Ok guys help me out here. :) Are my paragraphs too large? Do I need more spacing between the paragraphs? Also if you've read this chapter before, it has several new paragraphs and an added snippet that will come up later in the story. The snippet ties up a plot hole for a future chapter.
It only takes a few minutes for her to find Tsubame in the kitchen. Tsubame is gently shaping the rice into cute shapes and she looks up with a smile that freezes on her face when she sees Kaoru. Or more specifically, sees Kaoru in the kitchen. "Ah! Hi Kaoru. Did you need something?" Kaoru is willing her eye not to twitch and is vaguely wondering if she had moved to stand protectively in front of the food consciously or not. As though her gaze will turn it into something inedible. Tsubame is also a smidge more devious than she is given credit for so it's very possible she had moved consciously.
Once, a new group of orphans happened to have their first meal on Kaoru's cooking day. They had been eating whatever could be scavenged on the streets and with that background, Kaoru's cooking was considered the best thing they had eaten in their lives. Unfortunately, they then refused to even try anyone else's cooking until they were moved to the Sekihōtai. It had taken months to move them, and it left Tsubame and Yahiko eating Kaoru's cooking. From that point on , Tsubame had made it a point to be the only person cooking especially on nights when new children were coming. It had been a year and things still didn't taste right to her.
"Oh, nothing much. I was thinking of helping out in the kitchen today. It's been a long time since I've done any cooking." Tsubame's eyes were wide and her face pale. Kaoru let her stew before, like the benevolent person she is, taking pity on her. "Actually, I'm letting you know that I'm headed to the city today. I should return by nightfall." If Kaoru doesn't return in time, they will evacuate for fear of her being captured and giving away their location. Tsubame frowns as she takes in Kaoru's clothing. She had been so preoccupied about Kaoru being in the kitchen that she hadn't noticed Kaoru's clothing. Which meant Kaoru had fooled her with her claims of cooking. "You… you will be safe and not draw attention to yourself?"
"Of course. This isn't the first time I've gone you know." She chewed her lip while staring at Kaoru. "Yahiko, the children, and I have already lost so much. I can barely remember my mother's face. Don't make us lose another one." Kaoru had always known, or at least suspected, that some saw her as a mother. Yahiko's vision could happen anytime, but she doesn't think it'll happen today. She ignores and plastered a smile on her face. "Tsubame, I can promise you that none of you will be losing me today." But it's possible that you will lose me sooner than you think. Her mind had finished the sentence for her. It wasn't an outright lie to not tell Tsubame. However, even as she told herself it wasn't lying, a part of her still whispered to her. 'A lie by omission is still a lie in the end.'
Tsubame's relieved smile was a double edged sword to Kaoru. Kaoru's smile slipped from her face as soon as she left the kitchen. Tsubame would have figured everything out if she had stayed any longer. She will be cautious today. Using the tunnel behind Heizo's stall would run an even larger risk that what was necessary. Especially if something had happened to him. She needs an entrance with few people that could witness her emergence. It takes quite a few minutes to walk there. The entrances were built to be as far as way from the children's rooms and escape tunnels as possible. The purpose behind this was to ensure that evacuation would be complete by the time an intruder made it to those rooms. Kaoru quickens her pace and smiles at the children she passes on her way.
Otou-san had built this place because of her. She doesn't remember how old she was or where they lived other than it being a small village. Kaoru remembers holding her father's hand and watching the soldiers dragging a man from his home. The man was a quiet sort who offered everyone a smile and occasionally offered sweets to the children. "Otou-san, why are they taking him away?" He knelt down and looked into her eyes. "He has demon blood Kaoru. Demons are evil so they're taking him away."
She glanced at the man again. The man wasn't resisting and his colors… They were sad, angry, and resigned. But a lot of people in the crowd watching had colors like that. "What makes them evil?" Otou-san's face grew grim and his lips thinned. "They have no souls Kaoru. Things without souls are evil. They're not people. They look like people, but they're not like us." Her father's colors weren't cruel, angry, or hateful like the words were. She didn't understand then, but now she realizes this was because he believed it was a fact of life. "But…. Otou-san… His colors and shape look like everyone else's." Otou-san gave her a stern look. "Kaoru, a person's skin doesn't determine their humanity." He hadn't understood her. "Not those colors. The colors that are inside here. She placed her hand over his heart. "He's sad Otou-san." That was the only time she had seen fear, horror, and guilt in her father's colors.
It was also when her father found out about her magic. A human child ddi not have magic unless they had other blood. Several tests had shown Kaoru to only be human. These facts were irreconcilable. So what was she? What kind of creature is his daughter when she shouldn't, couldn't, exist? Kaoru remembered the exact moment he realized the colors and shapes that she saw, were the souls of those in her gaze. The black lines that raced across his soul. A man who believed in not killing people. A man who taught a swordsmanship based on not killing.
The same man… who had turned a neighbor with demon blood into the authorities. She remembers waking to the sound of him retching. Kaoru remembers walking until she was outside his bedroom and staring at the closed shoji. She remembers whispered words. "What have I done? What have I done? What have I done…" A week later he took her to the city. Then he built the tunnels and made an alliance with the Sekihōtai.
The black lines became gray, but never left. Her Otou-san never healed. Kaoru groaned. She is so stupid for thinking of these things before going into the city. It's like she's trying to depress herself so that she ends up not going. In front of her is the entrance to the city. She carefully moves the barrier seal to the side, and peeks through the illusion. The alley is empty of people, so she carefully edges outside. The city smells like freshly cooked food and fresh air.
Kaoru takes a moment to luxuriate in the warmth of the sun that the tunnel's lights could never replicate. The city is large enough, and has enough travelers that an unknown face won't garner attention. She walks into the main streets, and moves towards the bazaar with the crowd. There are so many colors, and she's struggling to focus on common themes that run between them. After several minutes she can see common themes in the adults. Anticipation and fear are the most prominent.
Carefully she outwardly conceals her thoughts with neutrality instead of the worried frown that keeps touching the edge of her lips. The feeling of foreboding that she had locked away is back with a fierce edge to it and with it comes a sense of panic rising in her chest. Breathe in and out. Focus on something else. Anything other than these suffocating feelings. She studies the city's buildings. The city is one structure with several homes built into its walls. The gray stones were carefully stacked in a way that made it look like a work of art. High arches and open space that matched the rise and set of the sun.
Observing these details takes her mind off the dread. She reaches the marketplace and peels away from the group she walked with. Observation promptly ceases to help when she sees the king's soldiers are stationed around the marketplace. They're newly drafted from the looks of their uniforms. The clothes are still brightly colored and freshly pressed. An increasing army would explain why the Sekihōtai were so quiet. Likely they would become more active after the army's movements became more regular. Kaoru cannot continue watching the soldiers without drawing attention to herself, so she observes the marketplace. The remains of a few merchant stalls are strewn about the center of the marketplace, and a few soldiers are going through them. Heizo's stall is among the remains. Some girls are flirting with the soldiers, and it's that moment when she has an incredibly foolish idea.
Tsubame would be terrified for her. Yahiko would be disgusted and amazed by the amount of idiocy her idea contained. Kaoru pastes a politely curious look on her face before walking up to a soldier with a small confliction in his colors caused by trying to justify this to himself. He wasn't a very tall or masculine man. In fact now that she was closer, she could see that his issued clothes were a tad baggy on his frame.
"Pardon me, but what happened to the merchants these stalls belonged to?" The soldier blinked owlishly at her before giving an unintelligibly stuttered response. A larger soldier walked over and flashed a dazzling smile at her. Kaoru watched the suspicion in his colors, and prettily pouted. "I had seen some of those paintings and was hoping to purchase one." An artist of the Sekihōtai had supplied Heizo with some of his paintings.
Heizo often spoke about how well they sold to young women. This, of course, was due to the fact they were all based off of brave and handsome young men from history. His suspicion vanished and his grin grew broad. "Well how about you eat a meal with Daigoro here, and I'll give you one of those paintings." The smaller soldier's eyes were wide. "B-but sensei-" "No buts. Now what do you say young lady? Will you do it for this one?"
He pulled a painting from the others. Kaoru did not have to fake the blush that spread all the way to her neck at the sight of this particular painting. The man pictured needed clothes. More than what he had on. Act the part she told herself, before reaching out and stuttering her acceptance. At least, she thought, Daigoro was redder than she.
They walked to the restaurant together with Daigoro barely able to string together a coherent sentence. She still needed to know about Heizo. Daigoro was fidgeting and staring at his plate. So she worked up guilt and worry into her expression. "Daigoro-san? I feel terribly guilty about having this art and not having paid the merchant for it. Is there a place where I could send money to the merchant?" At this, his head snapped up and his blush vanished. "Kaoru-san, I'm afraid those merchants were taken away for being blooded. They should be nearly finished with getting information about if or where any others are. There've been a few that handle the torture pretty well, so they might take a few days more… because…."
He had trailed off seeing how pale her face became. Kaoru had hoped… Well she had hoped for the impossible it seems. It seemed as though Daigoro was speaking through water with his apologies for offending her delicate sensibilities. He had no intention of telling her distressing things, and really didn't mean to say that.
"I'm sorry Daigoro-san. It was so shocking to hear about such things and my constitution wasn't able to handle that. I must offer my sincerest apologies for having to cut our outing short today." The lies came to her easily as she excused herself. She slipped back into the tunnels with the knowledge they would need to begin evacuation procedures. Even though it was late, the children were all waiting for her in the central room.
They clamored around her looking for the candies Heizo usually sent with her. Another fake smile and more lies. "I'm sorry Heizo wasn't able to send your candies this time, but I do have some good news. We're moving, so I need everyone to pack their things. Oh, and today you can keep your bokens on you instead of in the practice room." Kaoru kept her smile even when she met Yahiko's eyes across the room. Excited children murmured as they raced to their rooms. He stalked across the room and Tsubame hovered on the edges. "Evacuation?"
"There are soldiers in the city and they've taken Heizo. I don't know how long he's been in their possession or if this place will be safe for much longer. Tsubame, can you turn the lights to morning and strengthen the entrance seals from the keystone?" After that was a frenzied packing. Yahiko and Kaoru tossed everything they could into the coastal region. Tsubame hovered over the keystone making tweaks to the seals.
It's not long before they're exhausted, and they're only partially done. Oddly, it's Tsubame who speaks up. "We need to sleep. You two are barely able to move because you're so exhausted." She's right. Their arms are shaking from exhaustion, and the children keep falling asleep standing up. "Alright. Everyone takes a bokken, and we all sleep in the room closest to the escape tunnels."
The children are sleepily grinning in excitement at the prospect of a sleepover, and all that passes through her mind is the wish that they wouldn't have to grow up too fast. But not all wishes come true. She'll have to tell them about Heizo eventually, but for right now she just wants to sleep. Kaoru wonders if she should be worried that Yahiko has gone to sleep without saying a word, but she's too exhausted to think. They fall asleep in a boneless pile.
This time, Kaoru has a new dream. A dream of gold eyes and a circle of seals. The seals cause pain and she has to dismantle them. How? When she voiced the question, the seals flashed gold before showing her. It whispered to her. "One little tug here. Another tug there. See?" Yes… she saw.
And then she woke up to the seals shrieking and red lights. "Evacuate! Go now!" Tsubame's ushering children to the the escape tunnels. Yahiko is staring at her face while the children run around them. He grabbed her wrist and murmured a few words. A black seal blooms across her wrist and Kaoru gasps from pain. "I can't change what will happen, but I'll know if you survive." Her wrist burns, and Yahiko looks like a blend of grief, agony, hope, and hopelessness. His colors were too painful for her to stare at for long. "Protect them Yahiko." Kaoru runs to the keystone and pretends that this doesn't hurt. That she hasn't just shredded Yahiko's hope.
She stands in position, and listens to the children's feet fade as they run to escape. Then the soldiers come. The entrance tunnels are narrow enough that they have to enter one at a time. So she can keep up with them. Will keep up with them. Because there's more than her life at stake. Kaoru can hear her father's words being whispered to her from her memories.
Kaoru, I have to tell you a secret. Her throat hurts from her battle shouts. There are at least twenty men lying unconscious and she's fighting against live steel with a bokken. Do you know why all the seals are tied to the keystone? She won't win this, but she doesn't have to. She only needs to last long enough that they all get away. If the seals remain after evacuation, then they will be able to track where you went. Even if there are safety procedures to ensure only the children can escape through it, they'll be able to break through eventually.
There are no soldiers left standing when the next batch starts coming through. A man the size of a bear is grinning when he steps into the room. He flies at her and, in some distant part of her mind, she registers that his right thumb is twisted. Within a few moments her bokken is shattered and her skull is smacked against the wall. But her fingers don't release the hilt and she slowly stands back up using the wall to brace herself.
He stops to gloat above her. "Your father was responsible for my thumb. My killing ability was greatly decreased for months. I only wish I had been his executioner." She's only listening to the whispers now. The keystone is what can save them, but there is a cost. In the event of evacuation, someone will have to stay behind to destroy it. One for the lives of many. Do you understand Kaoru?
I…. understand. She thinks this while watching the man's sword lift high. The last presence of her children has disappeared. They've finished evacuating. Her wrist burns. "Your life should just about cover the rest of his debt to me." Kaoru twists her wrists above her head and screams as she disarms him. "Hadome." The man stumbles for a moment, but he doesn't recover in time to stop her from slamming what's left of her hilt into his skull.
The few men that trickled in behind him are still staring in shock at his fallen body, and she takes full advantage of that to grab his weapon. Kaoru shatters the keystone with it, and the spelled lights go dark before the backup spell forces them back on. It's enough to stir the men left into action. She has no weapon, her clothes are in shreds from her close calls with the blades, and in some spots there's blood from the blades she didn't manage to avoid. Her reflection from their blades is that of a wild-eyed woman with even wilder hair dressed in bloodsoaked tattered clothes. She wins against these men as well.
Kaoru is barely standing when another soldier, an official from his clothes, walks calmly into the tunnel. A short round man who looks at her in disgust, but he's not what she's looking at. There are glowing gold eyes looking at her from the darkness of the tunnel. "I see you've managed to beat a few men. Maybe you even thought you would win." He gives her a false look of pity before turning to the tunnel with the eyes. "Demon. Capture her alive."
She had been careful to never know the name of any towns around the escape tunnel. Kaoru doesn't even know the landmarks, but she can't risk leading them to the children. Her fingers never reach the sword. The demon has already crossed the room and holds her wrists in a tight grasp. The official is prattling on, and poking at the unconscious people. Kaoru's eyes are wide as she stares at the demon. Red hair, gold eyes, and a ring of seals at his throat.
One little tug here. Another tug there. The whispers are loud and her eyes flick to her wrists where the skin on skin contact is. The ability she had tried so hard to suppress… Kaoru allows herself a moment of regret before reaching out to his mind. Can you hear me? She can feel him shudder and stares into his wide eyes. Was he supposed to be fuzzy around the edges like that?
I had a dream about your seal. The whispers are becoming shouts. One little tug here. Another tug there. It's enough to keep her focused on it instead of the fuzzy feelings enveloping her thoughts. I only need one hand. Will you let me try? Kaoru doesn't look away from his eyes because she's willing him to believe her. It hurts when his fingers tighten, but she stops herself from yelping. The official is still poking at the unconscious people, and she needs time if he'll let her do this.
The demon releases one of her hands, and she slowly reaches for his throat. One little tug here. Another tug there. The official notices too late, and the demon's free. Kaoru's eyes are wide and she's sinking to the floor as the demon slashes through the official and the unconscious bodies. It's raining blood, and suddenly he's standing in front of her with that sword. While he's not making a move to kill her, she feels as though he's considering it.
She's too tired, too fuzzy, to muster up fear so she offers him what she thinks is a smile. He stares at her incredulously. Her wrist burns. Then everything goes dark. Damn, she hates when Yahiko's right.