Delicate ivory fingers tugged at the pale blue ribbon wrapped across Ani's wrist.<br/>Three tugs. Each a bit more forcefull than the last. The first tug, more of a reassurance that<em>yes</em>, the ribbon was still there.<br/>The second, a stronger tug to make sure the little bell was attached at the end.<br/>The third tug allowed a clear and precise chimed noise to sound. Very sharp and clear. Like tapped glass or the highest pitch of a wind chime. Not forcefull though, still gentle and ignorable if needed.<br/>The bell spun and swirled, and as it came to a stop, so ceased the noise.<br/>"Good Morning Master" Came a voice, so very small and childlike, it could be mistaken for just another bell chime if one did not know better.<br/>Such simple words. So easy, so flowing, just natural, at least, for everyone else.<br/>But for Ani, speaking took more effort than all her days chores combined.<br/>Her eyes scanned Kuroi for a moment and then dropped, landing on her lap and studying the pattern on her dress. Flowers with intertwining stems and leaves, elaborate but average all the same.<br/>"Good m-morning e-everyone" Ani added, with a smile, almost a sense of slight accomplishment in her tone.<br/>But just as she spoke the words, fear and saddness seemed to wash over her and she gripped her small bell very tightly, keeping her eyes cast down, and her voice silenced once again.<br/><br/><br/>