***
Evening soon arrived, Jiro's parents and grandparents had finally arrived home after a long day of work at the farm. Telling by the exhausted looks from her father, Jiro guessed it was quite grueling.
"Jiro…" the words slowly trailed off as her family paused at the other guests of the house. Jiro shifted in her seat. Just as she opened her mouth to explain, her parents' joyous shouts cut her off.
"Max!!" Her parents rushed the boy with speed Jiro didn't think was possible for their age as they hugged him tight. Max relaxed into the hug as he hugged them back.
After some moments, they separated. Her parents finally turned to the other presence in the room—Eleanor, seated comfortably on the couch, sipping some tea.
"Uhm…sorry. Hello." Her dad spoke up first after some moments of hesitation. She didn't blame him. "Are you perhaps related to Max? His aunt perhaps?"
Eleanor smiled, placing her tea gently on its platter. "No need to be nervous young man." She took a sip of her tea before continuing, "Yes, I am related to this buffon before you. Though, I would like to think of myself as still youthful, I am not his aunt." She raised her cup to take another sip, and Jiro could almost swear she saw a hint of amusement in her eyes as she spoke the next sentence. "I am his grandmother, Eleanor Kincaid. It is a pleasure to meet you.."
Jiro watched as her parents' eyes widened, her grandparents as well. Once again, Jiro couldn't blame them for their surprise. If a random person saw Eleanor, there would assume she were in her early 20's, they would believe her.
The only tell sign of old age was her white hair. But it didn't look faded, not one bit, it seemed to shine with an air of dignity.
How does she keep her hair that good? Jiro thought randomly before being pulled back to the conversation.
"Wow, Uhm. You look great ma'am." Her mother said
Eleanor smiled. "Why thank you dear."
"If it isn't any trouble, you could stay over." Her grandfather said. "It would be rude not to do so."
"Well, I humbly accept your gesture then." Eleanor spoke. She stood up. Jiro was once again reminded of the woman's domineering statue. She towered over everyone in the room. She adjusted her coat. "If you don't mind me, I would like a refill of my tea. Your granddaughter has a way of making it." Jiro blushed bashfully at the praise.
Her grandma laughed heartily at the praise."She sure is. Come, I'll sure you the special tea."
"You have gotten my attention now Madame." Eleanor smiled. "Let us proceed with haste."
Seems she really likes tea. Jiro thought, the corner of her mouth to twitch slightly. She turned to Max but paused, his face still fixed solely on the floor.
"Come on Jiro," her mother's voice called her attention. "Go show Max to his room." Jiro's mother said.
"What, we can—" her father spoke, but her mother interrupted.
"We have something to do that's why."
Jiro swiftly left, silently sending her prayers to him. Max stood as he silently followed.
***
Jiro idly swirled her earlobe. This is awkward. She thought as her and Max silently walked through the hallway.
She stopped as she reached the end of the hallway. Her hand shifted through her pocket as she removed a pair of keys. Placing it into the keyhole, it clicked as she pushed it open.
"So here's your room." She said, stepping into the room. Thankfully, her grandparents regularly cleaned each room.
She watched as Max stepped into the room, eying it. Her face fell slightly as he didn't answer her. "So whaddya think of the room?" she asked again
"Huh." He blinked. "Oh sorry Jiro. The room is…nice. I like it." He said with a smile. "My thanks for accommodating me and my grandmother."
That's not his smile. She knew his smile. That smile that always seemed to light up the room. Daring and adventurous. Now, it seemed dim, like the sun had gone down along with his smile. "No problem Max. Its what friends do." She smiled
Max just nodded.
C'mon what can I do. She thought, brows creased. "Hey Max—"
Sorry Jiro." He cut her off. "I'm a bit tired, I shall talk to you tomorrow."
I'll give him his space. She slowly nodded. She paused at his door, turning back. "Goodnight Max, see you tomorrow."
"Goodnight Jiro." He said, closing the door.
"Just great Jiro." Jiro muttered to herself as she walked away from his door. "Can't even help your own friend." She sighed, walking away from his door. Hoping, praying comes back to his normal self.
***
You're a scum. The thoughts echoed in his head as he sat on the bed.
I know. Max agreed with the voice, is head hung low in shame. He couldn't even argue and that was what disgusted him.
When he saw Jiro and her parents talking, smiling, and just being happy. He…was mad. Mad at the unfairness of his situation. Mad at why the world kept her parents alive and not his. Why should he suffer. Why not every—
No! He clenched his eyes, stopping himself from completing that thought. You're better than that.
Are you? The voice asked once again..
Max found no response. A yawn escaped his mouth as he fell back unto the bed. The exhaustion of the day fully seeping in. The question from before being the last thing he thought of as he slept.
***
Eleanor sat by the window, sipping some tea that the young girls grandparents had provided for her.
She sipped it once again. A little bland at the middle. The tea wasn't bad per say, but not really to her standard. But she appreciated it nevertheless. She did always have a high bar when it came to tea. Paris, Italy…
She paused before a slow smile made its way to her face. "Jiro, I can tell standing there isn't exactly convenient. Why don't you come inside dear."
She felt the girl pause behind the door, hesitated before opening the door.
The girl stood in front of her, twirling her earlobes. She could tell she was still nervous around her.
"Sorry ma'am…Eleanor." She corrected herself, "I didn't mean to stand in front of your door like that." She said bashfully
For fifteen minutes? Eleanor thought amusingly before she shook her head, "It's okay dear." She gestured to the seat beside her. "Now, why don't you come join me. Sit."
The girl hesitated for a second, before sitting opposite her.
"This is excellent tea dear. You're grandparents do have excellent taste."
"O…Oh, thank you. They do like to make their own themselves."
"Really?" Eleanor raised an eyebrow. Intrigued.
"Yes." Jiro nodded. "They started it recently, it's basically all they do now these days…"
Eleanor sipped her tea, watching as the girl visibly started to relax as she spoke more.
"Oh, sorry ma'am." She twirled her earlobe. "Didn't mean to talk for long."
"It's okay dear." She waved off the apology.
Eleanor took a sip of her tea once more as the two settled into a peaceful atmosphere. "So Jiro, what's on your mind dear?"
The girl took deep breaths, staring at her with resolve that impressed her. "Ma'am, please train me." She bowed.
Eleanor raised an eyebrow. Interesting
"Train you. Do tell what spurred this on."
"I want to help Max." She answered, "But I don't know how to. I know he's hurting, in pain and…and all I can do is watch." The girl gritted her teeth. "Please train me ma'am. I want to be able to stand by his side, be strong enough to pull him out of his hole. Please." The girl's voice cracked towards the end.
Eleanor stared at the girl. She idly tapped the table. Strong conviction. But. She narrowed her eyes. Will that last in the face of time?
Jiro froze, eyes widening as her body shook. Eleanor stood, spear in her right as she placed it on the girls neck.
"Ma'am, what is—"
"I can kill you now. End your existence without you even noticing. How will you protect him then?" She pressed the blade until blood started to flow. "You speak lofty words, but in the face of power, what will you do Jiro?" Eleanor pierced her a glare, her eyes humming with a golden glow.
Jiro shook in her chair, but refused not to look away. "O…over my dead body." She held the edge of the blade, gripping it tightly.
The tension hung in the air. Eleanor maintained her stance as she watched but Jiro maintained her stance. Then…
"Hahaha." Eleanor chuckled. "You really remind me of myself in my younger years." She removed the spear from the girls neck.
Jiro heaved a breath, blinking. "W…what—"
"Wait," she raised her hand. She twirled her war spear as it faded into golden particles. "Let me help you with that." She held a tiny box, not much the size of a nail and gently placed it on the wound. "Now hold still."
She gently pressed it, "Heal." Eleanor uttered. The box hummed before fading in silver dust. Her wound slowly healing until the blood stopped flowing.
She cleaned the remaining blood with a tissue. She sat after throwing it out. She sipped her tea, finishing the remaining contents. "Sorry dear, I tend to go overboard sometimes."
"No…it's okay." Jiro said, shifting in her seat. She shifted once again. "D…does that mean you'll train me?" She asked
She's determined, I'll give her that. Eleanor chuckled internally. "Tomorrow, your training begins."
The girls eyes widened as she shot up her feet, a wide smile on her face, looking completely different from the girl who was shivering in her seat not too long ago. "Thank you Eleanor!"
Eleanor chuckled. "Don't thank me yet. It's only you that'll be able to make yourself strong."
The girl nodded before retreating from the room
Eleanor sat quietly in her room. She raised the cup to sip, but paused as she found its contents empty. She grumbled as she set it back down.
She stared out the window, her eyes lingered on the moon.
"Julius, Shizuka. Your son really has a great friend. They'll be heroes, the greatest of them that's for sure. I'll make sure of that…even if it kills me."
***