Disclaimer: I do NOT own Yu Yu Hakusho. The only character I own is Miyuki. (Sorry if you received a notification that two chapters were uploaded. I hated seeing how short the first two chapters were so I decide to combine them. For any new readers: Welcome!)
Please enjoy.
"Rui! Do not take pity on the beast." The head elder snapped coldly.
"Please! Not my baby! Please anything but this! Banish me if you must and I'll take my children and leave. He's only a baby. Please!" Hina cries came out in a burbled mess as she begged and pleaded for her infant son's life. Her cries went unanswered as she looked on in horror at her son's swaddled form being tossed from the cliff of the Gacial Village. Not a sound was heard besides the broken woman's sobs. One by one the Elders left, noses pointed to the sky, not sparing Hina any final glances.
It felt like ages before Rui finally had enough courage to turn around. How could she possibly face Hina now? They grew up together and had become the best of friends, often referring to each other as sisters. What could she possibly say? How could she ever make this right? Rui knelt down in the snow besides her friend.
"Hina we have to get you home. You can not stay here all night."
Silence.
"Hina please let me bring you home."
Silence.
"Say something to me! Yell at me! Do what you must!" Rui shouted. Her throat started to burn and she felt the tears starting to form. "If I had not done it , one of the elders would have. I did it to save you! To save the village! Think of your daughters!"
The two women finally made eye contact. Rui's heart dropped. Never had she seen such lifelessness in her friend's eyes. "You are a coward." Hina whispered before standing up to depart, her voice barely heard above the howling of the wind.
The next few months went by as a blur for Hina. Day after day Rui came by to change, feed, and put the girls to sleep. Not once did the distraught mother protest. She could not look at her daughter's with out feeling guilty. She couldn't protect her own son, their brother, how would she ever be able to face them? The first night home with them was horrible. The girls wailed and cried no matter what Hina did. She would never voice it out loud, but she was thankful for her old friend's daily visits.
'It's a full moon tonight. It have been three long months.' Hina thought allowing a small sad sigh to escape her lips. She moved from the window over to the small bassinet that both girls shared. Her heart clenched when she glanced upon their sleeping forms. 'So beautiful.' She placed a hand upon each daughter's face before whispering a final apology, "I'm sorry Ill be leaving you girls so soon. I am sorry I was not strong enough to stay here. I'm sorry I was not strong enough to take us all away from here. Please, please forgive me. Mommy loves you more than anything." She placed a gentle kiss inhaling their scents and embracing this final moment with them before sprinting from her home. She ran through the quiet village, past the elders cottage, and through the snowy forest. She ran for hours until she arrived at her destination, the place her best friend betrayed her, the place her son's life was taken, the place that changed her life forever. Her lungs ached and her throat burned as she fells to her knees sobbing and gasping for air. How could she have been so stupid? Why wasn't she able to stop them?
Tears fell down her face forming tiny pearls at the base of her feet. The sound of the icy winds and the crunching of the snow below her, were the last sounds she heard. "I am so sorry." She cried out one last time before taking her final steps.
5 Years Later
"Miyuki look at this one! It's so pretty." Yukina ran to her sister with a small blue bird resting on her shoulder. Miyuki gently patted the small birds head earning a small happy chirp from the tiny animal causing both girls to giggle.
"Why do you always hide out here?"
Mikyuki let out a huff and moved her dark hair from out of her face. She sat on the ground with her arms crossed holding an angry scowl on her face. The sun light seeping through the tree branches highlighting the light blue streaks hidden in Miyuki's raven colored hair. "The other girls don't like me. And Elder Fuyu scares me. All she does is yell, yell, yell and she doesn't even listen to me! Rin hit me first and all I did was push her and Elder Fuyu only punshied me! She said it was only a matter of time I would show my colors, or something like that!"
Yukina sat in silence for a few seconds trying to find the best way to comfort her sister. "I know! Lets play hide and seek one last time before we have to go home." Both girls got ready to sprint into action. "Oh and Miyu, don't listen to Elder she's mean and ugly." Miykui froze at first, surprised such an insult would come from her sweet sister, before bursting into laughter.
3 Years Later
"I beg of you Elder please do not send her away. She has done nothing wrong!"
"Nothing wrong Rui? This is the third time this month that child has burned someone!"
"All accidents! She would never purp-"
"Silence! She is to be delivered to the Haka clan before she can cause any further damage."
"She is only a child. You can not send her there."
"Either you bring her or I will escort the girl there myself. They have promised to leave our village alone if we give them one child. If the Haka clan did not make such a demand I would of had her killed just like her monster of a brother. At least this way she can benefit the rest of us."
Rui winced at the harshness of the old woman's words as the old memory flashed in her mind. The Haka clan was, a notorious group of Spider Demons, known for its trades involved here in Demon World and the Living. 'Forgive me Hina.' After bowing to the Elders she got up and left making her way home.
She walked into the house undetected by the two small girls. Their faces buried deep in their mother's old healing book. The cover, which once held a beautiful green shine, was now dull and the tittle was completely faded away. Rui cleared her throat to get the girl's attention without scaring them. Yukina looked up and gave a bright smile, "Hello Aunty Rui!" Her eyes drifted towards Miyuki who has burying her face deeper and deeper into the pages of the book, in hopes of shrinking away. She did not want to get yelled at for a second time today.
"Miyuki." Rui called. She slouched even deeper in her position.
"Miyuki come here."
Before Miyuki could respond Yukina sprung to her feet. "It wasn't her fault! I saw the whole thing! Rin is always picking on her! And, and we've been looking for a way to help heal her arm! Miyuki almost got it! Right? Show her!"
Rui's heart sank deeper in her chest. This girl did not have a single evil bone in her body.
"Lets go for a walk." When both girls started to follow her she stopped, "Yukina get into bed I will see you when we return." The sisters shared a quick glance with one another. Miyuki's eyes shone with worry and Yukina gave her a reassuring nod. It was Aunty Rui, what was the worst that could happen?
"But, its against the rules to leave! Elder Fu-"
"Pay no mind to her Miyu. Theres a special place I want to bring you."
"Why couldn't Yukina come? I'm sure she wants to see the special place too."
"No more questions little one, we have quite a ways to travel." Sensing she still felt uneasy Rui added, "And maybe we can pick out something nice for your sister too." Rui felt sick. How could she be following through with this so easily? 'Its for the good of the village. Once she is older she will understand.' The young girl shook her head yes with vigorous excitement.
The small journey took them two days. They would have arrived earlier if it had non been for Miyuki's fascination with everything. She went on and on about how green the grass was, how warm the flowing rivers water felt against her skin, or how nice the sun felt shining on her face. And truthfully, Rui did not have the heart to rush her. 'Its for the good of the village. Its for the good of the village. Its for the good of the village.' Over and over again she recited those words to her self.
Once they have arrived to the gates of the compounds everything went silent. They both stared at the large wooden gate that towered over them. The wood was covered in spider webs that stretched out over the surrounding trees giving the place an eire look. Miyuki hid behind Rui burying her self into the back of her Kimono.
"Is this the special place Aunty? Its kind of scary looking." Before she received an answered a figure jumped down in front of them landing in a huddled position before rising to his feet. He was tall and lanky passing Rui's head by a good six inches. His hair was a dingy gray that stuck out at all sides and gave the demon a wild crazy look.
"Tsk, tsk. I almost thought you weren't going to show. She is an odd looking one though. Such dark hair for an ice maiden." He went to touch her hair but was blocked by Rui who moved in a quick motion to block her. "Don't tell me you are having second thoughts. I made my terms very cle-"
"I have heard your terms!"
"Aunty what is he talking about? He's scary looking." She whispered the last part afraid she would anger the strange man.
"You haven't even told her?" He bellowed out with a few chuckles. "You'll be staying here with me."
"Wh-what is he talking about? I want to go home Aunty." Miyuki was so confused. Her aunt wouldn't leave her with this man. Her confusion quickly turned to frustration. This man was a liar and she wanted to go back home to Yukina. "Leave us alone!" Rui's kimono started to smoke where Miyuki was holding it. Rui ripped the fabric out of the young girls hand causing her to fall back onto the ground. Miyuki's eyes started to tear up as she cried out her apoplogies.
"It was an accident Aunty Rui! Please forgive me. Please, please just bring me home. I'll never leave my room again! An-and I'll stay out of trouble! I'll do every chore without you telling me to!" Tears spilled from her eyes forming tiny pearls as they hit the ground.
The Spider Demon's eyes lit up with greed. 'So the wench wasn't lying. Tear gems and fire. Interesting.' He smirked to himself before stepping right in front of the distraught child , grabbing her arm, causing her to panic even more. Both her hands started to heat up and the warmth traveled up her entire arm. "None of that!" He hit the back of her neck, knocking her unconscious, before she could cause him any damage. The last thing Miyuki saw was the silhouette of Rui growing smaller and smaller as she walked away.
*Thank you so much for taking an interest in my story. The build up is a little slow but she will be meeting the Boys soon! Join us next episode as we follow Miyuki on her journey and see how her life changes in Living World!
Please review, any criticism is welcomed.*