A Morning Routine

"So stubborn, stop getting into trouble, Asura! You're lucky I'm here to protect you. What would you do without me~ Come on, Papa made food!"

A… breath-taking lady with rosy cheeks and captivating eyes was what I was ensnared by. Each shows the colors of two worlds, one of cozy golden fire hearth, the other the making of cosmic violet stars and nebulae. Her initial caring frown turns to a kind, yet playful smug on her face as she reaches her arms towards me. Her 3 sets of arms, a holy visage paired with her long hair adorned with shard-like horns. Even the simple garments she wore, was made beautiful by her appearance.

I wanted to reach out, cry, be in her arms…

[Memories in shards and fragments, Flower Maiden. Shall you pick them up and piece them together?]

*Sura's POV*

When I woke up, the warm dripping tears were all too noticeable on my cheeks. It… felt horrible, a crushing hand, squeezing my heart into breaking. I felt… empty like I'd lost someone. I quickly checked beside me, seeing no one there… a little tremble escapes my quivering lips.

"Kyuu-san?"

The door to the room opens, fluttering the martial arts posters with a breeze before a slightly annoyed face comes into view. A new poster to her collection under her arm, Kyuu-san irritatedly asks.

"What, brat? Are you... crying?"

That brief, but strong wave of emptiness fades as Kyuu-san burns up the room with her classic scowl.

"Nothing, just wanted to make sure you were there~"

In confusion, her voice loses its sharp edge.

"What do you mean? Of course, I'm here. Did you hit your empty head? Come on, when you're ready, breakfast is almost done."

Wonder what new poster she got? I nod and bounce off the bed, scurrying under Kyuu-san.

"Oi! Mom's still sleeping!"

Never heeding her words, I swing the door open arms wide open to mom's bedroom, exclaiming loudly.

"Mommy!!!"

By the time mom opens her eyes, all she sees is me mid-air above her… eyes wide in panic before admitting defeat as I catapulted onto her.

"Oof!! Sura-chan! You're heavy!!"

She wraps her arms around me as we snuggle for a bit, rubbing my face on her breasts… it's super soft and bouncy like buns. It was a quiet morning, and the sunlight filtered in like a lazy glaze.

"Up we go!"

Holding me like a cub in her arms, Mom cradled me as she got up, her hair all poofed up and messy, some bags under her eyes as she still was trying to wake up. We look out the window at the rising sun, the flowers on the window sill happily greeting the rays, healthy and vibrant… It looks like Mom was taking care of them right.

A soft hand runs through my thick hair as I lean into her before a loud "Oi!!" comes through.

"Get up already brat!! Remember we have training later in the day!"

And so with that, I hurry to the bathroom, then plop a pinkish crystal into the water for mouthwash. I accidentally swallowed it once… but nothing happened so it's ok to do it again!

Sitting down at the table, I hear… an odd humming, off tune as if someone's never hummed before. Too eerily joyous, from Kyuu-san?! I watch as she walks over with a lightness that does not belong to her as she sets down breakfast with… a smile?

I couldn't take my attention away from her bizarre smile even with the honey smell of toast with fresh bough fruit jam beckoning me for attention. Kyuu-san never smiles for no reason… Mom must've been surprised as I, cause she even looked on in stunned amazement.

"What's got you in such a good mood?"

"Hm?"

Kyuu-san raises an eyebrow at us… before staring.

"What…"

Hehe… I give a cheeky smile to Mom, and she gives one back.

"WHAT?!"

Barks Kyuu-san. Mom teases her.

"I didn't know my ice-cold Kyui would be humming so happily in the morning… is it someone you like?"

Like a red hot nail, the realization hammers into Kyuu-san. Her cheeks puff out as veins appear on her arms.

"I don't know what you're talking about!! Shaddup and eat your breakfast!"

Kyuu-san bites at Mom with ferocious embarrassment.

"Pfff."

Two beams of burning fire gaze at me and I look away immediately. Hehehe. After helping wipe down the table, I plop down on the couch, tapping the table and lighting up the crythoscreen. A giant robot hand pulls back, mimicking the martial artist pilot inside.

The hand opens in and hisses, shifting to form a "V" symbol with its hand. With a fierce roar, the pilot proclaims!!

"This hand of mine is burning red!!! Its loud roar tells me to grasp victory!!"

The hand of the robot burns with awesome power as it heats up red. I pull back my arm too, mimicking the moves, together I yell, impassioned!

"Erupting!! BURNING!!! FINGER!!!"

The hand punches through the hull of another opponent's robot, lifting the mech into the air… haha!! You're done for!!

"And now!!!! HEAT! END!!"

The other robot explodes with an overwhelming heatwave. So cool!! I wonder if I can do that… I have to find a robot to punch though. I feel a pat on my head as Mom comes over.

"So energetic-"

"And loud!"

Kyuu-san butts in. Mom remarks innocently.

"Hehe, it was one of your favorite shows as a kid, Kyui, you were just as energetic. Hey, remember that toy you wanted so much? I still-"

"Shut up!! Let's get going!"

Kyuu-san practically burst out the door before Mom could finish… hey could I have the toy since Kyuu-san doesn't want it anymore? Snickering to herself, Mom holds my hand.

"Come on, sweetie. Let's get going, I want to see how strong you've gotten hehe, and take a look at the dojo too since it's been a while. Oh, and that toy, if you want I can give it to you~"

Yes!! Walking hand in hand with Mom, we head early in the morning to the dojo. The rosey wood rooftops shone their polished natural beauty, and soon a pitter-patter of feet was heard as doors slid open as the people of Heiwa emerged for a new day.

"It never gets old, this feeling of livelihood, this home. My home. Every day feels new, yet nostalgic."

Mom gazed upon Heiwa with grateful, pondering eyes, taking in a deep breath of the air, the essence of the village itself. I snuggle into her side… we're still far from the dojo, with how big Heiwa is, it usually takes a while to get there. Buuuut, Kyuu doesn't allow me, but now that mom is coming along.

"Hup!"

And on the roofs, I jump on.

"Oi!!! How many times have I told you not to do that!! Get down here right-"

The look on Kyuu-san's face, as mom leaped past her up with me, was priceless. Pulling on her arms, I help mom steady herself.

"Oh ho ho! It's been a while since I've done something so… exciting? I miss the exhilaration. Come on Kyui, it's only for a little bit."

Mom kept watching her own step, as she hopped from roof to roof with me. Kyuu-san reluctantly behind with a scowling face, the utter embarrassment on my big mean sister's face as Mom turned around mid-air.

"Your mom's still got it hehe!"

"This is unbearable, unacceptable!"

But yet, Kyuu-san leapt after us regardless hehe. Together all three, riding the sky with each bound. The slight ticklish feeling as you rise up in the air, then falls shown as giddy smiles on mom's face.

"Ohayo! Mrs. Ohari!"

A Chidiya flies by, hanging on their feet was a stack of rolled-up newspaper.

"Morning Mr. Zhong, how's the deliveries?"

With a toss aged through countless practice and repetition, Mr. Chou lands a newspaper right in front of someone's doorstep.

"Flawless as always haha!"

With quick and nimble traveling, we are making record pace there! A yawn is heard above us as a shadow flies past.

"Yawn~... hey grumps."

Klara flies by, dressed in a very loose bra and underwear… is she not cold?

"Klara… for the last time, stop wearing your scandalous nightwear to the dojo!!"

"What, no one is gonna see me~"

"We are!!"

Flying backwards in a napping position, Klara complains lazily.

"I just molted last night, give me a break will you?"

And with Kyuu's temper aflare, back and forth they argue to conclude our journey to the dojo. I can't wait to see Wukong, Artemas, and Pandora again! They always make sure to talk to me sometimes when all I could do is watch. But I can feel it! Soon, I'll be able to participate on all the fun I've been missing out!

*Sura's POV*

Standing upon a large arch overlooking this shattered barren land, I watched Kyuu-san tie the knot on her black gi tight. Wah... the sarashi wraps on my chests clicky springs apart when I finally thought I had the knot done. I scoot next to mom and gently pull on her skirt.

Feeling a small tug on her dress, mom kneels down to the sight of me holding out my sarashi wraps in confusion and helplessness. She smiles and pets me on the head.

"Oh come here you, don't know how to tie it, munchkin?"

I pout and nod, it's harder than it looks ok! Letting mom wrap my chest, I wasted no time to think of training. My power still flows strangely, out of control at times whenever I push too much. But… humming, singing songs in my head help. But, how can I focus as well as fight when "Twinkle Twinkle Stars" runs through my head?

"Good luck little munchkin, let's see how far you've come to face my Kyui hehe."

Mom gives a wink to me and I puff out my chest, eager to please mom. Eventually, I need to learn to contain this consuming Saffron flame myself. But... how. All I've been learning is to use it little by little with the rings, but I'm just as clueless as everyone here on how primordial power actually works...