Yay! I finally decided to write another chapter! Mainly because I just miss you guys. And also because I had a really good idea for stuff to do in later chapters, so the sooner I get this one done, the better. But don't worry; I'm at no lack of inspiration here.
-YoukaiofDusk)
I knew something was wrong right at the moment I heard the shrill scream coming from Cirno's house. Flying over to the area to investigate, I worried about her. Then I realized that the scream sounded more like Daiyousei's voice than Cirno's.
I hurry and twist the doorknob to see a man and woman yanking Cirno's hair. Cirno was sobbing, and Daiyousei was screaming for them to stop.
The woman screamed, "You stupid, stupid girl! I don't work to feed an idiot whose highest grade is a low D! Maybe we just need to kick you out of this house! Or have you forgotten the rules?"
"Eye'll try harder mom, just please give me another chance. Please…" Cirno pleaded. Her face was wet, dirty, and bruised.
"Eye'll try harder, Eye'll try harder," the man, probably her father, mocked her. "That's what you say every year. Maybe we should just feed you to the youkai in the forest and see you try harder then!"
Cirno started to choke up again. "Eye is doing my best, Dad. Please, stop."
The dad grabbed her by her wrist and flung her against the wall. Then, the mom started to crawl toward her with a broken glass. I could almost hear Cirno thinking, "This is it. This is the end of me."
Then, the house suddenly got darker and darker, until it was so dark, that the parents were completely blinded. Finally, they managed to stumble out of the door. I waited until they were gone, and then cleared up the darkness.
Both Daiyousei and Cirno shot me a look of gratefulness. "We can't live here anymore. If they come back, they'll kill us. Please…" Daiyousei choked.
"It's alright. I'll take you guys to Eirin's and then you can stay with Mystia and I," I respond gently. Both Daiyousei and I helped Cirno to her feet and dragged her to Eientei.
Mystia seemed surprised when she saw Cirno come in. The ice fairy had broken her leg, sprained her wrist, and had to stay in a wheelchair. Daiyousei wasn't hurt, only shaken up.
"What's wrong Cirno? Thought you were the strongest," Mystia mocked.
I glared at the bird. "She's been through a lot, no need to torment her. And she'll be staying here for a while.
Tears started forming at Cirno's eyes again. As I was about to ask what was wrong, she threw herself on me and embraced me, sobbing.
I patted her back. "It's okay, calm yourself. They won't hurt you anymore~."
Her eyes were still wide with fear. I never knew what it was like to have parents, especially abusive ones. It must be horrible, knowing you could try all you wanted to, but nothing would be good enough, that it would all end in the same result: a beating.
Later Cirno seemed better. "Thanks for sticking up for me. And… thanks for not telling anyone. It would be embarrassing to me."
I nodded. We sat down and gazed at the stars, wondering how the world could be so cruel.
=Action Chapter=
That idiot missionary came back again today.
I told him not to come, or he would get killed. But he sure does believe in helping the world strongly, I'll give him that.
I remember, that very moment, sitting by him in the grass. "Why… do you even want to try? The only humans who get eaten are the ones stupid enough to go in here. So why not, instead of telling us not to eat them, just tell them to stay away?"
"Because, it's not just for the humans, it's for the youkai. Have you ever heard of a youkai family just "disappearing?" He asked.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I have. Nobody ever sees them again," I respond a bit sadly, thinking of my mentor.
His face tenses for some reason. I have soon to figure out why. "It's because sometimes humans go on "raids" as they call them, killing, imprisoning, torturing, and doing other terrible things to youkai families. Even the smallest of children."
I think of my mentor again, wondering if that happened to her. "But you still think telling us not to eat humans is gonna help us? Hell, most humans kill us just because we're youkai! It has absolutely nothing to do with our food choice!" I shout angrily. It was true. My mentor was probably lying dead somewhere, and she never killed a human once.
"Yes, but myth spreads around, and now the few of you that do eat humans have become all of you! And why would you take a human life anyway? Let me show you how precious it is," he offered, grabbing my hand.
My face flushed bright red. I had never felt the touch of a human. His hands were so… warm…
He slowly led me into the human village. He gave me a long black cloak that hid my hair and eyes. "You must not show those. You also may not speak or touch a single person. If you do, it may be death for the both of us."
I understood. As we walked, I looked at teenagers running around happily. Many humans were tending their shops, and there was even a school. One child tugged at my robe. He smiled at me, and I smiled back. "Have a nice day, lady," he said. I nodded, but apparently a little too hard, as the hood of my robe slid off. The kid noticed my bright red eyes and screamed, "Youkai! There's a youkai here!"
The missionary looked at me and mouthed, "Run." I did exactly that, putting as much distance as possible between me and the marketplace. I waited in an alley for the missionary to show up, and he finally came.
"Let's not do that again. You gave the humans quite a scare. Luckily, I told the guards that someone else had already found and exterminated you, so they won't come back. But there may be another youkai village raid, so you may want to hide. But don't you see now? Humans aren't meaningless."
"Those children… will only grow up to be the same youkai haters as their fathers," I say. It saddens me to think about those schoolgirls, that nice little boy, those happy teenagers running amok in the marketplace, will be murdering thousands of youkai families one day.
"Exactly. That's why I am asking you… to join me… To join hands, and help save the future of the world!" he cried.
"I don't know. But, since I have nothing better to do, and for the children, I guess I will," I say.
"Great! Now we shall start by getting you on a better diet!"
Oh boy.
(And CUT! I have no words for this. THE END.)
