(8) A Cat's Nine Lives
Disclaimer: I do not own this anime, but I do own my OC.
Summary: Mikage had another familiar, one that could deal with Tomoe, because she too was a Yokai.
Note: This is all about Kimiko's past.
:
Kimiko's first life was taken when she was born. Usually, Cat Yokai babies didn't gain their nine lives until they were one years old. But Kimiko was different, even from the moment she was born. She had gained her nine lives straight away, and her first one was taken away just as quickly. Good job she was different though, or she'd be dead. She doesn't remember it happening, but she was told by the very person who tried to take her first life.
Her father.
Her mother had died given birth to her and her twin brother, Tsubasa. He was seen as a miracle, while Kimiko was seen as a curse that had killed her mother. The Clan had never had twins before, they had only ever heard of them.
But now the Clan had a chance to know what it was like when Nadeshiko and Koko told the Clan that they were having twins. Originally, the Clan was happy, over the moon. But that soon washed away when Nadeshiko died in child birth.
:
"I'm having twins!" Nadeshiko announced to the Clan leaders and elders. Koko stood beside his wife. He had the biggest grin on his face, he hadn't been this happy since his wife said yes to marrying him.
Nadeshiko was a tall woman, she had long black hair and topaz eyes, a very unusual look for the Cat Yokai, making her one of the most beautiful woman in the Clan. Koko was just as exotic as his wife. For a male he was short, he had normal brown hair and ruby red eyes, which made him look very attractive.
"Congratulation!" The Clan leader cheered.
The Clan elders bowed, "May you have a safe pregnancy."
Nadeshiko beamed with happiness. She looked at her stomach lovingly, "I can't wait to see you two."
Koko looked at his wife and bent down, "You behave for your mother now, you two."
They both knew the pregnancy wasn't going to last long. Cat Yokai's pregnancies only lasted for four months, that's why there was so many of them, because they could reproduce quickly. Cat Yokai didn't show that they were pregnant; their stomach only usually looked like a small bump.
However, Nadeshiko was quite large, but after all, she was carrying twins. Nadeshiko was already in her third month, she didn't want to say anything until she was certain, she had a few miscarriages before, and she didn't want to get her husband's hopes up again.
A month passed, and Nadeshiko went into labour. The pain was excruciating, it was worse than being stabbed repeatedly with a blunt and rusty knife.
Nadeshiko screamed as she pushed.
"Again!" The nurse said.
Nadeshiko pushed again, screaming at the top of her voice. She felt tired and exhausted, but she needed to get the babies out of her.
With the third push, Nadeshiko was rewarded with a quite crying noise. Nadeshiko weakly looked up and saw her baby, her precious baby boy.
A shock of pain shot through her, as if reminding her that she had another baby to deliver.
"Miss, we are going to need you to push." The nurse said.
Nadeshiko nodded and pushed with all her might.
"Again!"
Push.
"Again!"
Push.
"Again!"
Nadeshiko screamed as she pushed again, and was reward with another cry from her baby. Nadeshiko couldn't even move she was so weak, the energy had been drained from her.
"We need help, she's bleeding!"
Nadeshiko didn't even care, she was so tired and wanted to close her eyes.
"Miss, please you have to stay with us!" The nurse screamed frantically, never once had she lost one of her patients, but she feared she just might today.
"Tsubasa... Kimiko..." Nadeshiko whispered with the last of her energy and closed her eyes to never open them again. The nurse waited for a number to appear above the woman, but when it didn't she panicked.
"Nadeshiko!" Koko shouts as he storms into the room. When he sees his dead wife's body, he rushes over to her. He looks at her with a heartbroken expression.
"Sir," The nurse said shakily.
Koko stilled but never looked at the nurse.
"She said two names, the first one was male, and she said Tsubasa-"
Koko cut her off, "Was she alive with Tsubasa?"
The nurse nodded her head, "Yes, but it was with Kimiko, the girl that she haemorrhaged-"
"Get out."
The nurse looked confused, "What?"
"I SAID GET OUT!"
The nurse scampered away in fear.
Koko breathed heavily.
His wife was dead; the love of his life was dead. Just after she had given birth to Kimiko-
Kimiko, it was her fault.
Koko felt anger spike through him. He looked at the two babies in their beds. Tsubasa had a blue blanket while Kimiko had a pink blanket. He walked over to the Cubs and looked down at them.
Tsubasa had a tuff of brown hair and small brown Cat ears and tail, he opened his eyes slowly to reveal topaz eyes, just like his mother. Koko smiled at Tsubasa and kissed his head softly.
Koko looked at Kimiko and saw her mane of black hair with large Cat ears and a fluffy tail, she slowly opened her eyes to reveal ruby eyes, just like him. The anger came back full force, she was the reason Nadeshiko was dead, and it was all her fault.
All her fault.
All her fault.
All her fault.
Koko grabbed a pillow and placed it on Kimiko's face. A life for a life, she didn't deserve to live. Kimiko began to struggle, moving around to try and breathe, but it would not save her, he was much too strong.
"Die." Koko whispered.
Kimiko stopped moving.
He removed the pillow and looked at Kimiko with emotionless eyes. He was about to take Tsubasa and leave, until the number nine appeared above her in green. The number nine changed to eight and then disappeared.
Koko nearly dropped Tsubasa in shock.
:
Her second life was taken when she an infant in Yokai years. But she was different; she was stronger than an average Cub and had a full set of adult Yokai teeth. Her black hair was kept short, her father didn't like her having long hair, saying she looked like her mother with long hair.
Kimiko had already clicked on that something was wrong with her father. He always seemed distant from her. He never hugged her or went near her willingly. Kimiko would watch as Tsubasa would be cuddled, watch how much her father loved her brother and not her.
As a Cub, this made her angry; she wanted her father's attention.
:
Kimiko watched from behind a tree in their back yard as her father hugged Tsubasa. Her father scooped him up in his arms and swung him around. Tsubasa squealed in glee. Kimiko wanted to be swung around like Tsubasa, it looked like so much fun!
Kimiko ran out from behind the tree and stood near her father.
Koko smelt Kimiko and looked down. Kimiko had a hopeful expression on her face, "Up!" Kimiko said. It was her first word. Usually parents were ecstatic when their child first speaks, but Koko looked at her with distain.
"Go away!" Her father barked.
Kimiko flinched and ran away, behind the tree that she was behind originally.
Koko huffs and places Tsubasa on the ground, before walking back into the house to get something.
When Kimiko saw that her dad was gone, she walked up to Tsubasa. She wanted to see what was different between her and her brother, why did her father love Tsubasa more than her?
Tsubasa looked at his younger sister and made a noise, he couldn't speak. Kimiko reached out to touch her brother, she had always been separated from him, her father never let her near him.
"TSUBASA!"
Suddenly, Kimiko found herself on the floor and in pain, she looked at her hand, the hand she was reached out to touch Tsubasa with, and saw that a knife was sticking out of it. Kimiko screeched in pain, she grabbed the knife with her little hands and threw it away from her.
Kimiko looked up and saw Tsubasa wasn't there anymore, but her father was, and he looked angry.
"Don't you dare touch him you devil child!" Her father yelled at her.
Kimiko whimpered.
Koko stormed over to Kimiko and she tried to crawl away. Koko grabbed her leg and swung her into the hard tree. Kimiko screamed on impact. Kimiko landed on her back and she groaned.
Koko took another knife and stabbed Kimiko in the back, where her heart was. Kimiko stopped moving altogether. The light in her eyes disappeared and she slumped to the ground.
A number eight appeared above her in green, but soon the number changed to seven and disappeared.
:
Kimiko lost her third life when she was sixteen years old in Yokai years, and again it was to her father. Kimiko wasn't like any normal Cub her age, she was stronger and faster. She could speak and write fluently, while her older brother struggled to write at all.
That didn't make her father very happy, in fact as she got older, the meaner he got.
By sixteen years old in Yokai years, they were supposed to develop their powers. Cat Yokai were typically earth users, like her dad was. However, Kimiko didn't develop earth powers; she developed wind powers instead like her mother.
Her mistake was showing her father her powers.
:
Her father was teaching Tsubasa how to use his 'powers'. Tsubasa hadn't actually developed his powers, which was very disappointing to Koko, because that's when they are supposed to. However, he never gave up hope that Tsubasa would get his powers.
Koko did not care for Kimiko, as far as he was concerned, she was a nuisance and a burden.
Kimiko watched from away, they were in the back garden, and she was behind the tree that her father had killed her at. Kimiko used to avoid the tree for years, until she realised that it wasn't the trees fault she died.
Kimiko still yearned for her father's love, but everything she tried, he would just hit her.
Kimiko saw her father teach Tsubasa the stances, she decided to copy them for fun. There wasn't anyone there for her to play with. She was never let outside the house, and Tsubasa wasn't allowed to play with her.
She placed her feet apart from each other and copied their movements, they were forceful and they relied on strength and their posture was tense. After trying for a few moments, she stopped. She couldn't seem to move the earth. Standing like this felt wrong, it was like it went against everything she did. Kimiko brings her legs closer to together and relaxes her body.
Kimiko suddenly felt empowered, like a power was running through her body. This time, Kimiko moved more gracefully, letting her body relax and move instinctively. To Kimiko, this seemed like dancing, which she had always enjoyed. As Kimiko spun around, she didn't notice the air change.
When Kimiko stopped spinning, she noticed a small cluster of air that was visible; it was the size of her hand. Kimiko's eyes widened as she looked at the visible air. She touched the air and felt the breeze on her hand.
She looked from behind the tree and saw that Tsubasa or her father hadn't noticed what she had done.
Kimiko suddenly felt excited, she could show this to her father, then he would love her! Kimiko picked up the little tornado in her hands and ran over to her father.
"Look what I can do!" Kimiko shouts as she runs over.
Koko and Tsubasa look up when they hear Kimiko shout. When the two male Cats saw the wind in her hands, Tsubasa could help but feel a little jealous but proud of his little sister.
Koko was another story altogether. He looked at Kimiko's hands in horror.
Koko kicked Kimiko when she was close enough. Kimiko was sent flying back at the power of his kick. Tsubasa looked at his dad in horror, he had hit his younger sister!
Koko stormed closer to Kimiko and grabbed the front of her kimono and brought her to his face, "Do you think this is some kind of joke?!" Koko screamed.
Kimiko whimpered and shook her head.
"You are a disgrace!"
Her whimpering increased.
"Stop it father!" Tsubasa yelled at his father, he had never seen this side of his father before.
At the sound of Tsubasa telling him to stop, he froze, he turned his head, "You're sticking up for this disgrace?!"
Tsubasa took a step back.
Koko's head whipped round to Kimiko again, "You're turning my own son against me." Koko growled and threw her to the ground.
Kimiko hit the ground hard; her head had hit a very large stone. Kimiko's eyes widened and they closed again. Blood trickled from her neck and onto the grass.
A number seven appeared above Kimiko in green, but the number soon changed to six and then disappeared.
:
Her fourth life was also taken by her father again. This time, she was fifty years old when it happened.
She had spied on her brother training, she really shouldn't have, but she did anyways.
:
Kimiko watched her brother from a far. He was in the training room of the house, he had a sword in his hand and he was attacking a training dummy. Kimiko thought that it looked exciting and she wanted to join in too.
But she knew that if her father found out, she'd get killed. She had given up trying to get her father's attention or love. She knew it was impossible. She also never used her wind powers in front of him again. She trained on her own, and the guards who would walk past. They were nice to her; they would bring her food and make sure she was in good health. They constantly complimented her, saying how she was improving.
They had even told her about her mother, which she found interesting. Her mother's name was Nadeshiko and she could also use wind, the only person who could. Now she could.
Tsubasa spotted a mop of short black hair and instantly knew it was Kimiko, "Come on out Kimiko."
Kimiko jumped, but slowly came out of her hiding spot, "You're not going to tell father, are you?" Kimiko asked a little scared.
Tsubasa shook his head. The memory of his father killing Kimiko still fresh in his mind, "No, I would never tell him."
Kimiko grinned and ran forward. Tsubasa opened his arms and let Kimiko hug him. He swung her in the air making her squeal in delight. However, Tsubasa lost his balance, causing them both to topple over.
They both looked at each other before bursting into laughter.
Kimiko missed her brother, her father would always keep them separated. Kimiko looked at the discarded sword, "Can I play?" Kimiko asked with childish innocence.
"It's not a game Kimiko." Tsubasa said seriously, "We are training to fight those dirty Foxes."
"Why?" Kimiko tilted her head.
"They're evil that's why." Tsubasa says.
Kimiko is silent before saying, "Then is father a Fox?"
Tsubasa gasped and a look of fear appeared in his eyes.
Kimiko stiffened when she smelt her father, it was earthy and dark.
"I'm a Fox, am I?" Koko spat as he stomped into the room.
"Father please-"
Tsubasa was hushed with one look from his father. Tsubasa looked at Kimiko was sympathy and horror.
Koko grabbed the discarded sword and stabbed Kimiko in the stomach.
"AHHHH!" Kimiko screamed in pain.
Tsubasa flinched at the scream and looked away.
Koko let the sword go, which caused Kimiko to fall to the ground. Kimiko landed with a thump as she lay motionlessly on her back. The blood poured out like a waterfall.
Koko looked satisfied with his work and removed the sword, making Kimiko scream again. Koko watched the life leave Kimiko's eyes and the number six appear above her in green, the number even turned to five and then disappeared again.
:
Her fifth and fourth lives were taken in the garden again. She was one-hundred years old and was acting rebellious.
That was a mistake that she was going to pay dearly for.
:
It was that time of year again, the time to get her hair cut. Ever since her father had found out that she could control wind to an adult level, he started getting her hair cut more. It never got past her shoulders before he demanded for it to be cut off.
Kimiko liked long hair, she wanted it to grow out, but her father would never let her. She had heard from the guards that it was because she looked like her mother.
Kimiko sat in the garden looking over the large pond that they had. There weren't any fish in it yet, but there would be soon.
"Scum, it's time to cut your hair." Koko called, that's what he called her, scum. She was scum at the bottom of his shoe, not even worth his time.
Kimiko didn't move though and made no indication that she heard him.
"Didn't you hear me?!" Koko shouts at her.
"My name is Kimiko!" Kimiko shouts.
The garden is suddenly quiet.
Koko suddenly appeared in front of her and grabbed her by her neck, "What did you say to me?!" Koko screamed.
Kimiko spat in his face and smirked.
His face reddened with anger. He would wipe that smile off her face. He pushed her down into the pond and held her down.
Panic filled Kimiko as she struggled, she hated dying! It was painful to come back and then remember what had happened. Kimiko struggled with all her might, she even managed to move him. When he realised this, he sat on her so she couldn't move.
The struggling began to slow down until it eventually stopped and she law motionlessly in the water. Koko stood up and grabbed Kimiko by her hair and threw her on the grass. The number five appeared above Kimiko in green and soon changed to four and then it disappeared.
However, this time, he didn't leave. He waited for her to come back to life.
When Kimiko opened her eyes, she saw her father standing above her. She whimpered and started to cough to try and get the water out of her lungs.
"We're getting your hair cut." Koko growled.
"N-no." Kimiko replied scratchily.
Koko roared and began to beat Kimiko with an inch of her life. There wasn't anywhere he didn't hit. He hit her until she felt numb, until she couldn't feel anything. But Kimiko thought that it was better this way, better than she couldn't feel the pain.
She closed her eyes and stopped breathing.
The number four appeared above her in green; it then changed to three and disappeared.
:
The last life that she lost was to her brother. Kimiko was one-hundred and fifty years old at the time, and it was the last time that someone had taken her life.
:
Kimiko swung her sword elegantly, she swung it again to the side, making sure that her movements remained graceful and relaxed, almost as if she was dancing.
When she was done with her deadly dance, she heard clapping. Kimiko turned her head and trained her expression, something she had learnt to do over the years.
"What do you want, Tsubasa?" Kimiko asked coolly.
Tsubasa had turned nasty in the recent years. Their father had brainwashed him into believing that he was better than her, and that she was just scum. It had worked, and now he hated her. Originally, Kimiko was hurt, but she soon hid that fact, knowing that he enjoyed hurting her.
"Now, now, is that anyway to speak to your superior?" Tsubasa said tauntingly.
Kimiko scowled, "I don't have a superior."
Tsubasa glared.
Then he smirked, "Why don't we spar? We'll fight with swords and nothing else."
Kimiko froze, "No."
Kimiko knew that she was better than her brother in fighting, both in element and weapons. She had seen him fight; he played dirty when he couldn't win. And when he went against someone who was better than him, father would bride the other to make them lose, which happened a lot. However, according to the Clan elders and leader, he was the best fighter in the Clan.
Tsubasa suddenly appeared behind her and tried to slash her back. However, he was too slow; Kimiko had already jumped out of the way and had landed gracefully far away from him.
Tsubasa growled and chased after her.
Kimiko shook her head, he was using all of his strength already. She continued to jump out of the way; his movements were predictable and full of anger. While Kimiko had a clear head, she was toying with him, she knew she was, but she was sick of his treatment towards her.
"Stay still!" Tsubasa shouts in anger.
Kimiko laughed at him, making him even angrier.
Kimiko saw an opening and attacked; she appeared at his left side and slashed his arm. Tsubasa looked at his wound in shock, the pain evident in his eyes. He was screaming on the inside, but he wanted to appear tough so he didn't scream out loud.
"Had enough?" Kimiko taunted.
Tsubasa suddenly charged, but because his movements were so predictable, she countered everyone single on with ease, while he was starting to tire out.
"H-had enough yet?" He said, trying to taunt Kimiko.
Kimiko smirked, "I'm not even trying."
Tsubasa growled. He had always been jealous of her, she was always better at everything.
Tsubasa looked at the sand on the floor and grabbed some; he then suddenly threw it in Kimiko's eyes. She screamed and closed her eyes.
Tsubasa took the chance to strike.
However, Kimiko's Cat ears twitched and she moved out of the way in time. She back flipped and listening, since her sight was gone, she'd have to rely on her other senses.
She smelt dirt and leather on her left.
She jumped away in time.
Tsubasa growled, "What aren't you going down?!"
"I'm better than you!" Kimiko shouted with a smirk.
Suddenly, Kimiko felt the earth move. She tried to jump away, but the earth had hold of her, and it wouldn't let go. Kimiko knew what it was, it was Tsubasa cheating.
"You cheat!" Kimiko exclaimed.
Tsubasa laughed, "No, I'm just better." Tsubasa grabbed Kimiko's neck and snapped it.
Kimiko fell limp to the ground. The number three appeared above her in green, and then it changed to the number two before disappearing.
Koko appeared behind his son and saw what he had done, "I'm proud of you, my son."
Tsubasa smirked. However, when he looked at the body, his eyes dimmed slightly.
Before Kimiko could fully come back to life, Koko took Tsubasa's sword and stabbed her in the heart. A number two appeared above her in green, but it soon changed to the number one and then disappeared.
She was on her last life now, and she would protect that life.
:
Somehow, the Clan elders and Leader heard about Kimiko, someone had spotted her and Tsubasa fighting and told them how amazing she was. Kimiko was brought into see the Elders, much to Koko and Tsubasa's distaste.
Kimiko had to fight every member of the fighting squad in her Clan, and she won. She wouldn't say thanks to her father, but because of how much he hurt her, she had built up endurance to pain, which was the highest the Clan, had ever seen.
:
"Kimiko, you have been brought here for a reason." The Head Clan Elder said.
Kimiko stood beneath the Elders with no expression on her face. She locked away her emotions, because when she did, she didn't feel the pain and wouldn't remember what her brother and father did to her.
"Someone spotted you fighting Tsubasa, and winning." Another Elder said.
"Is that right?"
Kimiko nodded her head.
The Head Elder smiled, "Kimiko, I have a proposition for you."
Kimiko looked at the Head Elder with an eyebrow raised.
The Head Elder spoke, "You will be trained by only our Clans greatest, we want you to become a warrior. Of course, this means you'll have to move away from your family-"
"I'll do it."
The Clan Elders looked shocked, but they soon smile, "Excellent decision Kimiko, you will move into the house at the back of the Clan, be there."
Kimiko tuned out the rest of the meeting. On the inside she was excited to get out of that house, away from her stupid brother and father. Kimiko was so absorbed into her thoughts that she didn't notice that she was already back at her house and bumped into Koko.
"Watch were you're going." He snarled.
"Why don't you?" Kimiko challenged.
Koko raised his arm to hit her, but Kimiko was quicker. She grabbed his arm and twisted behind his back and forced him to a wall.
Koko groaned.
"You will not hit me anymore." Kimiko hissed at him.
Koko growled making Kimiko tighten her grip and break his arm. He cried out in pain and fell to the floor, cradling his arm.
Kimiko walked away feeling satisfied. And she felt even more satisfied when she saw her brother's scared face.
This was freedom.
