Chapter two: on broken legs you shall dance

Kyuoko was born in 1833, in the Shinano province, present day Nagano prefecture. Her family name is Sakura, so she introduces herself as Sakura Kyuoko. Like most of the children she grew up with, she was slim, and dark-haired. One of her eyes is a rich brown, like molten chocolate, the other is red. When she was younger, she would take pains to hide it by keeping her hair down and combed over that side of her face. Colored contacts work too, but they were invented too late to save her childhood.

The Sakuras were one of the leading families in the Shinano province and they expected Kyuoko to comport herself in a manner appropriate to their station. She dutifully learned the traditional tea ceremonies, wore the traditional kimono, and did not speak unless spoken to. No one her age was of a high enough station for it to be proper for her to play with- not that play was terribly proper to begin with- so she had no friends. The village children knew of her, of course, and saw her on occasion, but her parents' haughty intervention, and her own otherness kept them from making any serious attempt to approach her. Eventually, the feeling spread that she thought she was too good to interact with any of them, when in fact, she wanted nothing more than to join in their messy, muddy games.

Throughout Kyuoko's childhood, parents whispered of China's subjugation by the west, and worried that their beloved Japan would be next. Their children didn't understand most of what they said, but they understood the tones of fear well enough, and fear is contagious. It is one of humanity's greatest flaws that they fear the unknown, and to the village children, Kyuoko was unknown.

Soon, bad things started to happen to Kyuoko; never anything that could be conclusively linked back to the other children, but stray balls of mud in their endless mock wars would ruin her beautiful kimono, or she would be made to trip in crowded markets. She started going out less, which, of course, only exacerbated the problem, and that was when bad things started happening to the village children as well. Flammable wood and paper homes would mysteriously burn down in the night, cattle would be found dead.

In most mythologies, ill luck is blamed on witches. If milk goes bad, clearly a witch did it. If the family cow dies, witches. If your house burned down, the unpopular girl in the mansion on the hill seems a fine target. Another of humanity's flaws is that they feel some sort of pathological need to place blame, and if that blame makes them feel better about the less than charitable things they think, so much the better. The fact that they happened to be right did not mean that they had any evidence, and Japan had never been much for witch burnings, but a community can punish an outcast in different, crueler ways. Vendors refused to sell to the Sakura family, or else, would raise their prices to absurd levels, food would be delivered rotten, and their beautiful ancestral home would be vandalized. Of course, the vendors were always unfailingly polite; "so sorry," they would say "but we have run out for the day. Maybe next day we will have it?" The delivery men were always supremely apologetic; "so sorry, we'll make sure that doesn't happen again." The police were compassionate and understanding; "of course Sakura-Sama, we will do everything possible to catch the people who did this." But somehow, the courtesy only made the offense worse.

Kyuoko understood why the adults were worried, and she understood why that led to the children tormenting her; she had always been very bright, if a bit unhealthy. Even with that knowledge though, she was still just a child, so she used her magic- the magic she had kept a secret from everyone- to ruin the worst offenders. Later, when the town began to suspect her of witchcraft, and the torment worsened, she again understood, but somehow, that only made it worse.

In 1845, a mysterious young man visited their town. His clothes were well tailored and unpatched, if unremarkable, but he claimed to have no money, and he went directly to the Sakura's ancient home. He asked simply for a place to stay, and a hot meal. At first, the senior Sakuras refused, but he repeated the request, and they agreed without further argument. At dinner, he asked to be left alone with Kyuoko, who, of course, had not spoken yet that meal, since no one had thought to talk to her.

At first, her parents were scandalized; he wants to be left alone with their twelve year old daughter? But he repeated the request, and they left.

"Kyuoko-chan," he said, once they were alone, though he had never been introduced. "You're special. My name is Kohara," he doesn't say whether that is his given name, or his family name. "I can teach you how to be more special. I can teach you how to make people love you, and how to fly, and how to change your shape, and a thousand other things, but there are monsters in the world. The only thing I ask in return for teaching you everything I know, is your help stopping them from hurting innocent people."

Kyuoko didn't doubt that his words were true; she could burn things, after all, and he could make her family agree to anything. "Kohara-Sensei," she replied, always looking down demurely, "what of my parents? Will you teach me here, or will I have to come with you?"

"They are not your parents," he said, refilling his plate as if he owned the home. Kyuoko is startled to see that he has left his shoes on. "If you have a parent, it is the Other One, but I can teach you here if you prefer."

She resolved to ask about the Other One, and her parents, later. She agreed before he could change his mind though, and he asked if he should invite her parents back in. She did not answer, because no one had ever given her a choice like that, so he called out, and her parents to returned.

"Your daughter is sick, Sakura-San," he said, once they were kneeling beside the low table again. "I'm sure you've noticed; she's been sick a while. Fortunately, I'm a doctor. I can help make her well again, if you're willing. I ask only for room and board in payment." He repeats the offer, and her parents agree immediately.

Over the next several weeks, Kyuoko lost her unhealthy pallor and, for the first time ever, was walking without a limp. Her horrible, rasping cough disappeared overnight, and she developed a ravenous appetite where previously, she had to be convinced to eat, and often forgot meals.

The elder Sakuras congratulated each other on their good sense in hiring such a good doctor- and so cheap, too!

AN: Another smiley sticker for my one follower.