Dated back to the Showa era, where Alice was killed as a sacrifice. Being chosen as a candidate for the sacrifice was not her wish, adding to the fact that she was blind. Was it unjust to wish for a future in such a hopeless and dark time?
Day 4
"What are you doing, Koizumi san?" Ruka voice was harsh and cold. Luna stood a few steps away from where Mikan had stood with a pole on her hand.
"Well, Nogi. I believe the question should be asked by me. What are you doing with her?" Luna stared at the man in front of her viciously.
"I have every right to be with her!" Ruka replied with a scream.
Scoffing, Luna looked straight into Ruka's blue eye.
"You are a fool, Nogi. Do you love this woman so much you do not fear punishments?"
"It does not even matter, does it?"
"Of course it matter," Luna scoffed. "After all, you are in a risk of having a life long imprisonment."
Ruka looked away, hesitating to look at Luna.
"You remember what we talked about yesterday, do you not? Our deal is that you have to stay away from Mikan Sakura."
Day Three - Morning (Flashback)
"You call for my presence, sir?" Ruka bowed after he reached the middle of the room. In front of him sat the member of the councils. One of the few he recognized were Hotaru Imai and Luna Koizumi.
"Nogi. Your mother is from France, is she not?" One of the member, Narumi Anju asked. Ruka looked up the moment he heard his voice. He had known him for a while now, but he had been absent due to business trips all the while Mikan was in the castle. This was the first time he had seen him since Mikan entered the castle.
"She certainly is."
"It is amazing isn't it? For you to be accepted by us Japanese despite your facial appearance. Most people with blonde hair or blue eyes would be shun away at the moment of sight." He continued.
"Excuse me for interrupting, but I do not know where you are going with this."
"Certainly you do not. You see, we are thinking of placing Mikan Sakura as the village priest due to her ability."
"You had not seen her ability for yourself, have you, sir?" Ruka voiced out.
"Such an impudent mouth! I have not, but I have heard around. Now, before I was interrupted... We are thinking of making Sakura san as the village priest due to her ability. But this is in fact, a pretense."
"A pretense?"
"The perfect pretense. Natsume Hyuuga is a dangerous man. He can make fire appear out of nowhere. He would be the perfect candidate for the sacrifice this time round. Sakura san, however... In 5 years, it will be her turn to be chosen as the sacrifice. I am sure that the villager will not welcome someone with power as their high priest. By the time 5 years are up, she will go down the hollow pit."
Ruka gritted his teeth in anger. He did not try to hide his unhappiness from the revelation he was revealed to. He looked at the rest of the council board who looked at the two with amused eyes.
"And why are you telling me this?"
"You are a smart man, Nogi san. For sure you knew that the candidate that was not chosen this time round will be chosen in the next sacrificing ceremony. How do I know that you will not escape with Sakura san if she was not chosen for the sacrificing ceremony this year?"
Narumi looked at Ruka pointedly before he continued with his speech.
"That is why we are making an agreement. Stay away from Sakura san or a life long imprisonment. I am sure that should be an easy decision."
At that moment, the door slide opened and a deafening silence filled the room.
Mikan Sakura entered the room with two of the palace maid guiding her ways.
Day 4
"I did not agree to anything, Koizumi san. There was not a deal in the first place."
Luna clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"I know I hate this woman for a reason," Luna said. "Forget about being the high priest! I will lock her up in the basement and torture her until the next sacrificing ceremony rolls around!" She exclaimed.
"I will not allow that to happen!"
"If you don't want that to happen," Luna paused and looked at Ruka.
"Then stay away from her."
How long had he been in that room?
Everything was white. It made him felt like he could taint the place anytime with his hands.
He could not hear even a single noise.
The silence was deafening. He felt like he was going insane.
The wooden cuff on his hands and legs felt like it could pierce through his bone anytime.
"Get me out of here..." Natsume whispered as his hand squeezed a part of his yukata. His voice was full of longing and pain.
The cleansing practice had left many people insane.
He knew now why. There was no window nor door in the white room. There was no noise and there was no way out.
He was told that the solitude would make him more 'holy', more 'open' to the godly realm. Well, he said bullshit. What kind of logic was that? Locking someone up to the point they were insane and then killing them? What did that have to do with 'cleansing' or 'godly realm'?
It was not like his connection to the world was completely cut off though. He was sure they would not leave him without food or water for he could end up dead. And they would let him out for a while to use the toilet. The question was when.
At that moment, dying didn't sound half bad.
"God..." Natsume muttered. "If I could wish for one thing, just one thing, it would be for this wicked village to burn down."
So that no one will ever go through this sacrifice shit.
And that one day, we will be accepted. Accepted by the society for our differences.
We will be able to live in harmony without looking down on anyone for being abnormal.
One day we will be the one to decide our future. We will be happy.
I tried to make this chapter longer, oh well.
I hope you enjoy this chapter. Tell me what you think in your review (-:
Love,
pancakezxc
