Chapter ten

Petitefeeme: Wooohooo! I got my exams! I got my exams! I got my exams! I got…

Haruki: How long do you think she's gonna do that?

Haruko: I don't know dear. As promised, two chapters this day.

Haruki: read and enjoy!

I was currently wishing I never had agreed with Toga.

We entered one week ago the western shiro with Toga and since then Haruki and I have lived a recluse life.

Our rooms were nice enough and warm, and we settled quickly in the shiro's lifestyle, but each time we explored the grounds (the shiro was quite big), the servants and nobles would stare at us like we were freaks.

The best ones were just curious, a tiny bit apprehensive, and the worst were downright disdainful, almost glares.

At the beginning Haruki, with her childlike innocence, was blissfully unaware. However after a few days, even she began to feel self conscious, so I decided to restrict our walks when there were less people and in places less frequented.

Toga at the beginning stayed with us, but progressively he disappeared and at the end he passed most mornings and afternoons training with his best friend named Akane.

Akane was extremely open, smiling and soft spoken for a demon, but after getting to know him a bit better, I discovered this was his strength.

He was always calm and analytic, always thinking before rushing into fight. He was also very intelligent and knew how to hide things behind his smiles, though I saw him once or twice with a typical stoic demon face when he was fighting or commanding his soldiers.

What created a strong bound between him and Toga was that Akane wanted to became the head general (a sort of beta in pack of wolves) while Toga wanted to become the next Inutaisho (which was the equivalent of the western lord and alpha of the pack).

The current lord had only given birth to a daughter, which made possible for Toga to achieve his goal.

I only saw Inukimi-sama once when Haruki and I were walking in one of the shiro's garden. She was, like the rumours said, extremely beautiful with long snow white hairs and ruby red eyes gleaming with intelligence, a skin white and smooth as well as a svelte and petite body.

But when I saw her, I couldn't help but be sad. She looked so alone and cold, she almost had a dark depressing aura surrounding her stiff and yet slightly tired posture.

But even if we were alone, my daughter and I still found ways to entertain ourselves.

The shiro's library was huge and we could pass hours reading in front of a fire with warm tea and biscuits. We also walked in the dying gardens a lot while it was still possible, and I took advantage of the situation to deepen Haruki's lessons.

But I think our favourite times were in a little music room. When I was younger I loved learning the harp. My daughter and I passed hours in there, me playing and singing, her dancing.

I would also teach her how to play the harp and sing. I wished I could teach her to also play the piano, ocarina and xylophone, but those instruments didn't exist yet.

Fortunately Haruki seemed gifted with the ability to dance, so I didn't have to teach her (I was personally awful and almost clumsy when I danced).

We were currently in this exact room. I was playing leisurely the now familiar harp and singing a song half in Japanese, half in English while Haruki was dancing lightly on her feet like a little golden fairy.

It made me smile when I saw all the nobles wear apricot coloured kimono, apparently with demons, a style could stay a long time.

We were currently also wearing apricot kimono as Toga was a general and therefore of high status. I was wearing one with raven wing black birds with an obi of the same colour with little apricot clouds while Haruki was wearing one with alabaster white circles with an obi of the same colour with apricot rings.

We weren't wearing any decoration and it was better like that. I also noted that while the Northern court fancied intricate buns, the Western court ladies wore their hairs long with decoration sprinkled over them. I for myself didn't waver from my traditional plait while Haruki like hers in a side ponytail or in little low buns.

I stopped singing when I heard someone sneeze.

I knew that the two girls spying on me had done so for most of the week, not gathering the courage to near us. But they would almost always stick near when I would play

I saw shadows near the door and smiled, stopping my fingers movements on the strings.

"Would you like to come inside?" I asked the shadows kindly "We don't bite and you'll catch a cold."

They entered shyly and I could finally see them wholly.

The older one seemed around 300 years old, 14 in human years while the younger one looked more around 250, 13 in human years. The first one was a inu yokai while the second one was a wolf. They were both wearing the cotton blue uniform of the shiro's servants.

"My name is Haruko and this is my daughter Haruki." I smiled, beginning again to play with the harp's strings.

"My name is Chika." Said the younger one "And this is my friend Atsuko."

Atsuko bowed, a faint blush on her cheeks.

Chika had long red hairs with vivid green eyes full of mischief. She seemed more outspoken than her shy friend and I could predict very smart and witty.

Atsuko, her, had long sparkling golden hairs and equally golden eyes with specks of light green here and there. Physically I could take her for Haruki's sister, but she seemed really shy and had gentle manners, though you could see in her eyes that she was more thoughtful than her friend and really smart too.

I invited them to sing or dance and Atsuko happily sang an ancient Japanese song with me while Chika danced with Haruki.

::::

As the week passed Haruki and I got to know better Chika and Atsuko. The two helped us greatly in being accepted and only a week after meeting them I wasn't receiving weird glares anymore and Haruki had even found some friends in the servant's children.

Atsuko's ambition was to be a lady in waiting. She didn't explain why but seeing her blushing madly near Akane, Toga's best friend, the reason was easy to know.

If Akane really became head general, he would have to mate a female of high standard. However Atsuko was only of a very little nobility.

This was why she wanted to become the lady in waiting of a noble woman. Like that she would obtain enough prestige so that one day she could be his mate.

But her apprenticeship as one was very costly and this is why she worked as a servant to pay her teachers.

I immediately offered help and began her lesson for free.

Chika was more or less in the same situation. She wanted to become a master dressmaker and a jeweller on the side. But her apprenticeship was costly so she also had to take a job. Unfortunately I couldn't really help her.

She was also looking for a lady who would accept her as her designer, but so far no luck.

But the wolf female was still motivated and always smiling. She had a very outgoing and mischievous personality.

With those two I learned the 'wonders' of the court (which mostly resumed into the art of gossiping and intrigues). They also taught me how to play some traditional games and a few traditional songs.

We were currently sitting on a bench near the soldiers training grounds.

Even if it was frequently disturbed by battle cries, the site was beautiful.

The long stone bench was under a cypress tree right now covered in snow. A few bushes were surrounding it and it was normally situated in the middle of a grass patch, at a corner or the training grounds.

Apparently this was Atsuko and Chika's favourite spots to ogle the males (more Chika than Atsuko who had already a sweetheart).

The two girls had the day off and we were all wearing apricot kisodes with different designs.

I had chestnut brown horses running around the hems of my kisode and an equally chestnut obi decorated with apricot flowers.

Haruki had almond green coloured leaves running around the fabric of her kisode and an almond green obi decorated with apricot arabesques.

Atsuko had an amaranthine purple grapes decorated kisode and an amaranthine purple obi decorated with apricot flowers.

Finally Chika had amber suns decorating her kisode and an amber obi. She also had yellow citrines and orange garnets sprinkled over her hairs and amber earrings.

This fact made me want to giggle. Haruki had her scarf around her neck and was playing in the snow. Chika was playfully flirting with some guards who had begun showing off and Atsuko was blushing prettily looking discreetly at Akane who was sparring with Toga.

As for myself I was looking at the two, totally mesmerized with their flawless movements and gracious strikes. It was like a deadly yet controlled dance.

"I'd give him a seven." Suddenly said Chika, looking at a soldier "What do you think girls?"

"Sorry?" Atsuko and I simultaneously asked.

"Aw, that's sweet!" cooed Chika, looking at them "You're so focused on your sweethearts than you pay attention to no one else."

"Sweetheart?" I asked, dumbfounded while Atsuko's cheek reddened.

"Don't tell me no one as taken your fancy!" exclaimed Chika, surprised.

"I think I'm a bit too young for grown up males." I stated calmly "And even so, no one really caught my eyes, my standards are a bit high."

"You and I know that you're a lot older than you seem." Said conspiringly Chika "And we have all high standards here dear. But there always someone that succeed into capturing our interest, as fleeting as it is."

I blinked. Sometimes Chika could be profound and yet so superficial, it amazed me.

"Akane is particularly hot today, ne?" Chika asked Atsuko, deciding to change her victim.

Usually her taunts worked more on Atsuko than me and the dog demoness's face became as red as a cherry.

I smirked, Akane was indeed a good representative of his inu race. His long smooth black hairs were slightly pulled in a loose ponytail and had a white shine in them. His eyes were of a golden so deep that they were like amber, pretty much like Toga's eyes.

A cold wind swept by us and I shivered slightly before deciding to head inside.

"We're going inside." I informed my friends "Haruki, dear!"

She immediately was by my side, her hands blue and her face pink. I scolded her a bit but she only sent me an angelic look which made Chika and Atsuko 'awing'.

I sighed and led her inside for a warm bath.

Later in the large bed I shared with my daughter, while she was sleeping soundlessly beside me, I caught myself thinking bout what Chika said.

I was actually a bit worried that 'until here no male at all caught my eyes. Okay my situation was a bit special. I had Haruki, was actually much more mature than I looked, but in more than a hundred year no one held my attention.

'Apart from Toga…' a little voice whispered in my mind briefly.

I blushed a bit but shooked this though away. True, Toga was everything a female was looking in a male, at least in this period. He was powerful, strong, and even very understable and attentive when he wanted. But he was a bit too mute and stubborn for me. Plus, I knew now that Inu demons were extremely protective (and possessive of course, but that was a trait for almost every kind of demons) and I didn't know if I could support that.

I sighed and chased the ridiculous idea away before falling asleep.

::::

The spring was finally here, and Toga, Haruki and I were departing again.

I couldn't wait to be on the road again. Sure the winter with Atsuko and Chika was very nice but I needed space and staying more than four months enclosed in a shiro got me a bit restless.

I was really sad to leave Atsuko and Chika, moreover that I didn't know when I would see them again.

Together we bought a necklace that could split in three, all the parts together forming a sort of weird flower that reminded me a bit of Celtic design.

Haruki got her ears pierced (I vehemently refused when they proposed that I pierce my ears) and the two offered her little ammolite earrings. The stones were beautiful, a mix of green and golden, flattering Haruki's golden hairs and dark green eyes.

We were going to meet Totosai to forge the last sword for Toga. Then we would head east.

I was planning to let Haruki stay in the village. I didn't want her to follow me in battle. It was too dangerous.

But for the moment I wouldn't tell her. I didn't want to have a whining and pouting daughter for the rest of our travel.

We travelled quickly, and I began to worry that we weren't attacked by any Sou'unga's servants.

We were nearing the East borders, Toga walking ahead of us in his ever so silent self. Haruki was skipping happily behind him and I was walking behind everyone.

We all heard the huge ruckus ahead of us and Toga began sprinting forward immediately.

I took Haruki's hands and we ran behind him to a little hill at the end of the forest.

In the valley before us was a little village nested cosily in.

I squirted my eyes to see the majority of the village surrounding an isolated hut.

'What are they doing?' I asked myself curiously.

I gasped when I saw them throw flaming torches to it, and felt m blood run cold when I heard a scream coming from the inside of the wooden walls.

Instinctively I bolted forward, running downhill to the burning hut. Ignoring Haruki yelling my name, I pushed my way through the crowd.

I came to a halt in front of the flames, their heats reddening my cheeks.

I looked around me to see cruel eyes and stone faces. I knew no one would move to help.

I hardened my resolve and stepped into the burning structure.

I took a few steps forward, the raging flames brushing against my skin, forming a slight burn already.

"Is there someone here ?" I yelled before coughing. I had inhaled too much smoke.

I couldn't see anything with the glaring light the fire was producing and the grey smoke layer hanging heavily in the air.

I was going to retreat when I heard a wail. It was faint, but it was enough for me to move forward, trying to forgo the burns slowly forming on my arms.

I finally saw a form lying on the ground. When I neared it I could see a woman, her face against the wooden floor, half of her body crushed under rubbles.

I could feel no life in her, so she wasn't the one I heard.

I saw something move vaguely at the edges of my slowly blurring vision and kneeled near the corpse to see a clothed bundle.

I touched it to notice it was wet, as if someone had splashed water over it.

I spread the fabric a bit to see huge dark blue eyes staring back at me, tears trickling down chubby cheeks.

The time, for a moment, seemed to freeze. Then the baby began wailing again, little hands agitating the wet fabric around her.

The sound brought me back to reality and I put back the edge of the sheets around the baby's face so that it couldn't inhale smoke.

I took the little bundle carefully in my arms and ran outside, getting out just in time before the hut collapsed.

I fell on my knees, coughing heavily.

"Okaa-san!" exclaimed Haruki, kneeling beside me "Are you alright?"

"Hai." I said between coughs, my lungs trying to get rid of the too much inhaled smoke.

My daughter gave me water and I drank greedily, immediately feeling better afterwards.

I straightened my back and smiled at Haruki before opening the bundle to examine more thoroughly the baby.

The first thing I noticed was that the baby was a female, the second thing being the two blue furred ears on top of the baby's head.

The little girl was a hanyo.

Upon first inspection she didn't appear older than 5 years and looked like a 1 year old baby. A soft patch of bluish hairs that reminded me of a Carthusian cat was covering her head.

"She has ears okaa-san." Remarked curiously Haruki, kneeling beside me to better look at the baby.

"She's a hanyo dear." I explained, smiling when the little girl touched the baby, only to have her finger held hostage by mini hands.

I smiled, looking at the awed wonder shining in my daughter's green eyes as she felt those so tiny warm hands.

I however winced when Haruki accidentally put her hands on a burn.

"Okaa-san you're wounded!" exclaimed panicked Haruki.

"Don't worry dear." I reassured her "It's already healing."

I didn't give her the time to worry and stood.

We didn't have the time to add anything as Toga appeared before, holding a stone in his hand.

I blinked at it before looking back at the crowd surrounding us.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, hiding swiftly Haruki behind me "This woman that died inside was defenceless, and had a baby. How could you kill this innocent woman and deprive a baby of its mother?"

"This child is a pawn of Satan!" yelled a man "Not meant to be born! As for the woman, she was nothing more than a whore, offering herself to a demon!"

I felt anger eat me and glared fiercely at him, letting some of my aura out.

I almost smirked in satisfaction when I saw the man (and more generally the crowd) shiver and take a step back.

"How can you judge someone because he's different?" I exclaimed, anger sipping coldly through my voice "How can you deprive a child of its mother just because she loved someone deemed evil by a bunch of stupid cowards? How dare you think of killing a pure being that did no wrong yet just because she was born, something she doesn't control herself? How dare you call yourself rightful when you commit such horrible crimes!"

By the time I was finish, to the point I was basically screaming my anger at them.

They were visibly shaken by my speech, but still one man huffed:

"Who are you to tell us that? You're just a little child. A female no less."

That was the last straw. My eyes turned pink, glowing slightly.

The crowd took several steps back, trying to escape, but their fate was sealed the moment I activated my powers.

Soon the children began to weep helplessly ,the women fell on their knees, irrepressible sobs shaking their shoulder and men tried to hide the tears running down their eyes.

"What did you do to us?" asked a man, his eyes showing fear.

"I just opened your hearts." I said, taking Haruki's hand in mine and readjusting the hanyo baby on my arm "Now you'll know what it feel to grow without parents, the pain of a mother being ripped off her child."

I turned around and looked at Toga. He understood and began walking away, taking the lead.

We followed after him in silence, Haruki clinging on my arm.

"Okaa-san?" she mumbled to me as we were walking "Why the baby is the spawn of Satan?"

I sighed at the sad emotions in my musume's eyes and tried to explain to her as best as I could.

"It's a stupid reason dear. See, the humans fear demons because they are too powerful for them. And humans fear anything that's different than them in any way. Demons for their parts look down on humans because they're weaker than them and we could say also because they're different than them. They are a few that understand the benefits of learning from one another."

I let Haruki some time to digest the informations. I also knew that Toga was listening. Good for him.

"Fortunately and unfortunately." I continued "They are some people who are able to see the other on the same level. They learn from each other, become stronger and sometimes fall in love."

I looked down at the now slumbering kit in my arm before continuing:

"Hanyos, like most demons and humans might think, aren't freaks, nor aberrations or like you just heard, spawns of Satan. They are the combined strength of a human and a demon, creating an harmony."

"Like the yin and yang?" asked Haruki.

"Hai, dear, like the yin and yang." I nodded.

My daughter looked at me with questions in her eyes, not fully understanding.

"You'll understand when you're older." I said, ruffling her hairs a bit and smirking when I saw her pout (my daughter hated not understanding everything immediately).

"Will the villagers change their mind?" finally asked Haruki, changing of conversation's subject.

"That my musume, we can only hope." I said "We can explain, but in the end changing a heart take so much more effort than that. And it is the bearer of it that can fully change it."

Haruki nodded thoughtfully and was about to add something when we heard voices calling for us.

"Please Lady-sama wait up!" we heard and turned to see a bunch of women running to us.

I stopped, Haruki behind me just in case, and I felt Toga stiffen imperceptibly.

The group came to an halt in front of us and I let them regain their breath before asking, my voice carefully neutral:

"What do you want?"

One of the women stepped closer to me and presented me a basket containing a bottle, milk and baby clothes.

They all bowed and one of them, the oldest, spoke.

"We are aware that we can't ask your forgiveness milady, but please this as a token of our gratitude for opening our eyes."

I looked at the basket for a second before slowly taking it, nodding to the women slowly.

They bowed one last time before departing again.

There was a silence before I tugged Haruki's hand.

"Let's go." I said quietly.

We walked for a few hours, stopping when the baby woke up and before whining.

"Can we stop now?" I asked Toga "The little one needs to be tended for."

The inu male said nothing back, but the group thankfully stopped soon enough in a clearing conveniently beside a river.

I smiled my thanks to him and began activating myself, barely noticing him disappear, probably to patrol.

I told Haruki to go find some edible herbs and whatnot, along with some wood in the forest surrounding us and told her to not walk too far before putting my bag down.

I took a scarf out and tied the baby on my back like I saw some villagers and servants do before preparing camp.

I quickly prepared the area to light the fire and prepared the milk for the baby, warming it with my power before unclasping the little girl from my back and feeding her.

The baby drank the milk in record time and I was burping her when Haruki came back, proudly showing me her finds.

I began quickly the fire and sorted out the herbs Haruki found, explaining to her patiently why this particular plant wasn't good and why this one would be excellent.

I was about to go hunt when Toga appeared with a rabbit in his hand.

"Arigato." I said to him, nearing him with a smile to take the dead animal from him.

He never replied, but I didn't expect him to. For him actions spoke louder than words and the simple fact he hunted for them was as loud as an hour long speech.

I prepared the rabbit and gave Haruki a book on healing herbs to read before tending to the baby.

I was washing her in a bubble of slightly heated water (thanks to my powers) when I heard Haruki say:

"Does she have a name okaa-san?"

I stopped drying the little body and wondered silently before replying, resuming my task before the little one caught a cold:

"I don't think dear. Why don't you find a name for her?"

Haruki eagerly began enumerating various names for the baby, rejecting them the moment she though of them.

I half listened to her banter, finishing dressing the little girl now asleep before putting her on a strip of fur that was in the basket with the milk, bottle and clothes.

I headed to hide myself behind bushes near the river and stripped of my clothes.

I hissed quietly when the cold water touched my burns and took the vial of aloe vera ointment.

I spread the paste over the more severe burns and dried myself before dressing in a new kimono (one I had was totally lost).

"How about Mikomi?" proposed Haruki while I was serving the rabbit.

I stopped momentarily to think about it.

"Hope in the future." I mused before smiling "That's a good name."

Haruki looked expectantly at Toga, and I had to hide my smile when I saw the almost imperceptible nod he gave her.

"Mikomi it is then." I said, handing Haruki her bowl.

I handed Toga some raw rabbit I reserved and smiled at him when he took it.