Hey everyone! Firstly, I'm so sorry for the late update! Let me give you my reasons first. Recently I've been so busy with my studies that I haven't had time to even breathe! Also, I just went through a major break up from my 4 year long relationship, so, yeah. Suffice to say, things haven't been in my favour. Nevertheless, let's continue with this story!
And thank you so much for your reviews! I love y'all
The road to paradise,
Passes through hell .
Chapter 3 : March forwards
Cold breeze blew on the face of the already freezing girl. Her face had turned blue for lack of oxygen and she clung to the thin cloth covering her shoulders over her frail clothes. She was heading to the most inhabitable place on Earth-The peak of Mount Fuji- to attempt to get her powers to awaken.
The older man turned to look at the girl, his masculine features curving in concern, his hand aching to cover her small figure, something he had to consciously stop himself from doing.
She was always a strong girl, in his eyes, he who had seen her grow up into the beautiful woman she was. And he had also known something else about her. She was extremely stubborn. He turned around and kept walking up the snow capped mountain, the cold not affecting him.
Benio kept rubbing her arms in a desperate need to gain warmth. The cold was making her nauseous and she could no longer feel her feet. She could feel herself losing consciousness and falling forward. The cold snow of the mountain kissed her soft skin, it's gentleness reminding her of him.
Why don't you give up? A part of her conscience told her.
What is the need to fight so much?
Her inner self was in conflict. She was in pain. She extended her hand and reached out to no one in particular, hoping for help. Someone grabbed her hand. She turned to look at her savior.
"Benio.."His voice was soft and clear. She looked up at him.
"The impurities will destroy everything I love if I leave them be. So I'll go before you," He said, the scenery they saw that day by the grave replaying in her head.
His gentle face, his soft gaze, his beautiful smile, she remembered it all like a photograph. She looked at him and smiled.
"What will you do, Benio?" He asked her.
Benio slowly opened her eyes.
"Benio-sama, if you can't continue forward, we can rest." said the older man, crouching to where the young girl was fallen, rubbing her palms softly. Benio put her hands on the snow covered ground and hoisted herself off to stand on her feet.
"No.I can't stop here." she replied. "After all, I promised him." She softly touched the bellflower hair clips in her hair that she refused to take off no matter what. She knew it would give her strength.
Still as stubborn as ever, the man thought to himself, smiling, continuing his journey upwards behind her.
'What will you do, Benio?' His voice echoed in her mind.
'I will do everything I can to get my powers back and then I will follow you.' She answered in her mind.
'So wait for me.'
"It will be impossible for a normal human to climb any higher than this without equipment." said the man after 15 or so more minutes of climbing.
"So, I have to surpass my human limits to get back my abilities?" Benio asked, still shivering, no sun in sight.
"In a way, yes. But that is merely the beginning. Firstly, I cannot guarantee that this will work. There might be a chance of-" But the man was cut off by Benio turning to face him, her eyes ablaze.
"I trust you will lead me to success." she said, looking at the man. He simply bowed his head to her, in respect and she tried her hardest to smile at him. She held his hand and looked him in the eyes.
I trust you, Suiren.
"His name is Suiren." Baaya said, sitting on the dinner table, next to all the confused members of Seika Dormitory. Jisamma and Seigen had returned from the business they had to deal with and had been informed about the situation the minute they returned. Ofcourse, the worried men demanded an explanation from the only person in the room who knew what was going on.
The story she was about to narrate was a tale from a long time ago, a tale she could never forget.
"This story begins when Benio-sama was five years old..."
"Saki-sama.. there is someone here to see you." an attendant said, to the young woman who was fixing her yukata. "Yes, I'll attend to them in a minute."
With one last look, she turned away from the mirror and to her husband who was sitting, holding their five year old pair of twins.
"Come on Hyuuga-kun, we have work to do." Saying so, the husband and wife left their children under the care of the maids to go work.
When Saki and Hyuuga, the Adashino heads entered the main hall, there was a fairly old woman , sitting and crying. Saki put her hand around the old woman and rubbed her back. The woman looked up and gasped. She moved away and crouched on the floor, afraid of having been disrespectful.
"Please forgive me for my behavior.I have a favour to ask of you." she said, wiping her tears on the sleeve of her yukata. "Please go ahead." said Hyuuga, sitting down in front of her.
"My name is Kinu. I am from a small family that runs a shop of exorcist equipment. I am here today to ask you for help for a personal matter."
Hyuuga and Saki nodded at her, urging her to go on. "My son, has some contracted some kind of illness. I am afraid to take him to the doctors to hear the worst. I have heard that you have helped many people heal. Can you please take a look at my son? " She held back her tears and sniffed. Saki turned to her husband who slowly began to stand up. "We'll do our best to help you." Saki said. She knew her husband was a man of few words and she had learned to read his actions over the years. The old lady fell to the floor and cried her eyes out. "Thank you. Thank you so much!"
With one look at the man, Saki and Hyuuga knew that there was no helping him. He was already beyond their scope. The area under his eyes had turned a dark purple and his skin was pale. He looked like a bundle of bones. They turned to look at the old woman who was looking at them expectantly.
"We're very sorry." They said, unable to look her in the eyes. "This is beyond us."
She held the pillar near her for support. What would she do with her son? He was her life, how would she survive with him gone?
Just then,from outside they heard a lot of disturbance. "Little miss! Not there!" came the voice of an attendant that Saki recognized. It was the woman assigned to take care of the twins! Saki raced out to see her little child run into the room. Five year old Benio looked at the man laying on the floor. She didn't speak or move. Hyuuga headed to where his daughter was standing. He didn't want her to see something so tragic at this age, but before he could do anything, she picked up a nearby glass and broke it on the floor.
"Benio!" screamed Saki, horrified at her child's behavior. Benio didn't answer, just moved to where to man lay with a piece of broken glass in her hand. Everyone in the room stood still, unable to approach the seemed as if she was possessed.
Benio sat near the sleeping man and ran the sharp edge of the glass piece over her finger. Blood began gushing out of the small wound. Without blinking her eyes, she moved her fingers on the man's bare shoulder in a particular motion. When she stopped, Saki gasped. She had drawn a Seiman (Star/Pentagon)
"Benio! Do you have any idea what you have done? Making a dead man your shikigami?" she exclaimed.
"A dead man?" said Kinu, her hands on her mouth.
"Your son was dead since before we entered this room. There is no saving him." said Hyuuga softly.
"He isn't dead," said Benio simply.
"He is clinging on to the last of his life." Everyone was stunned into silence. How did this child know?
"Even if that were true, you cannot make a grown man your shikigami! Making another person a shikigami is not possible for adults, let alone children! Shikigamis are a manifestation of an exorcists powers. Unless you have an insane amount of power, you cannot have a powerful shikigami. What do you think you were doing?!" she said, shaking Benio's shoulders.
Just then, from behind them, a bright light shone. They looked at the floor where the man was a few minutes ago, which was now replaced by the beam of light. When the light had ceased to shine, a man stepped out of it. The woman gasped and ran to the man.
"Suiren?!" she exclaimed. "Yes, Mother?" He asked, smiling at her. Tears fell down her eyes. The son she thought was no more was now smiling at her. The man looked down at the five year old child . He bowed down to her. "You saved my life," he said. "But how did you know I was alive when everyone thought I was dead?"
"I heard your voice." Benio answered smiling at the man. "You were calling for help. I heard you."
Saki and Hyuuga could only stare in amazement. Their very own child had saved a human life and had made a soul contract with a human. They had never imagined such a day would come when they would question the identity of their own child.
"Wow... Benio-chan was always amazing, wasn't she?" Atsushi said, his hands resting on the table. "What happened after that?" Ryogo asked the old lady who was lost in her memories. "What was supposed to happen? My son, who had never worked a day for anyone except himself promised to serve nobody but her. And I, who had to repay the favor done to me, started working at the Adashino house. Suiren never stepped out of the shadows unless he was called by Benio-sama. He continued to better himself as a shikigami and an exorcist. And he devised methods for everything if ever Benio-sama were to be in trouble, but they were all too extreme and Benio-sama knew so she never asked for his help..."
"Till today." Seigen completed, putting down his cup of coffee. "Exactly." Baaya said, looking displeased.
"Well, this decision of taking his help or not depends on the Adashino girl. None of us have any right to stop her from doing whatever she wants. If she's willing to take this risk, then just pray for her 's all." Seigen said, getting up and leaving.
Baaya could only hope he was right.
Rokuro walked through the main gate of the Adashino house. There were long rows of flowers till eyes could reach. He walked next to them, a calm breeze blowing around him.
The calm before the storm,Rokuro thought to himself.
Just when he was about to bend down a touch a flower, he heard footsteps coming his way. In front of Rokuro was a tall bald man, with a katana in hand and dressed in a yukata. He looked fairly old. "Who are you?" He asked Rokuro.
"I was invited here to the Adashino house. I'm-" But Rokuro was given no chance to introduce himself. "This is no guesthouse. We have enough problems to deal with already. We don't need strangers to come and mess it up even more." said the man, three other men stepping in from behind him.
Rokuro took a defensive stance as the men readied their katanas. I'm sorry Shimon, Rokuro said in his head. Doesn't look like I can behave.
"My my, when was this the way to welcome guests in the Adashino household ?" came a voice from behind. Out of the shadows , a man stepped out. He looked majestic.
He had bluish green eyes and dusty blonde long hair that was tied into a small ponytail resting on his shoulder. He wore a purple yukata and walked with his hands in the opposite sleeves, the typical traditional way. The men moved out of the way when they looked at him. Rokuro was confused. Who was this person?
The person in question turned to look at Rokuro. He walked towards where he was standing and smiled gently. "You're Enmadou Rokuro-sama aren't you?"
Sama? Rokuro simple nodded his head, unable to word out a reply. "Forgive me for this horrible behavior but as you know, we are in a bad state right now. Pay no heed to this matter. Follow me." He said.
"Thank you, umm.." Rokuro said, wondering what to call him. He hadn't said his name. The man turned around , realising and said, "Just call me Raijin. I am Benio-sama's guardian and the substitute leader of the family till she is gone. There is no one you could trust more than me here ." He said, noticing the distrust in Rokuro's eyes. "That just makes me doubt you more.." Rokuro said. He chuckled.
"I suppose so. Well, then, will this make it more believable?" saying so, the man pushed behind the hair resting on his shoulder. There,on his neck, was a seiman.
"You're her shikigami?" Rokuro asked, confused. "Well, no, not exactly. This symbol was definitely made by Benio-sama. It is to keep my real form suppressed." He replied. "Your real form?" Rokuro asked, stopping. "Yes," he said, facing Rokuro." I'm a youkai (japanese demons/spirits)." Rokuro stood their gaping. A youkai?
He chuckled once again. "You don't have to digest so much information in one day. We'll take it slowly."
Rokuro didn't say a word and just continued to follow the man in absolute silence. He would probably go crazy if he found out anything more.
They walked into through the smaller gate, entering the main house. There in front of Rokuro was a giant mansion. Typical Japanese ancient style house made of wood with detailed architecture. The main hall branched out , radiating in five different directions, all terminating at different rooms.
Beautiful, was all that came to Rokuro's mind.
They walked towards the main hall, following the wooden ledge that led to it, underneath which was a body of water.
No wonder Benio was so spoilt at first, Rokuro thought to himself giggling. They walked past a few rooms to the East of the house, but one caught his attention in particular.
Talismans arranged neatly in cupboards, a futon put perfectly on the tatami matted floor. A tiny table to the edge with a number of scrolls placed near them. It felt familiar.
"You do know her well, don't you?" Raijin said smiling. "That used to be Benio-sama's room. I've kept it exactly how it was to keep the feeling of her existence in this house intact."
Everything was so neat. Typical Benio.
"Take a seat." Raijin said as they walked into the main hall. "Leave us alone. " He ordered all the maids to leave. Sitting down opposite to Rokuro, he poured tea into their cups. "So, can you please brief me regarding this whole ordeal? What is the situation?"
Rokuro narrated how much ever he knew. Raijin listened carefully, tea in hand. "I see. Benio-sama has lost her powers" Rokuro nodded his head, reliving those moments." Don't worry, she has help. " Raijin said, standing up from his position and looking out of the window.
"Rokuro-kun, I only have one request. Please don't mention anything about Benio-sama's problem to anyone. No matter how they look, everyone here only wishes evil for her. I maybe a substitute, but I can't control them because I'm not a member of this family. " Rokuro stood up and put his hand on Raijin's shoulder.
"I won't mention it at all. Trust me, I'm the last person who'd want her to go through any more pain." Raijin smiled at the boy.
"You really love her, don't you?" He said , looking at the boy in front of him.
Rokuro smiled sadly. He had known for a very long time in the depth of his heart, but he had never felt the need to vocalize it. He could see her in everything he did. Every memory he had for the past two years was with her by his maybe the final parting kiss she had given him, the one she referred to as a charm, actually did work.
"Yeah," he said, remembering her smile that day. "I really do ."
There you go! Chapter three! I'm sorry for the lack of romance, but I really needed to introduce these two important characters! I hope I didn't bore you! Next chapter will have a little more insight into Benio's childhood, and some serious MayuShi romance! Thank you for reading! I love y'all ❤
