The day was very warm. Both suns were standing high, a light breeze was comming from the ocean, bringing a fresh and a bit salty air to one of Kyushu's continents.

Tetsuo was walking up the road. Even though it was hot, he was wearing his usual grey jacket, leaving the hands opened however. The light wind was pushing his hair to the eyes, but he didn't pay attention. The thoughts were focused on the upcoming meeting with his family. Looking back at the sad moments of is life at home made him frown. However together with sadness the happy moments started to come in his mind.

"Ayame..." Tetsuo's face broke into a smile as he remembered the time spent with his little sister.

Probably many things changed since then, perhaps she wouldn't even recognise him. Perhaps he should've contact them before coming. From these thoughts Tetsuo frowned again, keeping walking ahead.

Quickly he reached a big house, far in the woods. The building was old fashioned, surrounded with a high enough wall to prevent you from looking inside the teritory. Tetsuo didn't notice when he reached the gates that for some reason were open. A young looking man quickly approached him. His face wasn't familiar to Tetsuo and for a second he was quietly examining the boy.

"Good day, stranger. You're entering Shimizu's property. May I ask for the reason of your visit?" the boy near gates quickly and a bit timidly asked.

"I... umm..." Tetsuo started but a kind female voice interrupted him.

"You've finally came home, Tetsuo." the woman approached both. From the look she was about 40 years old, but her kind and calming look gave to her face a great charm, making her look younger. The hair was pushed behind. She was wearing a pink kimono, embroidered with flowers, and holding an umbrella in her hands. The watch with a bow stepped aside from her. For a second Tetsuo suprisedly was looking at the woman, but only for a second. After that he relaxed, taking a calm look and lowered his head in respectful manner.

"Please forgive me, mother"

"No need for such formalities, as well as apologises." she kindly replied, steping closer to Tetsuo. When she was standing right in front of him, Tetsuo rose his head, looking into her eyes. She was looking at him, kindly smiling. Then, carefuly moving her arms behind his neck, she hugged him.

"I am so glad to finally see you.." her voice was trembling, she hugged Tetsuo more tightly and kissed his cheek.

The warmth of such welcoming made him finaly sigh with relief. He couldn't say anything, instead he closed his eyes, hugging her back, and slightly smiling. For a while they stood like that, when a sudden voice interrupted them.

"Tetty?"

That voice made Tetsuo's heart tremble. He widely opened eyes. His mother noticed his worry and let him go, stepping to the side a little, letting Tetsuo see a girl right behind her.

"Look who is here, dear." mother said kindly, steping little back and leaving those two on their own.

It was about 18 years old girl, with long black hair, falling down her shoulders, about five and half feets in height, slim, with beautiful brown eyes. She was wearing a while blouse and a long green dress. Both Tetsuo and the girl timidly made a few steps to each other.

In front of her Tetsuo felt the guilt for not letting them hear from him for all these years. He lowered his head, unable to find any words to excuse himself. But then he felt that someone's clinging to him.

"It's you, Tetty." she said with a trembling voice. Tetsuo looked at her, noticing her happy smile and tears in her eyes.

Tetsuo slightly smiled. His eyes showed his happiness however the sense of guilt has been tearing him apart. To hold the tears he closed eyes, and carefully hugged the girl.

"Forgive me for not showing up this long... Ayame..." he said very quietly...

For the first time since he left home Tetsuo felt truly happy. He cuddled with his cheek to her head, hugging her more tightly and timidly holding his breath. Ayame didn't resist. She was quietly crying in his hug. For a moment Tetsuo let go of her, and she rose her head, looking in his face with wet eyes. He looked down at her. A sense of guilt and great happiness mixed in that look. Both stood quietly unable to say anything, for no words could describe how they had missed each other. Their mother was standing a few steps away, kindly smiling to that reunion.

"Are you going to come in, Tetsuo?" she asked with a cheerful voice, as if reminding them about her presense.

"Yes." Tetsuo answered, releasing Ayame from his hug. She didn't say anything, just quietly rushed to his side and took his hand. Her cheeks were wet, but she didn't mind it. Their mother couldn't help it but chuckle a little to her cute look.

They all went towards the house. In a while Tetsuo slightly frowned and lowered his head.

"Where is father?" he quietly asked, looking at mother.

"Oh, he is in his room. Do you want to see him?" she looked back at him. Her face was expressing a bit of surprise.

"Yes." he replied with a short sigh.

He knew how their chat would go, and doing this was not something he wanted, rather something he should do. Reading those thoughts in his sad look, his mother cheerfully smiled.

"He will be glad to see you." she said kindly, but those words didn't cheer Tetsuo.

"I doubt it." he replied gloomily.

Knowing the reason of such coldness Tetsuo's mother decided to drop this subject and just let them meet. Together they soon reached the room. Ayame released his hand and his mother slightly pushed him towards the doors, smiling kindly as usually. After a few moments of hesitation Tetsuo finally knocked the doors and entered the room.

His father was sitting right near the window, reading a book. It was a rather old looking man, with a short haircut and beard. The glasses he was wearing gave him a very solid look. He didn't pay attention to the knock, neither to Tetsuo's appearence. With a calm look he continued reading the book.

Tetsuo bowed, and making a calm expression he straightened, hiding his arms behind.

"Greetings, father." he said calmly, masking all that negative expression he had before.

"Good day, Tetsuo. What news have you brought?" his father replied indifferently, without looking away from the book.

"None, I'm afraid..." Tetsuo replied quietly, lowering his head slightly.

"I see." the old man said in the same tone, and went completely quiet.

Tetsuo felt like a lump was stuck in his throat. He managed to swallow that, and after bowing again quietly left the room. Pausing near the doors for a few seconds he looked back at his past. Such cold treatment always upset Tetsuo, but no matter how hard he tried, his father kept holding him at distance. Nothing had changed for the six years that he was absent. With a quiet sigh he moved to the place where his room was.

On the way he passed the training room. The doors were open. The memories of his trainings in here came to his mind. Tetsuo entered the room, leaving the doors opened. He stepped to the stand, taking a wooden katana in his hands. With a light smile he kept examining it, when he heard quickly closing steps. Tetsuo dropped his bag and turned around just in time to block a hit.

"Very good." the man in front of him said with a smirk, continuing attacking Tetsuo. When the boy countered all his hits, the man stopped, lowering his own weapon.

"You haven't abandoned your trainings, haven't you?" by his tone it was easy to say that it was man of big will and strength.

"How could I, master Hikaru." Tetsuo smiled, seeing his old trainer in front of him.

"Heh. Let's see what you have learned in all this time." Hikaru grinned and took attacking position.

Without waiting for Tetsuo's answer he attacked him again. For half an hour the two were fighting each other. After the sparring they gave each other a bow. Hikaru seemed to be happy that his student hadn't abandoned his training. And Tetsuo was very happy to meet his old master and a person who filled the hole in his heart, made by his father.

"Tomorrow we will train more, boy." Hikaru said in an ordering tone, still smiling.

"Sure." Tetsuo quickly replied, smiling back. Quickly putting his wooden sword back to the stand, he took his bag and went to his room...

He paused at the doorstep of his old room. Some nostalgic memories have come to his mind. Nothing has changed in the environment of the room. The same bed, a chair next to the table, a bookcase and a wardrobe. Though it seemed very empty and Tetsuo felt some loneliness.

After this pause he finally entered the room. Putting the bag on his bed he slowly started unpacking. Once he was done, he took a nap, thinking of the way he should spent his vacation. Even though he was tired from the trip back, the day didn't yet ended. Tetsuo wanted to spent every minute in company with those, he missed so much. Especially his sister. He quickly sat on his bed, but before he straightened, someone carefully knocked at the door. As the door opened, Tetsuo noticed Ayame standing there, holding a trail with some food on it.

"Are you hungry? I've brought you some food..." her voice was timidly trembling, but her face was shining with happiness. Seing her like this made Tetsuo kindly smile.

"Of course." he replied quietly, and sat on the floor. Ayame entered the room and sat next to him, putting the train on to floor right in front of them.

"Thank you." Tetsuo said, as he took a plate and slowly started to eat, without saying anything else. Ayame has been watching him quietly. Once he finished she took his hand, clinging to him and leaning her head against his shoulder.

"This part of you have not changed... Always eating in silence." she said, in a rather joking maner.

Tetsuo didn't answer, just lowered his head. The sense of guilt has still been bothering him. He couldn't forgive himself for not visiting his home and his dear sister for so long. Ayame noticed his sadness and rose her head to look in his eyes.

"Are you okay, Tetty?"

"Forgive me, Ayame. I should have come earlier..." he quietly said, avoiding looking in her eyes.

Ayame kept looking in his eyes. In a moment Tetsuo rose his eyes, and met her look. She didn't seem to be upset, instead there was much happiness.

"No need to apologise. We're finaly together." she said cheerfuly, kindly smiling to him. Tetsuo couldn't stand her look like this. He slightly turned away and frowned, dissapointed in himself.

"Hey, don't make me use that, to cheer you up." she playfully added in a while, and before Tetsuo turned to her she carefuly put her hands on his sides and started to tickle him. Unable to resist Tetsuo falls on the carpet and started to laugh.

"Stop.. This is unfair!" he managed to say through laugh, but Ayame kept tickling him.

Pulling himself together Tetsuo managed to catch her hands, and before she released them he started to tickle her back. Ayame startled and started to laugh, trying to block his hands at the first moments. When she fell on the carpet near him Tetsuo stoped tickling her, looking in her eyes with a cheerful smile.

"Heh. That's better." she said, still trying to catch her breath.

For the whole evening the two were spending time together. Every sadness, every bad feeling have been forgotten. They couldn't stop enjoying this meeting after such a long time...

The day has reached it end. Tetsuo was calmly sleeping on the floor, while Ayame was lying next to him, carefuly stroking his hair, lulling him. Seing her loved brother again was a great pleasure and relief to her. She didn`t wanted to leave him, even though he wasn't answering any more. And he was happily smiling. Everything he wanted has been given to him in a single evening. He knew it wasn't a dream, and that kept making him feel more and more happy...

The long night was closing to an end and the signs of the morning could be seen on the horizon. The sky was turning brighter and brighter, and soon one of the suns had risen/was rising.

Tetsuo slowly opened his eyes. He turned his head to the window to figure out what time it was, but then he noticed Ayame, lying right near him. She was sleeping like a child, pursing her knees and keeping a palm under her head. Some of her hair was falling down to her face. The calm and kind smile had frozen on her face.

A light smile flashed on his face, when Tetsuo saw her cute sight. He quietly, without any move kept enjoying the view, holding his breath. Looking back at their past, when they used to end up like this often made him smile again. He knew that she will be sleeping for a couple of hours longer. Carefully, to not awake her, he rose from the floor, and gently took her on his arms. Ayame just quietly moaned, and when she felt a pillow under her head, she hugged it with her arms and continued sleeping. With quite a bit of amusement Tetsuo kept looking at his sister for a couple of seconds, and then carefully left the room.

He headed down to the training room. There was not a soul inside, so Tetsuo switched to his kimono and started the warm up and waited for his teacher to arrive. Hikaru was a bit surprised to see his student in the training room already. Though signs of surprise disappeared from his face in the next moment, as he remembered that it was like this all the time. He simply smirked and headed towards Tetsuo, who was calmly waiting for his words.

"I see you have started warming up." Hikaru said, stopping a few steps in front of him.

"Actually, I have finished, master." Tetsuo replied with a bow.

Bowing to him as well, Hikaru said in a teasing tone "In that case, let's begin, boy."

They both took a stance, preparing for a hand fight. Tetsuo's look was serious, when his master was smirking at him. The pause followed, as if they were waiting for someone to start fight. Eventually Tetsuo decided to begin. Quickly, he approached Hikaru and started to fight him, using his arms only. Hikaru blocked and dodged every hit without a problem, but countering them was impossible, since they were quite fast. He went fully on defense, trying to pick a moment to counter attack/strike back. Shimizu aimed for the weak spots of his opponent while not forgetting about his defense. Seing that his master doesn't try to hit him back made him feel a bit unsafe about his current method, and he decided to change his tactic, making a sudden step to knock his opponent down. The hit was sudden, and Hikaru seemed to be surprised for a second, even though he dodged it. Pulling himself together, he used the opening and went for a hit straight at Tetsuo, but he managed to dodge this as well, taking a few steps back. Without a big pause they resumed their sparring.

Hours passsed, and both sensed a great exhaustion. Hikaru straightened and said calmly:

"You are good. I see that you focus on speed, rather then strength. However both are required in the fight."

Tetsuo straightened as well. Looking at his master and respectfuly bowing to him he replied:

"I will remember this, master."

Hikaru approvingly nodded, then bowed and quietly left the room. After taking a shower Tetsuo went back to his room. He smiled to himself as he noticed that Ayame was still sleeping. Quietly, to not awake her, he approached the bed. Kneeling on the floor, he leaned his head close to hers. That woke her up and she slightly opened eyes, meeting Tetsuo's gaze.

"Good morning, Tetty." she said quietly, tiredly smiling at him.

"Hey." he replied, answering with a smile as well. Her eyes closed again when she tiredly said:

"I overslept again.."

"It's okay. You still have some time before breakfast." without removing the smile Tetsuo said, carefully stroking her hair.

She went quiet again, only a sleepy sniff could be heard. Eventually she opened her eyes again, quietly smiling to Tetsuo. Slowly rising her head she attempted to sit on the bed. Tetsuo sat next to her, quietly looking at her with the same smile. When Ayame leaned her head on his shoulder, he leaned his head to hers, closing his eyes in joy. Both remained silent like this, till Tetsuo said:

"Let's go down. The breakfast is probably ready."

"Sure." Ayame looked at him cheerfully, and quickly rose from the bed.

Slightly surprised, as usually, from this sudden energy, Tetsuo smiled and straightened as well. Together they went down to the dinning room. Their parents were present there already. Both Ayame and Tetsuo bowed in a respectful manner. Their mother answered to their bow and invited them to table. Ayame's face was shining as before, though Tetsuo seemed too serious. Everyone knew the reason for such behaviour, and no one said anything. The breakfast went quietly. No one dared to interfere with the silence.