true, she was old enough to know better. After all, she was seven years old.
"Yes, Ge." She nodded.
The boy smiled and nodded, while patting her head. "See, you're as smart as I thought you were." He played.
"Of course I'm smart!"Haining exclaimed, her face suddenly red. She hated when her brother treated her like she was still a child.
"And since you're smart," He continued. "Are we going to stop doing bad things and act like a young lady?"
The little girl smiled and nodded. She wanted her brother to be happy, but more importantly, set her free! Times past had taught her all she needed to do was nod and agree with whatever he said. Yes, she was smart indeed.
Her brother smiled, showing his white teeth and chubby cheeks. He was still just a boy himself, not yet growing into his extra fat that dwelled on his face. He was just as adorable as the little sister he tried disciplining.
"Good. Next time, if I catch you bullying younger kids-" He raised his hand in mock strike, though he would never actually hit her.
"Ah!" The girl shrieked and raced from his open hand and hurried down the nearby alley, her slow pace no match for him, yet he merely watched her go. This was the way it went every time, and most likely how it would continue. The brother smiled and brought his hand down, while watching the girl escape as fast as she could.
He stood and grabbed his hole-worn sack and the small toy left laying on the ground beside him. It was a handmade doll with a face painted using charcoal, and clothes from woven grass. A doll his sister wanted badly enough to take from a younger child. He would have to try and get one for her himself.
"Aish, sisters." He moaned and shook his head as he turned down the opposite alley and made his way back to school. He was already late, and he hoped his teacher wouldn't shut him out again.
(Two years later...)
"Haining'a," Granny Ling rocked on her seat while embroidering. "Your brother won't be gone for long, it's just six months. No need to be too upset, I know you'll miss him. He knows too."
It was a cold and snowy day in the capital, and the girl's heart felt just as frozen. Earlier that morning, she'd watched her brother march off, armor, sword, and all. He'd been walking amongst the hundreds, or even thousands of soldiers sent to fight the Kang's army. It would be his first fight, and his first time being away from Haining. The girl didn't know which was worse.
She turned to the granny before moving to put more charcoal in the warmer, the room they stayed in was cold and had a draft. Snow flew in occasionally and small animals took shelter in the dark corners. A storm was coming.
"Granny, did you ever have to watch your brothers go to war?" She asked.
The old woman just smiled, not slowing her nimble fingers from their work. "I watched all of my men go to war, sweet child. My father, my brothers, eventually my husband and sons." She sighed. "They all went away, and-"
Haining moved a stool besides the granny and sat at her feet, eyes wide. "And?"
Granny Ling shook her head. "What must happen will happen, child. May the heavens bring home your brother safely."
The words were dark, but yet also seemed to bring light to the dark and snowy day. Winter flew by, and spring came... but no sign of her brother. As summer rolled by, an accident befell the elderly woman who took care of Haining, and she passed away, leaving the girl alone.
It wasn't long though, before one day, as she walked the market streets that shouts and cheers went up from the people. It seemed that something incredible had happened. Haining wound her way through the crowds hoping to find the source of such joyous cries, her little feet carrying her swiftly.
A group of men stood near a wall recently plastered with multiple peices of paper, smiling and laughing. Their jugs of alcohol raised high, Haining paused and approached them.
"Mister, why the cheer? What has happened?" She asked one of the men.
Kindly he glanced down at her, "We've reclaimed our lost cities and our bordes have been expanded!" He spoke excitedly. "Now all of our brave soldiers may return home! I'll see my son again!"
Haining nodded, her thoughts now turned towards her brother whomed left her nearly a year earlier. Since then, she'd waited endlessly for him to return, yet month after month, there was no sign of him. Yet now the news of the army winning against the enemy brought hope back to her.
She hurried back to the old house left to her by the granny, and quickly began tidying in preperation of her brother's return.
The following week, the gates of the city opened and the soldiers began flooding the streets. Haining waited along the streetside waiting to catch sight of her brother. So many people crowded her, and her short figure desperately tried to be seen. After many failed attempts, she realized she needed to do something different.
The girl raced off into the nearest ally and looked for anything sturdy for her to stand on, which turned out to be a thickly woven basket. Grabbing it she hurried back to the throngs of people and set it upside down behind the crowd. Boosting herself up, she could finally see over the heads of the man people. Her eyes searched every face that walked the street, certain her brother would make his way down it. This was the road that led to their home, after all.
After nearly two hours, she finally caught sight of that long missed face. Her brother wearily trudged along with his comrades, face sunken and eyes hollow. Haining's heart tightened at his look and bit her cheek.
"Ge!" She waved both arms, and shouted to him. His ears perked and his eyes quickly found hers. Suddenly their was light in gaze and he grinned from ear to ear. He waved back and broke from the line to reach her.
Finally the two grasped hands and held each other tightly, they had been reunited. The elder brother pulled away and looked into his sister's eyes, tears in his own.
"Haining, how are you?" Were his first words.
The little girl sighed happily and hugged him again. "Alright, now that you're here.
"Me too, I'm glad to see you again. It's been too long, meimei." The two embraced and then headed home. One a weary soldier, and the other a burdened soul.
After discovering his little sister had lived alone the last month after the granny's passing, her brother was horrified and vowed to protect her better. To leave a young child all on their own was the gravest mistake. He hurried to find another kind woman capable of caring for the girl during his absences, and did his best to spend as much time as possible with her.
As the days went by, the two siblings were inseparable. Until the time came and he was called away to the army. Again, Haining watched her brother dissapear amonst the armor-clad soldiers. Another long wait was in store.