Disclaimer: Refer to previous chapters.
(A/N: Hey guys, there is a reason why I haven't updated as quickly as before. I recently got a job and between school and work, I've been tired as hell. Thankfully, school ends in May so I can update regularly again. But until then, unfortunately, I can only update sporadically. I will try to release at least 2 chapters a month, but March was a fluke because of mid-terms and what not. But, thank you so much for waiting patiently. You guys are the best in the world.
Just as you guys have requested, this chapter and the next few chapters will focus purely on Yumiko and her back-story. I already planned that this would happen and am so happy that I got you guys intrigued in her. Italics in this chapter and the next few chapters are flashbacks, not quotes from the anime. I will notify when I am using italics for anime quotes when needed.
Thank to those who reviewed/added as favorite/alert list. You guys are the best and thank for being patient with me.)
Chapter Eleven: "Meeting Under the Moon"
Yumiko hopped up and down on one foot to the other, trying to stay warm next to Kazuma as they watched Ayano battle the Yuma. Winter had finally settled into Japan, causing temperature to drop dramatically around the country. She breathed out and watched her breath visibly form in front of her, amazed at the cold weather. She shivered as she looked at Ayano, still dressed in her uniform and nothing else. Her teeth began to chatter and she hugged Kazuma from behind, clutching him around the middle as if he would warm her through his thick jacket.
"It's f-f-freezing," Yumiko chattered out.
Kazuma clenched his jaw when a strong, cold wind blew at them. Yumiko let out a small squeak and clutched at him tighter. "I can't do anything about it."
"B-But can't y-you make the w-wind s-s-s-top blowing?"
"That's abusing my power."
"It's for the greater good though," Yumiko pleaded. "You're helping someone keep warm."
A faint smile brushed his lips. "I don't think the Wind gods see your side."
As if to support his statement, a strong wind ripped at their clothing. Yumiko whimpered just as Ayano defeated the minor Yuma. Kazuma sneezed just as Ayano turned around.
"Are you two really that weak that you can't deal with the cold weather?" Ayano snipped with her hands on her hips once she made Enraiha disappear.
"Not all of us are full of hot air like Enjutsushi users," Yumiko snapped back.
Kazuma moved Yumiko behind him and out of Ayano's sight just as the other girl puffed up in anger.
"Let's all be nice okay?" Kazuma said smoothly. Ayano's anger melted away, but a mysterious light entered her eyes.
"You owe me dinner," she said to Kazuma, "a very expensive dinner."
"And why exactly should I be paying for your dinner?" Kazuma asked lazily.
"Because I just defeated that Yuma!"
Kazuma mentally rolled his eyes and twisted his body around to address Yumiko. "I guess we're making a stop for a 'very expensive dinner."
Yumiko hesitated, rolling the though around in her head before shaking her head. "No, I think I'm coming down with something. I feel terrible, and I don't think it's from the cold. Something just feels off."
"Maybe you just have a cold?" Kazuma asked, his eyebrows furrowed in concern. She shook her head.
"Why don't you go with Ayano and I'll just head home?"
"I'll drop you off first," he turned back around to face Ayano. "I'll meet you in front of the restaurant." Kazuma rattled off the address of the closet, most expensive restaurant, not even caring if Ayano agreed before lifting Yumiko into his arms.
The flight home was hazy in Yumiko memories, with Kazuma's worried face appearing the most. She felt numb as if the cold had finally reached everywhere in her body. The cold was replaced dry warmth after an immeasurable time and she shivered as something tugged hard at her both physically and mentally. Yumiko was wrenched out of Kazuma by an invisible force, and against her will. Her legs carried her unconsciously into their bedroom.
Kazuma watched her worriedly as Yumiko's eyes had glazed over and were unfocused. She stumbled every few steps and when he helped her, she shrugged her arm out of his grasp. Yumiko walked into their closet dazed, until she reached the back. Her hand reached out and dug through a drawer, coming up with a square box that he instantly recognized. His gaze hardened and he watched with his hands formed into fists at his side.
Her hands opened the box revealing an intricate and beautiful necklace. A white gold dragon was curled around a sapphire stone that was glowing slightly. He took the necklace from the box and Yumiko turned around for him to place it around her neck. As soon as Kazuma close the clasp of the necklace, Yumiko eyes cleared.
She blinked several times, in a state of euphoria as the numbness went away, allowing the warmth to seep in. Her eyes traveled around their closet, confusion marring her beautiful face.
"What happened?" she asked Kazuma. He wordlessly motioned to her neck, thus the necklace.
Her hands went up, touching the familiar dragon necklace, feeling the heat of the glowing stone against her fingers. Her grip on the necklace tightened and she brushed past Kazuma without another word. He followed her out of the closet and gabbed her arm before she could go any further. Yumiko whorled around, ready to snap when she say the hidden desperate look in his eyes. Her quick retort died as he gathered her up in a tight hug.
"I know that you have to go," Kazuma murmured into her hair as he crushed her to him, "but please take care of yourself. Come back unharmed…please."
Yumiko closed her eyes and melted into him. "I promise to take care of myself."
His grip on her tightened as he realized her hidden meaning. "Promise you'll come back…no matter what."
Yumiko was deathly silent, knowing she was unable to promise him so. Kazuma was also silent, knowing that there was no chance that she could ever promise him so. She pulled away first, albeit a little reluctant.
"Go to dinner with Ayano," she said gently. He opened his mouth to protest, but Yumiko reached up to clasp a hand over his mouth. "I mean it. There's nothing neither of us can do now. Better to make the best out of it – and you know that Ayano will throw a fit if you don't show up."
Kazuma stared at her, his eyes hard, before snaking a hand behind her neck, yanking her up while bending down himself to capture her lips in a fiery kiss. Hints of desperation, anger, and sadness colored the kiss in dark shades. Their lips and tongues clashed as both poured their emotion. Grips tightened, almost to a painful point, but the pain simply heightened the kiss until he released her. He dipped in again, softening the kiss against her bruised and puffed lips, allowing his love to color their emotions a lighter tint. Kazuma pulled away, but not completely, his forehead touching hers, their nose brushing every once in a while.
"I love you, you know that right?" he asked in a quiet tone. "I don't say it often but I mean it."
Yumiko kept her eyes closed, trapping the tears that began to form from slipping. "I know, even without words. I love you, too – no matter what."
Kazuma breathed out, and kissed her forehead, letting his lips linger. He pulled away, taking several steps back, his eyes roaming her face, as if this would be the last time he saw her. Somehow their hands had clasped together, and she held it a little bit longer, before letting go. Kazuma walked backwards and out the balcony, before flying away, disappearing from her sight soon after.
Yumiko wiped at her fallen tears, before reaching into her pocket to pull out her cell phone. Dialing a very familiar number, she held up the phone to her ear just as the other end of the line picked up.
"Daughter…"
Ayano happily ate, completely oblivious to Kazuma's dark mood, even though he never ordered anything except for a glass of wine.
"It's such a shame that Yumiko couldn't join us," Ayano said around a mouthful of food. She didn't notice how Kazuma fingers had turned white due to the force he was gripping his glass.
"But then, again," Ayano continued, not noticing the murderous glare that Kazuma directed at her, "she wouldn't know good food from bad food."
Before Kazuma could snap at her, a tinkling voice cried out.
"Contractor-sama!"
Yumiko sat in her airplane seat, worried and sad. Her head kept playing the conversation just a few hours before over and over in her head, in a constant loop that was slowly driving her crazy.
"Daughter…" her father sighed happily over the phone.
"Otou-san."
"So I take that Watatsumi has finally called you?"
"Yes, Otou-san. What happened for him to call me so powerfully?"
Her father sighed over the phone. "You know that I have made many mistakes in my life, and I regret every single one of them. I have done what I can to rectify my mistakes, but not everyone is forgiving."
"Stars of Sagacity," Yumiko murmured.
"Yes," he answered remorsefully. "I regret my decision to creating such a mess. But you, my daughter, you have gone beyond my expectations and I am sorry that you have this murderer as a father."
"Don't say that," she said in a soft reproachful tone. "You did what you thought was right at the time. There's no shame in doing what you believed was right."
"Have I mentioned how much I missed you?" he said in a happier tone. "It has been too long since you visited. How has that boy been trying you?"
Yumiko rolled her eyes. "Kazuma has been treating me just fine – more than fine actually. We finally moved into the apartment."
"Good," her father said gruffly. "You should be treated like a queen and I'm glad that he finally moved you into a nice place instead of living at hotels."
"But hotels have room service and a cleaning staff," she pointed out. The other side of the line stayed quiet. "So why don't you tell why the family crest was calling out to me so violently?"
"They have been appearing again," he said in a type of reluctant tone. "More and more Yuma are appearing and more often than before."
"They appeared here as well," Yumiko confirmed, frowning. "Michael showed up."
"…Michael…a new recruit? I have not heard of the name."
"Not too new…he was there two years ago."
"Not too new…" her father echoed. "I am sorry to say this, daughter of mine, but we need you here. Japan has Kazuma, but we are left unprotected."
Yumiko stayed silent, her eyes looking out the wall of glass and towards the darkening sky, but she saw none of this, her eyes far away. "I understand. I will answer to Watatsumi's call. Expect me to be there by tomorrow morning."
"Thank you," her father said. "I expect to see you soon…and tell Kazuma I am sorry."
Yumiko sighed, letting her head fall back against the seat. For the crest to call for her meant danger to the Watatsumi Clan…and now the danger is linked to the Stars of Sagacity – an organization that her father had mistakenly supported before she was born. She closed her eyes, praying that memories of a dark childhood would fade.
"Otou-san!" a 4 year-old Yumiko cried out. She ran unsteadily on her short legs toward her father, who smiled wanly at his only daughter and child.
The young child ran straight to his leg, and curled herself around his calf, holding on tightly.
"I missed you Otou-san!" the girl said brightly, her eyes shining.
"I missed you, too, Miko," he said tiredly patting her head. "Why don't you let go so we can find your mother, hmm?"
Yumiko let go of his calf hurriedly and rush back into the house, crying "Mommy!" at the top of her lungs. A thin, dark haired woman with dark eyes and a solemn expression arrived in the hallway just as he slipped off his shoes. Yumiko twirled around in excited circles around her mother, combining twirls and jumps.
Wordlessly, Yumiko's mother turned around, leaving Yumiko staring between her father in the hallway, and her mother walking towards the kitchen.
….
"I've had enough of this!" her mother screamed, not caring that her 14-year old daughter was only a few doors down, hearing everything.
A banging noise followed as her father hit the dining room table with a open palm. He stood up from his seat.
"You think it's easy being in there?" he shouted back. "You think it's easy to get out just like that when they're threatening US? THIS FAMILY? I DON'T want to be there! I'm there to protect YOU and OUR DAUGHTER!"
"US?" her mother echoed. She scoffed and laughed bitterly "You still dare to talk about US? You did this before there was even a "US", even before Yumiko. Don't you dare try to use this family as an excuse!"
Inside her room, Yumiko sobbed helplessly as the shouting match continued with her mother's shrieking voice and her father booming loud voice. The shouting matches had only begun a couple of years ago, but they were beginning to be louder and lasting longer. Yumiko sniffed several times to stop her crying, wiping the tears on her check away with the back of her hand. She stood up and reached for her shoes, slipping them on and grabbing a light jacket. She opened up her bedroom window without difficulty and jumped down, landing with a loud 'thud' that attached no attention from the shouting couple.
Yumiko ran – ran way from the crumbling house of cards, ran away from her family's problems, with no direction of where to go. Her sight was still blurry; the tears streaming down seem to have no end. She had just finished running down the block when she barreled into something solid and warm. The contact knocked her down and backwards, and she would have fallen if not the person she rammed into caught her elbow.
"Are you alright?" a male asked fluently in Japanese.
Yumiko looked up and saw a male with brown eyes and shockingly dark hair reaching for her.
Yumiko jolted awake just as the flight attendant called for the passengers to put on their seat belts for landing. Her heart was beating fast as she remembered her dreams – no – memories seep into her sleep. She followed the instructions given and waited with anxiety as the plane touched down in China.
Slipping on her sunglasses, she reached up into the compartment above to grab her carry-on bag once the plane landed safely in the airport. Yumiko walked out, grabbing her back from the carousel and walked out the airport, to find a man in a suit holding up a sign with her name.
"Miss Watatsumi," the man formally greeted her. "Your father has requested me to pick you up."
Yumiko smiled. "Please, call me Yumiko, Kento-san, we've known each other for too long for you to be calling me 'Miss'."
The man removed his sunglasses, revealing eyes with laugh wrinkles, showing the man's true age.
"Too true, Miko," Kento laughed. "Come, your chariot awaits."
He pulled open the backseat door for her to climb into the black SUV, and placed her bags in the truck while she got settled.
"How is everything with you, Kento-san?" Yumiko asked curiously once they set off. "How's Hikari-san? And your daughter, Aiko?"
He smiled and looked at the rearview mirror to give her a smile. "They are just fine. Aiko sends her thanks for the beautiful kimono that you sent for her birthday. She would have worn the kimono everyday if her mother had not stopped her. We have good news. Hikari's pregnant again."
Yumiko grinned happily. "Congratulations! How far along is she? Is it a boy or a girl?"
"Just a little over four months now and for the baby…we decided to leave it a secret."
"That's so perfect," she sighed. "I hope her pregnancy is easier than when she was with Aiko."
"Me, too. How's that boy treating you? Kazuma," Kento changed the subject. "Everything going okay?"
She nodded and her grin turned gentle. "He's doing fine. Although he was a little reluctant to let me go." She shifted in her seat and Kento found a flash of blue catching his eyes.
"I can see why," Kento murmured. "I see that the Watatsumi crest has called out to you."
Yumiko touched the necklace with soft fingertips. "Yes, it has. The situation must be dire, yes?"
"We lost two mages in the last battle against the latest Yuma," he rumbled. "It was the third Yuma this week and we have lost about six mages in all."
Her gaze sharpened. "How long has this been going on and why has Otou-san not contacted me?"
"You know that your father does not like you to get involved, Miko."
"I am a part of this just as much as he is, if not more. He cannot keep me from this. I am the next heir and should be responsible for the people."
"You are still young, Miko. Do not let revenge cloud your life."
Yumiko stayed silent, her gaze out the window, while her fingers played with the necklace.
The drive to the small town was long, about a three-hours drive, and became tense after the conversation. Kento glanced back once in a while, watching the young mistress as she worked over the situation in her head. He was sorry that she was so young and had to deal with her father's sin. She was so young, yet became a Contractor to protect her family, and the rest of the clan. He had watched over her, when her mother left a few years ago, and her father had become a mess. It was only recently that her father had straightened out and cared for his daughter as he should. But by then, the damage was already done.
Yumiko was distant, but still loved her father, Kento could see that, but she never reached out to him, unless it was clan business. Hikari had taken the distraught teenager under wing, caring for Yumiko as a daughter. Kento saw Yumiko as his daughter as well, and his heart ached when she trained even harder for the clan. The only thing that reassured him that she would be okay was that boy, Kazuma. He had appeared when Yumiko was at her lowest, and cared for her in a way Kento knew that he and Hikari could not have. It had delighted Hikari so much to see Yumiko finally acting like a young woman, blushing over a man, instead of the heir to a clan, and Kento had to admit that even he was happy to see Yumiko happy.
Then that incident had occurred; leaving Yumiko broken again and Kazuma had been unable to help as he was going through his own pain. Kento had watched as they trained to become the best, becoming Contractors in the process, and left to extract revenge. He and his wife were devastated to see her leave, but Kazuma had reassured them that he would protect the young woman.
Yes, Kento thought, a young woman indeed.
"We have arrived Miko," Kneto's gentle voice broke through her thoughts. Yumiko blinked rapidly, her vision focusing on the looming house in front of them. "Master Watatsumi has arranged for a clan dinner to welcome you home."
"Thank you, Kneto-san," she said gratefully. "I will see you in a while I guess."
A young girl wearing a kimono rushed out the front doors and ran towards the car just as Kento had opened her door. "Onee-chan!"
Yumiko bent down and picked up the squealing girl into her arms. "Is this little Aiko-chan? My, you've grown so big!"
"I missed you Onee-chan!" Aiko mumbled into her neck when she wrapped her tiny arms around Yumiko's shoulder.
Yumiko stroked Aiko's hair gently. "I missed you, too. So, so much."
An older version of the young girl stepped out of the house, her eyes shining brightly. Yumiko set the young girl down and embraced the older woman, taking deep breaths of her scent of lavender. Hikari closed her eyes and held the young woman who she treated as her own daughter tightly, tears forming in her eyes. She pulled away to find tears streaming down Yumiko's face.
"What is this?" Hikari murmured gently. "Are you not happy to see me?"
Yumiko shook her head vehemently and gave her a watery, but sincere smile. "Just the opposite actually. I am so happy to see you."
"Let us take this inside, hmm?" Kento said gently. He carried Aiko in his arm, while the other hand held one of Yumiko's bags. "The dinner should be starting soon enough."
Hikari nodded and wiped Yumiko's tears away before wiping her own. "Yes, Kento is right. Come, Yumiko, and let's get you ready. Do not worry about your bags, Kento will have one of the others to take them in."
Yumiko let Hikari, her mother figure, lead her into the house. Servants that passed by the two of them bowed their heads respectfully towards Yumiko, before rushing off to finish the last minute things for the grand dinner. Hikari led her to her old room, and immediately shoved the girl into the shower, while picking out a dress from the clothes that Yumiko had left behind before leaving.
Yumiko emerged a while later, a little more relaxed than before, and allowed Hikari to shove her onto the chair in front of the dresser.
"How is that young man of yours?" Hikari asked while fixing Yumiko's hair into soft gentle curls. "Is he treating you right?"
Yumiko rolled her eyes. "Why is everyone asking me about Kazuma. As if he would hurt me – he would never do such a thing."
"Sweetheart, don't tell me that you forgot about your position?" Hikari said, raising an eyebrow. "The clan is here to protect you, too. We must approve of your husband before you marry him."
"He's not my husband!" Yumiko denied, blushing.
"He will be – I'm sure of it. That boy loves you and I know that you love him too. It won't be long now, but he's probably waiting for you to finish schooling first before popping that big question. I take it you two have 'done the deed' then, yes?"
"Hikari-san!" Yumiko squeaked, shocked. Hikari simply laughed out loud and smirked.
"I was once young, too," Hikari said easily, starting on Yumiko's make-up. "There's no need for you to be shy. I know all about teenage hormones and men's needs. Kazuma is a man and I'm sure that the two of you had at least –"
"I can't believe I'm hearing this," the young woman moaned in embarrassment.
"He isn't forcing you is he?"
"No! Of course not! It was mutual."
"Aha!" Hikari said triumphantly. "So you two have done it!" Yumiko whimpered as if the woman was causing her physical pain. "Up, Yumiko and get changed."
Jumping up, Yumiko quickly got into the pale pink kimono that Hikari had set out, just as Aiko opened the door to peek her head in.
"We match, Onee-chan!" Aiko said delighted. She twirled around Yumiko in a white kimono with cherry blossom designs on it.
Yumiko bent down carefully to her knees, to straighten out Aiko's messy hair. "Indeed we do. Would you do me the honor of letting me escort you downstairs?"
Aiko gasped and nodded vigorously. She grabbed one of Yumiko's hands and tugged her out the door, leaving her mother smiling in Yumiko's room as she watched the two act like sisters.
Kento appeared in the doorway just as she was about to leave, watching the two walk downstairs.
"She seems to be happy," Hikari murmured to her husband. Kento nodded slowly.
"Yes she does. But is it a mask or the real thing?"
"Have you heard something?" she asked, alarmed.
Kento sighed. "It seems that her father, that Watatsumi Takashi, has arranged for her to head the defense team."
"That does not seem so bad."
"It is when there is no one else on the team, but her."
Hikari's eyes widened in shock. "He did what?"
"He has decided to make Yumiko the defense, with no backup. 'To prevent further deaths,' he had said."
"But placing Yumiko out there by herself would mean death for her!"
"He feels that Yumiko is strong enough," Kento said tightly.
"The rest of the clan will fall into a case of laziness if they depend on her like this! Do they not know that she will leave once the situation is cared for?"
"He does not want her to leave and has arranged a way for her to stay."
"And how does he do that?"
Kento paused, before letting his eyes flash angrily. "An arranged marriage."
Hikari's hands formed into fists as anger rolled through her body in a violent wave. "I will not let this happen."
"Neither will I, Kari," Kento agreed. "We must start the plan sooner than we thought. Gather the necessary people after the dinner and we will plan."
Yumiko tiredly retreated to her room after the dinner, tired from the festivities and from the jet lag. Her father had announced his plan for her to be the head of the defense team. Imagine her surprise, when she later found out that there was no team, only her. Perhaps her father believed that by placing her out there alone, it will solidify her succession of the clan, but no, she did not think of it this way. His plan was or her to get killed – yes, she knew.
She knew that her father was power hungry, why else would he have joined the Stars of Sagacity back then? Her mother had been right, and she only found out when it was too late. She was not naive or ignorant of her father's plan. If he eliminates her before her 21st birthday, he would be able to sit in that high chair of his until he dies. If not, she would succeed him once she turns 21.
Yumiko sat down heavily on the bed. No, she was not as ignorant as she let everyone believes. She was aware of Kento's and Hikari's plans, and she would not stop them. They were right and it would be the only way for the clan to survive. No, she was not ignorant at all. She closed her eyes and found her heart longing for Kazuma and his gentle smile that was only for her. She longed for his aura, just for him and only him.
(A/N: Curious enough?
Thanks for reading and next chapter is coming out fast. It will be posted next Saturday!
Review please!)
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