"I don’t wanna be left alone."
A sea of blankets engulfed the two, her perched within crossed legs, his chin upon her hair. Her cerulean gaze concentrated on the film as the sweet scent of strawberries filled his lungs.
She came to him earlier that night in the midst of thundering skies; he was aware of her presence even before feeble knocking resounded.
She stood shivering, lips quivering, teeth chattering, eyes glistening.
Immediately the poor girl waddled inside, throwing sodden clothes upon carpet with her breaths sharply drawn before wailing ensued, and Haku scooped her within the thick fabric of his happi, cradling her against him. He crooned to her, languidly ran his palm along her back, assured her that everything would be alright.
A warm bath was henceforth prepared, bubbles and all, and when she begged him to not leave, he complied with inherent empathy. They played together, facial hair and crowns of suds, laughing all the while, until her core temperature had regulated and she felt safe.
He did not ask why she was alone in the rain, and she never said.
Perhaps it was a tale too troubling to tell.
Instead, he dressed her in his robe once more and placed her on the bed, fluffing pillows and comforter until she ruled in a kingdom of bedding. She giggled, and he was content.
A sea of blankets engulfed the two, her perched within crossed legs, his chin upon her hair. Her cerulean gaze concentrated on the film as the sweet scent of strawberries filled his lungs.
Himawari seemed to enjoy what she observed―mimicking the fish princess, wriggling excitedly, clapping, laughing, and crying at all the right moments.
It was not before long the sweet child would express her somnolence, having worn herself out with the excitement of Ponyo. She turned in his lap so that her cheek lay soft against his breast, her frame beginning to convulse slightly. He felt her tears though his yukata and caught the slight tremor in her small voice as she professed, barely audible, “I don’t want to be left alone.”
And when she did, the anguish and the insufferable loneliness of his childhood did glass his eyes, and he held her that much closer, murmuring, reassuring, “Do not worry, Himawari-chan.. I will always be here for you..” for he knew well the pain of being unwanted. Unneeded. Unloved.
Never would he wish that emptiness, that suffering, upon anyone―especially a child.
“I don’t want to be left alone.”