The Darkness Manuscripts: The Great Revelations of Nami
a ancient tale woven by Satorisama
(author's note: This is this stories second incarnation, re-written and reworked. Please, construtctive criticism is welcomed with open arms.)
Darkness Consumes All But Light.
From darkness I was conceived, through the darkness was I reprieved, 'Til the purest darkness I will serve, then hence to darkness will I return...
The words are so clear in my mind. The words that are branded into my soul... The only words that bring me comfort and peace, and at the same time, bring me a terrible, inconsolable pain. Their poetic sounds ring in my ears, only to have my mind try to reason out their meaning...
I was once the heiress and sole ruler of the Demon Spirit World. I was created from the Darkness. I ruled over the Darkness. I have once again returned to the bleakness from which I was born.
My name is Amaya Tsuki Ran Hotaru Nami. It was something my mother, in all her eccentricity, fancied; she translated it to Night Rain Moon Water Lily Firefly Wave. My half-brother was lucky. His mother christened him Koenma, and that was the end of it.
I am no hero to the weak or the strong. In many eyes I am a woman to be feared, a deity with the power to both give life and to take it away.
My life has always been a lonely existence. My only memories of childhood are of stark rooms with vaulted ceilings and silence. A biting silence that I no longer find as uncomfortable I as I used to.
Ever since my birth father took me in, I've lived as a recluse between worlds. For the early part of my exile, I watched over my stepbrother, guarding over him with the watchful eyes of one with nothing else to live for. I still remember when those big brown eyes looked up at me from the cradle, before his eyes became clouded with the duties of his world, his kingdom. So innocent...
My brother loves me despite the fact that I control the fate of many of those he holds dear. It's why I still go on caring for the demons who mutinied my rule, although my soul screams for retribution. To distract myself from the pain of betrayal, I read and learn about those and that which I do not understand. I have often spent hours pouring over the ancient texts in the Archives below my brother's palace.
The only reason I am not down there now, is because my brother requested that I meet with him this morning to discuss some changes to the palace's older wings. I can only assume that he wishes to model the some of new architecture after the façade of my old palace.
I smooth down my skirt under my full cloak. I still wear the custom garb of my palace's court. As I sit in one of the wooden chairs in front of his desk, I mull over the newest of old scriptures. I had been in the middle of a creation myth when I realized that time had for a moment slipped away from me.
Then, to my surprise, the doors burst open and my brother walked into the room calmly. It's still strange to see him in his teenage form, even after all the years I spent watching him grow up.
Out of respect of his royal position, I stand up and bow slightly, only slightly, and smile almost caringly.
"Koenma-sama."
"Amaya-san." He said, somewhat seriously while nodding in return before rounding his desk and sitting down in his chair. That serious tone of voice also is unusual, seeing as my brother is hardly ever serious with me.
It is then that I feel four more beings enter the office through the door at my back. I immediately recognize three of them as high class demons. The other is some type of human, but I can't be sure.
I sit back down. It is not my place to stand. I was once a great being, and they are still only lowly demons.
"Koenma?" One of them asks gruffly. I can only assume he is somehow motioning to me.
"Yes, Yusuke?" My brother says calmly, his face never wavering?
"Who's the broad?" His jesting tone makes me lower my eyes in shame. My name alone used to strike awe and wonder into even the cockiest demons' hearts.
Koenma looks at my face for a moment and sends me an apologetic look before answering without even the slightest wavering in his voice. "A friend."
It is wise of him to hide our true connection.
"I don't see what a girl could possibly help us with." A new voice from behind me says. I can't help but to peg him as slightly to moderately immature.
"Kuwabara, if you would let me explain." Koenma eyes narrow just slightly. I can tell he is getting frustrated.
"Yes, Kuwabara, let Koenma explain." Yet another new voice. This one is quieter, more subtle, but I can't help feeling as if the one talking is as old as I. The owner of the voice approaches my side and sits in one of the other empty chairs in front of Koenma's desk.
His red hair is as striking as perhaps a phoenix's deepest red plumage, his deep green eyes polar contrast to his hair. I do not know what it is, but he looks so... so vague.
I meet his eyes with my own blue ones and for a moment, I see into him, without meaning to. His past... souls scream up at me for vengeance...
A flicker of thought passes behind his eyes and my connection with the underworld breaks. He looks as if he felt my celestial presence...
Koenma breaks the silence. "Boys, I'd like to introduce you to Amaya-san."
I turn slightly in my chair to take a look at them all. A ragtag bunch, perhaps, is the most correct way to refer to it.
Smiling slightly, I nod. "It's a pleasure, I'm sure."
"Amaya, this is Yusuka, Kuwabara, Hiei, and Kurama." My brother offers, pointing to each in turn.
"Come on Koenma, I don't have all day," Yusuke interrupted rudely. "What is this all about?"
"About your next case, Yusuke. It just so happens that Amaya-san has joined us for this briefing. I asked her here because she knows the most about the time period which you will be dealing with this time about. Be patient. It will all be revealed to you in time."
I sigh and fold my hands daintily in my lap. Somehow, when I received the message last night, I figured this meeting was not going to concern the architecture...
Please review, criticism and comments are truly loved by this author.
