"Ew! Ew! Ew!" Ruri said repeatedly as she tried to wiped the blood off her face and arms.

She made the mistake of carrying such a rusty dagger with her. It was convenient for her was what she told herself but deep inside, she just really did not want to use a sword and parade around the village while carrying it with her meager body.

"H-How did you do that?!" The taller boy shouted as he stared at Ruri with shock, unable to believe that she sliced a wolf's neck open using a short rusted dagger that barely looked it can be used.

Ruri shrugged. "It's easy. Just swing the blade and aim for the neck. It always works!"

Sanemi gawked at her, not really understanding why such a small little child, a girl, could be capable of such feat when she didn't even reach passed his shoulders.

Thus, it was after a long heated session of yelling back and forth did he learned that she was being taught to defend herself by her brother.

Sanemi's next encounter with her made him even more curious of her.

She knew medicine and from a distance, he watched as she happily conversed with an old lady while crushing herbs using a mortar and pestle.

"Baa-chan! If your back still aches after drinking this medicine then tell me! I'll recommend something more effective so you can still go on walks with your grandson!"

The old lady laughed and gave the girl a smile.

"Riri, you're such a kind child."

Riri pouted at the old lady.

"Obaa-chan! I told you that my name is Ruri! It's not Riri." She whined.

The old lady simply placed a hand over her mouth. "Oh my.. It seems I'm getting quite forgetful."

"It's fine. But if it's too hard for you, then just call me Riri! I don't mind!"

"You really are a kind child."

"Aw! You're making me blush, Obaa-chan!"

Sanemi turned away and silently repeated the name inside his head.

Ruri, he thought before shaking his head and grumbling.

"Riri sounds way nicer."

♧◇♡♤

"Hello there! Are you lost?"

Ruri blinked at the tall boy infront of her

"No. I'm in the middle of going back to my brother!" She said in a confident manner while holding a small box filled with herbs.

"O-Oh... But are you sure? It's getting late at night. "The boy told her awkwardly.

Ruri smiled at him. "It's okay! I know my way home! I've been doing this alone for such a long time so there's no need to worry! I can take care of myself!"

The boy still looked at her worriedly.

"If you don't mind... I'll accompany you home-"

"Stop right there." Ruri said, cutting him off as she raised her palm to his face.

"I'm not a damsel in distress! I can go home on my own!"

Yet despite her explanation, the boy was still persuading her to not go alone. Ruri was somewhat touched that he was worried about her despite being strangers but she told him that she was already ten and she could take care of herself.

The boy's expression was priceless. He probably couldn't believe that she was older than him. He looked no older than eight or seven but he was tall for his age which made her unbelievably jealous.

And thus began the friendship between Ruri and Genya.

And it was through Genya that she once again met Sanemi.

"You again, old man?!" Ruri exclaimed wildly.

"You... You're that gaki!"

"Onii-chan, y-you know each other..?" Genya asked his brother nervously.

"No!" Ruri said while Sanemi just narrowed his eyes at her.

"I know her alright. Riri, was it..? I met her a few days ago." Sanemi explained.

Ruri gasped. "That's my nickname! How did you know that! "

Sanemi rolled his eyes. "That old lady called you that. "

"You were following me?! That's a crime, you know! And I can't believe Genya-kun is related to someone like you!" Ruri complained loudly as she pointed her index finger at him as if mocking him.

"You..!"

"Riri-san, Onii-chan is really nice, please don't be mad. He's probably just curious about you."

"Genya-kun...! You're so nice. But I don't trust that face at all!" Ruri said to Genya before pointing at Sanemi again.

"What's wrong with my face!"

"It's the face of a creep who stalks little girls! You should be ashamed of yourself!"

"What?! I wasn't stalking you! Why would I be interested on a gaki like you!"

"I'm not a gaki, old man!"

"And I'm not an old man! My name is Sanemi!"

Genya could only watch helplessly as his recent found friend and his brother bickered against each other.

But thinking deeply, his mother told Genya that fighting is one way of getting along so Riri and his Nemi must've really liked each other if they're arguing so heatedly like this.

Mother couldn't be wrong, right?

At this line of thought, Genya just watched silently from the sideline, trusting her mother's advice. But who would have thought that the two would actually become friends later on.