Akeno was looking up at the blue sky with intrigue and awe. The sky was bright and clear. The few clouds drifted across the blue sky. The sun shone at the top of everything and the wind blew.
Akeno seemed to be young, much younger here. Beside her a stone well which reached her shoulder height as she'd placed her left hand over its wall.
Little Akeno continues to gaze up towards the sky. Her lips parted as the tree leaves blew with the gust of wind and they dropped tiny droplets of water.
The ground beneath her feet was moist and some still had filled dirty water in them. Some broken branches of the trees had dropped on the ground. Though they were now set at the corner of the walls and gathered into one spot.
Akeno here had short black bun hair with a flower pin on it. She was wearing a loose green silk robe a little too big for her size as it hid her fingers. She had a black sash on and was wearing cotton socks and silk shoes.
Beside her, the palace maid was talking out water from the well. She wore a short sleeve silk cloth and trousers of grey. Her black hair was tied in a low bun.
As the maid worked she glanced at the little girl who had lost her attention to the world and only focused on the sun. Her glances had a hint of nervousness to them as her hand shook a bit while picking up the bucket of water.
Akeno: She still had her gaze towards the bright sun but hearing the noise of the bucket she turned her head to the working maid. [My head feels kinda dizzy.]
The maid who was pouring the bucket of water in another bucket noticed Akeno's gaze by the corner of her eyes and her nervousness grew.
"Hey. Isn't that heavy?" Little Akeno asked.
Maid: The maid hurriedly turned to look at Akeno who was now looking straight at her and answered. "My Lady–" Before she could finish, the bucket shook due to the sudden movement and some of the water from the bucket fell over her trousers. And some on Akeno's silk cloth, as well as the mud that bounced up.
Akeno: "Careful!"
Her hands shot up towards the maid but she didn't move forward for any assistance. What she took was just a small step then back off again.
"Careful," she whispered in a low voice.
Maid: The maid visibly starts shaking and she drops the bucket behind her and far from Akeno. She got on her knees in front of Akeno, placing her hands on the wet muddy ground and bowed to her.
The Maid's trousers and cloth got mud in them. As well as in the bangs of her hair. The maid was right in front of Akeno's feet, just inches away.
"M–my oh–apologizes My Lady. Forgive me."
Shaking, she lifted her up a bit. Not much but enough to see some of Akeno's lower clothing and see how much damage was done. Not much was visible to her, most of the vision was blocked by her mud stain bangs… Just some tiny mud spots on the silk leggings. As well as the socks and the shoes.
She again lowered her gaze. Her breathing was uneven and hurried. Everything around her was silent, she didn't even look up to see what Akeno was doing but knew Akeno was still right in front of her. Unmoving. In the silence the maid only lowered her head as her nose touched the dirt.
Just then…
Akeno: "It's okay. I forgive you." She said with a frown on her face. Her fingers clinched in a fist.
Maid: "Thank you My Kind Lady." She said yet her head was still lowered to the ground unmoving but her breathing seemed to be calming down.
Akeno: "... Heads up."
Maid: As soon as Akeno said it the maid sat up, still in the kneeling position with her hands on the ground. Her back straight and her head right in front of Akeno yet her gaze was low. She pressed her lip and quickly spoke.
"Something wrong, My Lady?
Akeno: "No"
Akeno's focus was now on the mud on the mud stains on the maids' bangs. Akeno with the frown on her face lifts her right index finger to point towards the bangs.
"You should clean that."
Maid: "Y–Yes My Lady–"
She took out a handkerchief and was about to clean the mud off but Akeno continued with her words.
Akeno: Still pointing but now her hand was lower and bent. "No, not like that. I meant wash it with water. You should go take a bath." The last sentence came out in a low and a sad tone.
Maid: "B–But M––My Lady–"
Akeno: "Please don't disobey me."
"I'm trying to care." She muttered and only audible to herself.
Maid: The maid who didn't hear the last sentence slowly and gently stood up, and now standing tall she bowed to Akeno.
"I may now take my leave, My Lady– Please allow me to take my leave."
Akeno: "Go" That's all that came out of her mouth.
As soon as she said it the maid took her steps back, before leaving she placed the fallen bucket upright muttering something, "I'll get water later." Then left without turning her back to Akeno.
Before the maid disappeared from Akeno's eyes entirely she said one last thing. "My Lady. Shall I wash your clothes?"
To which Akeno had denied by a simple, "No".
After the Maid had left Akeno was alone standing by the well and the dirty pool of water that was now flowing elsewhere towards a lower evaluated spot.
Akeno looked down at her dress which had mud in them. She noticed that even her shoes and socks got mud in them.
[I didn't see that.]
She frowns.
[Why don't they talk normally to me…? None of the older people do. Umm, do they dislike me…? Possible.]
She crouched down and touched the spots of where it got the mud. Picking up a tiny piece from her socks she squeezed it between her fingers. She sighed.
"I wonder how Ma will react." she whispered to herself with a tiny smirk on her face. She looked up towards the sky, the bright blue sky, the sun was missing, it wasn't visible, her smirk drops as her eyes wander around the sky trying to find it.
"Huh… The clouds must be hiding it."
With that she stood up. And started walking towards a direction and slipped on the dirty water. Her left leg slipped forward, ruining her balance and falling on her back with a thud.
——{...Akeno Karaguri…}——
Akeno woke up in a dark room. Her eyes opened as she felt softness around her body. Even though her eyes were open it felt as if they were still closed. She could hear light tapping somewhere around her… Tapping of rain drops.
She tried moving her body against the softness and she sat up. The softness, the blanket fell off of her as the older, 14 year old Akeno sat on the bed… Gracie's bed.