~To my dear aniki... with..~

~Umm no, I can't say that... bleh, love. It's so stupid. I want to give you so much more. You deserve much more. Do you remember that day? When we were really small? When I forgot your birthday...?~

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That day, I was so busy being tended to by hahaue, busy trying to keep up with obasan, watching you, itoko, oji and chichiue at the same time. So fascinating it was, to watch all of the 'guys' do their thing from my globe. I finished my 'chores' and just chose to join you. Hahaue to obasama said it was ok IF I could escape. They said something about my training. I think I'm getting better.  Perhaps that was why obasan put a rune on top of my cage. Since I was so young, it was a rather simple design for obasan's rank and intelligence, for hahaue's cunning skill.

They underestimate me.

True, I was trapped. How could you get out of a bubble with intricately woven ki, with a cage that wasn't a solid, liquid or gas because it changed so often it didn't matter? Being the daughter of our parents, the niece of our uncle and aunt, the cousin of our cousin, and being a younger sister to you abled me to escape.

Know the pattern. Time it. Destroy it at its weakness. Cut the bonds, or sever the molecules from the world by using a simple spell of teleportation. Or variate the spell to surround the shield itself. A dimensional door. The old-fashioned way was also applicable. Just blasting it. I won't bore you with the details. You taught me all of them.

I'm sure you remember the multi light colored bubble shimmer in the sky, my kunai like claws imbetween the spaces in my fingers reflecting the sun. I fell right in the middle of things.

I fell right into mama's arms. She always did know what would happen. She put me down. Already, obasan was there too. We hid in the bushes.

Then I saw ojisama, itoko-san, chichicue and you.

'Someday,' I said to myself. 'I would become strong like you.' To jump in the air with such ease that the wind embraces me with open arms. Able to slice straight through the air with a flying kick, blast things out of the air effortlessly, to handle weapons with ease. I wanted to dance along with you. Show you I was just as good, to show everyone *I* could be just as good. After all, I can't be with you anymore. Not that much. Not as much as we used to be when I was younger. I mean, I remember when I could stay and play.

Seeing you and itoko perform those intricate katas, auras, and moves... I knew I wanted to join you. I don't know why we had to be separated. We were together always.

You were more trained the arts of fighting. I was more in the magick arts. So... I thought... if I were as good as at least itoko was, I could stay with you! Then we could train together! Be together! So... when I tried to copy you with that vertical split kick, I found out I couldn't execute the kick at all.

As a result, I slipped, lost my balance and fell. I bit my lip to keep myself from crying out, my hands gathering the magic I needed to perform the spell. I floated up, so I did not need my legs to support me. With a few seconds to lose, I flipped back on my feet, ready to copy your next move. I put my arms up, lifted my left leg at a 45º angle from my upper body, and pushed up with my right to deliver a thrust kick into the air, then spin around to kick with my right leg with enough force to take a tree branch break into the air. I landed when and as you did, twirling your body to let both feet hit the ground, and immediately roll to the right side to do a small sliding tackle that would soon turn into a roll again. Then you'd flip into the air after one roll, arms reaching out for the sky, only then to twist in the air so that when you were going to land on your feet again, you'd bounce back up into the air as if you were a ball and then...

The hour continued like that for a while. I liked to watch and copy your moves. That way, I could learn them, and hope that my skill would be the ticket to see you again.

'I would learn them all.' I thought, as sweat ran rivulets down my back, legs feeling like lead and muscles screaming. I copied your movements to the nearest breath, to the exact timing and beat. It was like that for a while, me practicing in those hidden bushes, fighting an imaginary enemy, while you fought itoko. I don't think that was fair, fighting itoko. He does have a disadvantage, and I don't want him getting hurt. I love him too much for that. I wondered how itoko would grow up, because he was so frail and weak at times. Itoko is so sweet and nice and caring and smart... I don't mind taking care of him, to visit him and give him flowers. He seems determined to beat you in every department though. Especially fighting. I don't see why I can't take you. I can see what itoko can't see when he fights you. Why can't we be together and train that way? I mean...

In the middle of my reveries, a shimmering bubble surrounded me again, and lifted me up into the sky. "Hahaue! Nani o shiteru no?!" I pounded against my prison, my kunai not even scratching it. Higher and higher the bubble rose... until it popped.

I fell straight into the middle of things, right before you throw your kunai at itoko. I fell right in front of you. My kunai crossed with yours. I stood ready to fight you. We smirked, ready for our ritual of fighting to begin. Mama and papa smiled, as uncle and auntie winked at us.

"Hi aniki, hi itoko."

"Hi imouto."

"Hi itoko." Sui-'toko smiled despite his roughish appearance, giving respect to this event. He stood up and went to his parents to watch.

You didn't mind. This kunai fight would soon turn into a fist fight, and then a brawl.

These brawls could take forever on into the night. So mama and papa, uncle and auntie and itoko, left to go home. They trusted us enough to go home. We nodded at them, our emerald eyes shining.

Then I turned to look at you. I smirked as you did. I loved to watch you. But it was better when we fought. I could beat you sometimes. Sometimes. I pity anyone who undergoes your wrath.

It gave me a sort of smile. Rather, I smiled because ...

I was so proud of you and everything you are.

My brother.

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You won again. I told you I would beat you next time. You said I was welcome to try. We laughed and then winced because everything we seemed to do that day was related to pain. All those kunai-catching, richocheting, catching, stabs and slashes really hurt. But I had fun. I was ok because I knew how to use magick. I also knew how to heal myself as did you. Unfortunately, my age posed a problem and I turned out to use too much and had to be dragged and carried home by you.

Insert more and more independence spewing. Heh. I was yelling at you soooooo much. I would have kicked the crap out of you if I weren't hurting so much as you took picked me up.

But you had a problem. Your healing used your ki. When you used your ki, you would be bed ridden and blood spitting for days on end. Not to mention all the other side-effects.

Being the idiot you were, you healed me.

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The days that passed while you were in bed were sleepless nights for me. I cursed you for always being reckless, for never thinking of yourself. Mama and papa were out along with auntie, uncle and itoko. It wasn't their fault, we understood. I heard they were going to have a baby, so we didn't mind their departure.

Yet they still watched over us. And I would watch over you these days just as you do me.

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When you were somewhat well again, I fell asleep straight afterwards, not even waiting for you to get out of bed. I slept for a whole day.

And that day was your birthday.

When I realized what happened, I asked what you wanted, and you said, "..." Nothing. You wanted nothing. Even if you deserved it.

"Aniki...."

No response. You just smiled and ruffled my hair. *It's ok Hi-chan. I don't want anything.* is what you seemed to say. We didn't need words to communicate. Always the more patient one. Aniki.

I scowled and flailed my arms wildly as if I were to fly away into the sky with my pent up frustration and anger. "Aniki, it's your BIRTHDAY! I want to make something for you! I want to get something for you! I want to want to want to want to!!"

~*I want to make you happy!*~

I threw a hissy fit. You wanted nothing. Nothing. You never wanted anything from me!

Now this was the turning point. Either you would submit to me, or I to you. It was always like this, our silent and stubborn wills clashing. I was so frustrated, so pissed at myself for even forgetting something as important and special as you! Don't you get that?! Why don't you let me do what I want to do? You always always always looked out for me... now.. tears stung my eyes and I bit my lip to stop them. And I would have succeeded if you didn't...

"Maa. Daijobu desu yo, Hi-chan." Despite you were still somewhat recovering, you took me into your arms and hugged me, coaxing me as if I were a baby. "I don't want nor need a gift from you. You're being silly again." *I don't need a gift from you. * "You're my imouto, I have no need of such things when I have you." You ruffled my hair again, only this time it was more like you were stroking my hair.

I started to cry. I couldn't help it. I know, I know. I was being unfair, and using dirty tactics. I shed my tears. Of course I couldn't have cared less about which tactics I used when I got what I wanted. I buried my head in your chest, crying and crying like a baby. Through the tears and darkness, my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. *What would he like? What does he like? What could I get him? Should I ask him?*

*What should I give him to make him happy?*

You sighed, and took a desperate look around the room. It settled on one of my projects. "A box."

My face scrunched up in confusion. "What for?"

"To put things in."

I turned my tear stained face up to face you. "What things?" I asked, getting suspicious. I couldn't tell if you were being sarcastic or not again. It wasn't fair. I had forgotten his birthday, didn't even spare his feelings. I wanted him to punish me, ask me for something extremely extravagant.

To ask me something even decently worthy of him.

You blinked, doing more of that quick thinking you have. Or so I thought. And then you smirked. "Whatever you have." You patted my head, and went back to sleep.

And I was left to do something impossible. I hated you. You never wanted to make a big deal out of many things. Especially your birthday. I wasn't going to forget this! Never~! I'd show you!

OoooOOOoohhhH! Scowling and seething, I wanted to chase after you in your sleep but you were gone. I wasn't mad really. Well, at myself a little.

Why why why why why? Why couldn't you punish me? Why can't you ever get mad at me? Why did you have to be my aniki?! I sighed. You never could get mad at me. I suppose this was your revenge. Very effective, I must admit.

After all... what was I to give someone I idolized, loved, followed, and smiled for? You never did understand. I *admired* you!! You're my aniki! The tears I cried wasn't just for the dirty tactics. Mistakes aren't something I take lightly. Especially when I make them. And ESPECIALLY when they concern you. I *hated* you.

*One day I'm gonna get better than you and I'm going to totally RUIN YOU!!!!* This was just like the time you cheated on our way back home. You cheated me again.

Yes, I want to make up for the lost and precious time. For my stupid mistake. To atone for my forgetfulness. And you wouldn't let me. I was young and I wanted to give you your first birthday gift. All from me.

So I did my chores as I thought. I had no money, I gave it away. What use would you have of money anyway? We were not poor, but we were not rich. Material things never posed much value to us.

*Never.* I vowed. *Never again would that happen.*

And it never did happen. Well.... at least... it couldn't. This was the last birthday you and I would ever share together in decade.

But look, we're together again. I can make up for all 10 years! See, I can! We're together again and I promise not to do something stupid like that again. We wouldn't have time to, would we?

So I present this to you, aniki. Just what you wanted. A box. A box that I have been working on for 10 years.

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~Blah! I don't think of you that highly. After all, you're JUST aniki. MY aniki.~ A smirk graced my features, my heels kicking up cloud dust. ~I can only spew so much mushy crap. But anyway. You're a jerk, an insensitive, cold bastard. But I'm sure many people have told you that at least twice as many times I've been called a vindictive little bitch.~

~I'm your imouto after all. I probably inherited the curse along with your stubborn attitude. It's all your fault.~ A giggle. ~As always.~

~Well, anyway. Um. Here's your box. Nearly everything I have is in it, and it's still not full. I don't think it ever will be. ^-^ You're aniki after all. Pain and excitement are in it, as well as good feelings, bad feelings, evil thoughts, good thoughts. Designs of pleasure, some of despair, the undescribable joy of creation. And on top of these are all the immeasureable gratitude and love I have for you.

And the box is still not full.~