Welcome to Gaia! ::

Lightning flashed through the evening sky. The oncoming storm didn't scare Nanami though and she found herself enjoying sitting on the cliffs near her Matori home, the Kawena simply listening to the ocean waves in the distance and the wind as the weather started to turn. It was almost a nostalgic feeling to watch as the horizon darkened more with the darkness reminding her of the caves back home. So many adventures had happened in those caves and it almost felt like another life to think on them now and on those that she had lost while living in Kahi. For such a vibrant area full of different islands and colorful ocean waters there seemed to be so much darkness in Ami's past as she reflected upon things. Still, there were happy memories alongside the sad ones and she wouldn't trade it for the world. One day she would go back and visit her home, hopefully taking her own children with her to see the other part of their heritage. Lost in her thoughts the Kawena stayed still for a few more minutes to enjoy the approaching storm and Nanami only let out a soft sigh as her son joined her. She wasn't unhappy to see her son, but more that his appearance made her remember that she was not completely alone. It was like a gentle nudge back to reality, a reminder to get out of her memories and to focus on the current situation.

[Nanami 1]

"Sorry, Zoicite." Nanami reached for her youngling's hand and squeezed his fingers. "I just got caught up watching the ocean. It's simply too pretty." Her pale blue gaze went from her son back towards the glistening waves on the horizon, the ocean still shimmering in the few rays of sunlight before the storm clouds completely blocked the sky. "Just a few more minutes and then we can go inside."

[Ami 2]

"Am I that obvious?" Nanami gave her son a sheepish smile. "I am thinking of my childhood…there was a huge storm like this once before and I had a very dear friend who would have loved every minute of it." Her expression shifted, a mixture of pain and longing both showing in that moment. "I named you after him, Zoicite." Nanami admitted as she hugged her son against her side, the falling rain hiding her expression of mourning. It was hard not to think of Zoicite at times like this but Nanami refused to forget him even though it hurt her. If anything she prayed that her Zoicite could live the life that her dear friend had lost.

[Ami 3]

Thunder crashed around them but Nanami didn't flinch. If anything it felt like a protective wind was curling around the pair while the rain started to slam into the ground surrounding them. "I do." She replied with a sad smile. "He was a really important person to me which is why I gave you his name." Nanami kissed the top of Zoicite's hear. "He left our world after protecting me so all I can hope is that you live a long and happy life, okay? Not for him but for yourself, Zoicite. I just wanted you to have a strong name that meant a lot to me so i hope that's alright. I never intended for you to feel pressure because of it." A name full of hope and love, the feelings that Zoicite had always brought her. She still felt that connection somehow, the space in her heart always reserved even though Noelani and the rest of her family claimed the rest.

[Ami 4]

"Alright, enough nostalgia." Nanami commented with a small smile as she took her son's hand and started guiding them down the familiar cliffside path that twisted to their home nestled below. While the normally white beaches were cast in dark shadows during the storm, the pristine shoreline was still beautiful with the tide moving in various shells and seaglass. Kahi had a vibrancy to it that Matori lacked but the earthling country was beautiful in its own way with the cooler variety of colors, so many blues and greens that Nanami adored, and the soft sand that tickled her bare toes. Nanami had wasted no time in helping Noelani set up a home here along this very cove that was only a short walk away from Noelani’s family, the small stone cottage built in front of large cliffs that held caves inside. Their own home was connected to such a cave with their bathing chamber built around a natural underground waterfall that constantly provided them with clean water. It was here that Nanami led Zoicite as the storm raged around them, the wind starting to pick up more as the storm clouds gathered directly above their little home.

[Ami 5]

Nanami chewed the inside of her cheek as she walked towards their front door, the Kawena still holding onto her son’s hand tightly as the rain poured down around them. “I suppose that’s fine.” She finally stated, her worry mostly coming from the fact that she didn’t want to bother Noelani with such stories. Still it was only fair if Zoicite wanted to know especially since he was named after her dearest friend who had died for her. “He loved music, you know?” She began with a gentle smile as she thought about things. “I adored the harp and he was talented with the piano and any other instrument, truly.”

[Ami 6]

“Mmmhmm.” Ami reached for a towel as well and helped dry her son’s hair before wiping off her own legs and arms, her short dress leaving a lot of bare skin that needed patted down. “My parents were super strict about my studies but music was an acceptable hobby and so we bonded over music. I don’t talk about such things often but we studied together every day for almost two years before finally deciding to venture out and away from the village for some fun.” Her expression shifted guiltily. “At first I thought he was quiet and respectful but it turns out there was a wilder personality, a stubborn and strong one, hidden beneath that.”

[Ami 7]

“A lot like you.” Ami admitted with a quiet chuckle, making certain to keep her voice low since her youngest was still probably sleeping in the nursery. “While I befriended Mina later on it was Zoicite who first taught me that it was okay to stop studying and have some fun.” That was something she had taken into consideration even now as she refused to force her children to continuously study all day and instead encouraged creativity and play after morning lessons. “We would swim all over the area and check out underwater caves. I took your mother to one that I found with Zoicite once.” She sat down and started to peel some fruit, handing pieces to Zoicite as she thought about her childhood. “We bonded while rebelling against our parents until well things got to the…painful memory where I had to say goodbye to him.” Her fingers curled tightly around a piece of fruit, the pain obvious in her expression as she simply placed it on the table instead of even trying to eat it. The fun memories had quickly led to the final one and she found herself without an appetite. Even years later it still hurt and Ami simply sat there quietly before shaking her head. “Hopefully that helps satisfy your curiosity.” That loss was what sent her right back to her studies and kept her from talking as much to others until she found a friend in Mina who had brought her out of the shadows and back into the light.

[Ami 8]