Umi'iro's wish

Sometimes Umi'iro wishes...that she looks more like her birth-giver father, Aozora Lune.

--

10-year-old Umi'iro currently stares into the blurry mirror that her family owns, the only mirror that they have. After all, that's all that Aozora could afford, especially since the rent for this small room they call a home was already so high. Regardless of that, Umi'iro never complains - she couldn't do that, especially whilst knowing how hard Aozora had to work to get the money... Thus, even though this mirror that they have is so blurry and cracked to the point that it hurts her eyes, she kept on staring into it, determined to observe her own features.

It is obvious, even to passers-by, that she doesn't really bear similarities to Aozora Lune. Perhaps her cheeks are too round, her eyes are too big, and her vibe overall lacks the graceful charm that Aozora has. Instead, she notices that her looks fall under the more 'cute' archetype. She realizes as well, that this face she has, looks more familiar to that man... 

Her other father, Sorairo Tsukishiro.

Scientifically, it could be explained why. Upon reaching the appropriate age, she'd been led to gain a humanoid form from a human who was from the same family in which Sorairo had gotten his humanoid form from, hence, their similarities. Regardless of science and logic though, Umi'iro still wishes that she looks more like 'Aozora's child' instead of 'Sorairo's child', especially with how the Tsukishiro family had treated Aozora, her little brother, and herself. Those demons had kicked them to the curb just like that, so, why would she even want to look like any of them anymore!? She huffs at this thought, before noticing the tears that have begun stinging her eyes.

"What's wrong, Umi-chan?"

Umi'iro startles upon hearing the small voice of her little brother, and begins to quickly wipe off her tears before they could even spill. 

"Nothing!" she replies soon after, looking down to the younger demon who has chosen to curl up against her side, with a forced smile on her face. 

Mizuiro has just received his humanoid form a couple of weeks ago. He seems to be adjusting to it just fine, which is good. Anyone would want a family member to adjust well to changes after all. However, perhaps due to obviously being a child who could barely control their emotions, Umi'iro can't help but feel a tinge of jealousy each time she looks at his face. Perhaps it was only a coincidence, or perhaps Mizuiro had unknowingly absorbed a humanoid form from someone related to the person Aozora got his humanoid form from, but he really does look like 'Aozora's child'.

Everything that Umi'iro wishes she has, he has them instead. A graceful sense of beauty, sharp eyes instead of round ones, even his cheeks aren't as round as hers - something that definitely sets her apart from both her father and her brother. Before she could realize it, the smile that she likes to force herself to show soon turns into a grimace, her lips trembling with her dissatisfaction over her own perceived shortcomings.

"You're covering your other eye again," came her brother's voice once more. "Why do you still do that? Daddy told you not to do it .." 

Umi'iro falls silent even more. How can she not cover it? After all, this eye she hides…is the exact colour of Sorairo's eyes. Usually, one should've been somewhat proud to show off one's heterochromia. However, how can she be proud when this eye makes her look exactly like that man? The man who left Aozora, Mizuiro and herself all alone to fend for themselves in the harsh streets of New Polsos? How could she just walk around with this man's face, letting Aozora see him within her countenance? How could she let Aozora re-live his pain each time he looks at her!?

…

Poor little Umi'iro. If only she'd known that regardless of what face she has, Aozora's love for her will always remain strong, that he sees her for her, and not as a reflection of the man who had abandoned them, that she is 'Aozora's child' through and through, regardless of everything.

[End]