Chapter 1: Train Station
Karasuma walked off a train carrying her bags behind her. She looked around and smiled as she took a deep breath.
" Home," she said
" Miho!" familiar voices called
Karasuma turned and saw her two young siblings running to her. She smiled and she put her arms out to hug them. They hugged her and she hugged them back, then looked up and saw her parents. She smiled and walked over to them and they hugged her.
" Oh, your so grown up," her mother said
" Look at my little girl," her father said
Each parent grabbed a bag and they head off home, Karasuma was happy to be back home in Kyoto. In fact she was thrilled, cause she could visit her family and maybe her friends. Her mother turned around and looked at Karasuma and smiled.
" You can tell us a little about yourself Miho, what's been going on in your life since you left?" her mother asked
" There really hasn't been anything. My life as a hunter isn't all that great," Karasuma said, " I was surprised they let me leave for a few days."
" Well why not you need to see family," her mother said, " So, is there a young man in your life that you care about?"
" Mother," Karasuma said
" Well, it can happen," her mother said
" We don't have the time to fall in love," Karasuma said
They pulled up a white house with a picket fence and a wooden porch, just outside of the city and her parents carried her bags in. Karasuma walked to where her room was and saw her mother had left it just the way she had left it.
" I know you're a grown woman, but I wanted you to have memories when you came back," her mother said
" Thanks mom," she said
Her mother smiled and hugged Karasuma. Her mother kissed her cheek then left the room, Karasuma laid down on her bed and stared up.
" It's good to be home," Karasuma whispered, " Away from those two."
She closed her eyes and fell asleep as she drifted to the past.
Dream
" Miho, don't forget your lunch," her mother said
A young Karasuma kissed her mother's cheek and grabbed her lunch. She commuted from Kyoto to Tokyo to go to school. It was her first day and her mother had her prepared for school early. Her nice plaid skirt, with a white blouse and navy blue vest with her school's coat of arms, knee high socks and slip on black shoes. Her hair being much longer, was pulled back into a ponytail, then tied with a navy blue ribbon. She took a bus to the train station and presented her ticket, then got on the train. Once she arrived she took another bus to her school. She was very excited that first day of school, because she was going to one of the best school's that Japan had to offer. After a day of school Karasuma was brought back to the station after all after school activities. She walked to the plate form and realized she didn't know where she was going. She looked around confused and tried to ask people, but they only patted her head sent her on her way. She sighed looked around.
" I'm lost," she whimpered, " I don't know where to go."
She walked around until her feet got tiered and then sat down. She was scare that she would be left behind, so she cried her frustration out.
" Do you need help," a voice asked
Karasuma looked up and saw a young boy about 14 wearing a middle school uniform from the school two blocks from her own. She nodded and the young boy put out his hand to the very young Karasuma. Being 8 she was told never to trust strangers, but in this case she felt she could trust this boy. He looked ok, he was tall and had black hair that was just past the tip of his ears. He was very fair in complexion and already had peach fuzz.
" Let me see your ticket," he said
He looked at the ticket and gave a little smile. He put out his hand and she looked at him.
" It's alright I won't hurt you, I'm going to get you back home," he said
She took his hand and he walked her to the plat form that she needed to be at. Of course the last call was made and he had gotten her to it in time.
" Thank you," she said
" Your welcome, try not to get lost there are strange people here," he said
She nodded and walked on the train, and she found a seat and waved to the boy. He waved back and then watched the train take off.
The next day she made rice balls for the young boy. She knew she would see him and she looked at the rice balls in a container. She went through school and were glad that her rice balls held on for the entire day. She came to the train station and looked all around for the young boy, but couldn't find him.
" I wanted to give him these," she thought, " He's not here."
" Are you lost again? A voice said
Karasuma turned around and saw the young boy and she smiled. She walked up to him and the presented him the rice balls.
" I made them myself, I wanted to thank you with something special," she said
He looked at the wooden box and accepted it and she waited for him to try one. He opened the box and looked at the nicely packed rice balls that were prepared for him. He took one and bit into it then chewed, Karasuma waited patiently as he ate it.
" Thank you very much," he said, " They're very tasty."
She smiled and bowed then thanked him once more. She waved to him and got onto the train and waved to him as it left.
Day after day she would do the same thing and sometimes talked to him, but once spring came she never saw him again. He was gone, but she did give him something to remember her by. She never forgot about him, because he gave her something for her to remember him by. She treasured it and often thought about the boy with no name, that helped her.
End of Flashback
Karasuma opened her eyes finding it was night time. She walked down the hall and took a shower than made a phone call back home.
" Yurika," Karasuma said
" Miho, I guess you made it safely there," Doujima remarked
" Yeah," Karasuma said
" Take as much time as you need," Doujima said, " I've got you covered."
" Thanks Yurika, I just couldn't take it, they were babying me," she said
Yurika chuckled and said, " Men, they don't know how to treat a woman."
Karasuma laughed a little and Doujima and Karasuma talked for awhile. After awhile Karasuma went back to sleep and yet her dreams faded back to the past.
Flashback
Karasuma now 15 looked at her parents as they walked her to the train station. She hugged them really tight and looked at her siblings, who were 8 at the time. She sighed and looked at the two young men. They grabbed her bags and Karasuma looked at them, one was Amon and the other was their senior hunter. She followed them onto the train and sat next to Amon.
" The man you will meet is Zaizen, he is our boss," Amon said
" Ok," she said softly
" I suggest that you try to get rid of every emotion and memory now before we arrive. You are now a hunter and you are not allowed to be expressive," Amon explained
Karasuma nodded and suddenly felt tears fall from her face, though she tried to get rid of them. She hid them in her book that she pulled out and Amon looked at her.
" It will be easy once you learn your job," Amon said
Karasuma looked at him and saw he held a handkerchief and she reached for it. She dabbed her eyes and then handed it back. He nodded and then turned away from her. Karasuma reached into her pocket and pulled out a pin and held it close.
End
The next morning Karasuma woke up to the sun in her face, she sat up and looked at the clock seeing it was 9.
" Oh my gosh I over slept," she said
She looked around and saw she was home. She smiled and laid back and closed her eyes.
" That's right I came back home for awhile," Karasuma said, " I needed this time alone."
She opened her eyes and turned on her side, and pulled her pillow into a cradle.
" I wonder how they're doing without me?" she thought
She then shrugged and closed her eyes falling back to sleep. She wanted to spend the next two days away from work.
In Tokyo
Sakaki ran by foot after a witch, he shot him three times, but he didn't go down. Sakaki tripped and hit his ear piece.
" Amon, he's coming in your direction," Sakaki said
" I'll get him at the corner," Amon said
Robin looked at Amon as he waited for the witch.
" Amon's been focus since Karasuma left, it's as if he's a whole different person, when she's not around," Robin thought
" Get ready Robin," Amon said
Robin nodded and slipped her glasses on and Amon saw the witch
" Sakaki drop back," Amon said
" No problem there," Sakaki said stopping
The witch ran and Robin looked at the witch and fire surrounded the witch. Amon aimed and shot the witch two times. The Orbo acted quickly and the witch dropped and then Amon walked over.
" Nice hunt," Sakaki said
Sakaki wiped the blood from his lips and Robin looked at him.
" I have never physically gotten beaten by a witch with hand to hand combat," Sakaki said
" Are you ok, your eye looks pretty bad and lip too," Robin asked
" I'm fine, I'll get ice on it," he said
Amon sighed called the HQ factory and then looked at Sakaki.
" Come on let's get ice on that face," Amon said, " Robin let's go."
Sakaki got into the car and Robin slid into the back.
" When's Karasuma getting back?" Robin asked
" I don't know, she might not be back for awhile, she left suddenly," Amon said, " She just needs the time."
Sakaki sighed and looked out the window.
" She seemed pretty upset, but over what?" Sakaki asked
" I don't know," Amon said, " I don't understand her sometimes."
He pulled up and they walked up and Doujima looked up.
" Miho, called and she's doing ok, she said she'll probably be back Monday," Doujima said
" Did she leave the number at where she was staying at?" Sakaki asked
" She's at her parents', but she won't let me give the number out," Doujima said
Sakaki sighed knowing Doujima was Karasuma's good friend and she trusted her with the number she was given.
" Why did she go?" Sakaki asked
" She was stressed and needed the time alone," she replied, " I'm afraid that we all need it every once in awhile."
Amon walked in the back as though to ignore Doujima's explanation. He knew that it was more than stress, it was pain that had been caused over years of being a hunter. Unable to express how you feel in the organization, he had once felt that way, but retained his ability to force it away. Amon grabbed his coat and headed out and Doujima looked at him.
" Hey where are you going?" Doujima said
" To the train station," Amon said
He walked off and Doujima went after Amon. She knew what he was doing and couldn't let him.
" Amon stop you can't," Doujima said, " If you go you'll ruin everything."
" Ruin what?" Amon questioned
" Ruin the peace Miho needs to recover," Doujima said
He was hesitated now, but he knew Karasuma better than anyone, after all he was the one he took her under his wing as his first partner. He continued on and Doujima grabbed his arm.
" Please Amon, don't do this, Miho needs her time," Doujima pleaded, " If your worried, you don't have to be."
" Let go," he ordered
" You have no room to order me around," Doujima said
Amon pulled his arm back and walked off and Doujima sighed.
" She won't be happy, but maybe I should wait to find out," Doujima thought
Amon headed to his apartment and gathered a few things. He grabbed his keys and phone then walked out the door. He caught a cab, that brought him to the train station. He bought a ticket to Kyoto and waited there, he had gotten the address from Karasuma's past records and had called somewhere to make sure her parents still lived there.
By 12 he arrived and took a cab to Karasuma's parents house. Arriving about 12:50 on the door step. He looked at the house and knocked on the door.
Karasuma looked at the front door then set the knife down and wiped her hands.
" I'll get it," Karasuma said
Karasuma walked to the front door and unlocked the door, then opened it. She looked up and saw Amon standing there and she gasped.
" Amon," she whispered, " what are you doing here?"
" I came to see you," he said
" Who is it Miho?" her mother said
" No one," Karasuma said
Karasuma looked at Amon and shook her head then started to close the door. Amon stuck his foot in the door way and Karasuma looked at him.
" Amon, I'm spending time with my family. Leave me alone, I don't want to talk to anyone from work," Karasuma said
" You know your lying to yourself," Amon said
" Stop it," Karasuma said, " Go away."
Amon looked at Karasuma and she wiped away the tears. Amon reached over and Karasuma pulled away and looked at Amon.
" I don't need you Amon to pat my hand and tell me everything is alright. I'm a grown woman," Karasuma said, " Both you and Sakaki do that, so don't give me that crap about how you ask in a manner of concern."
Amon folded his arms and Karasuma folded hers.
" Your doing that thing again," Karasuma said
" What thing?" Amon asked
" That fold your arms and sigh, like I can't believe she's given me all this hell," Karasuma said, " Go back home Amon. I need my time away from there. Witch activity is down so I can do this. I haven't seen my family is 4 years."
Amon didn't say anything he just stood there and looked at Karasuma. She knew him to well so she started to close the door.
" Good bye Amon, I'll see you Monday afternoon," Karasuma said
She shut the door and leaned against it and gathered her thoughts for a little while. She shouldn't have been so harsh on Amon, but it was the only way.
" It's not fair," she thought
Karasuma walked into the kitchen and finished making what she was making. Her mother walked into the kitchen and heard Karasuma sniffling.
" Miho, is there something wrong?" her mother asked
" No, not at all it's the onions," Karasuma said
Her mother smiled and said, " A tip would be to burn a candle. It helps and gives you a little more light to see what your doing."
Karasuma looked at her mother and she smiled, her mother dried her eyes then kissed Karasuma's head.
" Thank you mom," Karasuma said
Her mom walked off and Karasuma paused for a minuet and looked out the window. The sun was shinning and the air was fresh. She needed to go out after lunch. So, once lunch was served and eaten, she did just that. Karasuma felt the freedom of being away from work and she didn't have to worry. She walked around her home town and into the busy city and did a little shopping for herself, something she didn't do often. She bought a couple of new blouses for work and just a new dress skirt and jacket to go with the blouse. She bought new shoes and a cute sundress that suited her just well. Karasuma took in the fresh air and stopped, just because she could. She listened to the sounds around her and closed her eyes just for a second. She reopened her eyes and smiled, then walked back towards her house.
By evening Karasuma sat down to dinner with her family and they all talked about what was going on with their lives. Karasuma found her parents had new jobs and seemed to bring in a little more than they use to. Her two brothers were now doing entrance exams were now sophomores in high school and playing sports.
" Karasuma, are you happy with your job?" her mother asked
" It keeps you on your feet," Karasuma replied
" But are you happy with it?" her mother questioned
Karasuma thought about it and thought back on to all that had happened. She couldn't say she truly was happy with it, but there were things that kept her content.
" No," Karasuma said, " I am forced into this job because I'm a craft user."
" We can get you out of it, if we pay Solomon enough," her mother said
" It's too late for me, I can't go back to the life I had once knowing I am a craft user. It's not possible," Karasuma said, " But I can always remember what it was like."
By late evening she sat outside and looked out hearing just the sounds. She stood up and walked towards the door about to go in, when she heard someone come up the wooden steps. She turned around and saw Amon standing there, though he wasn't dressed in his usual attire, he was wearing a black collared button down shirt, with the first two buttons undone, black slacks and black shoes.
" You've changed," Karasuma said
Amon nodded and walked over to her and she turned away.
" What are you doing here?" Karasuma asked, " I told you to leave me alone and that I would be back Monday."
" That's to long," Amon said
His voice tone was different, it had actual emotion to it. She turned to him and looked at him.
" Not for me," Karasuma replied, " I need my time."
" I want to explain myself," he said
" I don't want to hear it Amon," Karasuma said, " I've gotten over it in fact I don't care if you care."
She turned away and started to walk inside, when Amon grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. She stumbled into his arms and Amon caught her, then kissed her on her lips. Karasuma's eyes widen in surprised and then she pulled away from him.
" Amon," she whispered
" I'm sorry," he said
Karasuma took a deep breath and turned away. Amon looked at her and then turned her head towards his gaze.
" Will you listen to me now?" he asked
" I can't," Karasuma whispered
She pushed away and walked inside and Amon sighed. He was frustrated from trying and he wanted to tell her, but she wouldn't let him.