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Creatures of Myth: Hidden Enemies
Chapter Twelve: Memories of Yesterday
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"When the future's architectured
By a carnival of idiots on show
You better lie low
.
I don't wanna be a soldier
Or the captain of some sinking ship."
-Violet Hill, Coldplay
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A younger Shimizu Hakyu lay in a field of wildflowers, the scent of which surrounded him, yet was overcome by the smell of happiness, sunshine, and peaches. Amaterasu had chosen that day to grace all those below with a beautiful, bright, colorful sunset. His attention slowly shifted to the light pressure in his hand. The Tengu's gaze fell from the clouds to the soft, delicate hand that rested in his grasp.
A haze of pure bliss had settled over him. "Hotaru," he breathed.
The woman turned her face towards his, a similar look of content upon her face. "Mm?" Her jade green eyes were lidded and the corners of her perfect lips her teased upwards in a gentle smile.
Oh, how Hakyu loved the smell of Senka. He inhaled deeply before exhaling with a sigh. "Thank you," he said.
She blinked, and slowly rose to prop herself up on her elbows. "For what?" Little pieces of grass and leaves from the flowers were stuck in her hair, yet it only served to make her more radiant.
Hakyu ran a hand through that very golden hair. "For everything, for leaving everything behind," before she had been discovered to be the Senka Maiden, she had been at the top of her class, and was looking forward to some rather prestigious colleges to be practically begging for her to attend, "for enduring this horrible war," the Fifth Senka War had been over the young miss Kaneko Hotaru, and while she'd been passed through many hands throughout the entire ordeal, she remained loyal to him, and that was all that mattered, "for being so understanding," when they had first gone to retrieve her, she'd been nearly dead, for at that time Youkai were very active in the World of the Living, and many minor, demonic Youkai had immediately attacked. It was the presence of the Tengu that had scared off the beasts, and the Tengu that had healed her wounds. Hakyu had heard many stories of Senka Maidens that simply panicked and at first hated their rescuers as well, and Hotaru had instantly recognized that Tengu weren't going to hurt her, "And… and for loving me back."
Hotaru gave him a joyful grin. "Well you're very welcome, Hakyu," she looked him in the eye, "And I'd do it all over again, as long as it was for you."
The Tengu smiled as well. After a few moments of happy silence, he rose to his feet, clasping Hotaru's hand and helping her up. "Come on, we'd better get back to the house. We've got a big day tomorrow."
She laughed. "Yeah, and I doubt either of us will be getting much sleep tomorrow night," she stretched her arms over her head, the fading daylight catching the ring around her finger. "I don't really get a the point of a formal ceremony, anyways. It's not like we actually have to be wed for the Senka magic or whatever to work," she said thoughtfully.
Hakyu leaned over and planted a kiss on her cheek. "It's so you can drop your cool last name for my boring one. Good bye to Kaneko Hotaru, hello Shimizu Hotaru," he joked.
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It was like any other day in the Shimizu home. Calm. No overly pressing matters, not since the war, four years ago. They'd beat down so many powerful clans to the point where they went running with their proverbial (and not so proverbial) tails between their legs. It was unlikely anyone would be presented with an urgent matter until the next Senka came about.
"Hakyu-sama," came the familiar voice of the clan's doctor.
The clan leader didn't look up from his book. "Yes, Nanami-san?" he said flatly, adjusting his reading glasses.
"It's Hotaru-sama."
That got his attention. Wasting no time to retrieve his bookmark, he simply folded the page corner and set it beside him. "What about Hotaru?" he said sternly.
Nanami stepped aside as his wife came running in, dressed in a simple purple Yukata, and embraced him. "Hakyu! You're never going to guess…" she half laughed, half cried. It seemed like a happy cry, though.
Several other female clan members were peeking through the door Hotaru had come through, either giggling or smiling happily.
The clan doctor grinned kindly. "Congratulations, Hakyu-sama, it seems that in a few months you'll have an heir."
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The Tengu kneeled at his wife's bedside, holding her hand tightly as tears silently ran down his face.
She looked at him with an almost content look on her face. She looked sick, her eyes sunken in, her lips chapped, her skin pale except for the slight blush caused by the fever. "Hakyu…" she breathed. The child had come a month and a half early, and even through her pregnancy she'd had grown weaker and weaker. Hakyu was beginning to realize why his father had barely spoken to him, and exactly why his mother had died giving birth.
"This is my fault, Hotaru, I'm so sorry," he sobbed, unable to look her in the face.
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Hakyu," she rasped. She looked back to the nurses, "Can I see my son? My little Katsuro?"
Nanami chose that moment to re-enter the room, solemn expression on her face. "I'm sorry, Hotaru-sama, but the child was too weak."
Her face fell visibly. "Ah…" her shoulders slumped against her pillow. Once more she turned to her husband. "Hakyu… thank you."
His eyes widened, stunned.
She continued. "Thank you for finding me. Thank you for being so kind. Thank you for fighting for me," her began to slide shut, "Thank you for… loving me…"
Hakyu grasped her hand tighter. "No, no, no, Hotaru. Hotaru, don't do this to me… Hotaru!" he sobbed.
"Good bye… I'll see you… in Takamagahara…" her eyes shut as she exhaled softly.
"Hotaru! No, don't leave me, please! Hotaru… Hotaru…" he dissolved into tears.
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The Tengu mumbled strange things in his sleep, Chiume noted. She recognized the name he spoke most often. Any self-respecting Youkai who didn't would be considered insane. Such a glorious war the Fifth Senka War had been, but despite her opinions she had absolutely no wish to relive it.
Such beautiful irony. The Tengu had fought tooth and nail to keep that Senka, only to have her give birth to a premature child and die.
The Shirohebi kicked him lightly in the side. "Oi, Shimizu. Wake up. Your nightmare isn't amusing me anymore."
Hakyu shot up, his face still tear stained. "What? Where…?" he looked around confusedly until his gaze settled upon Chiume. "YOU!" he exclaimed.
She sighed. "Yes. Me. Now, I've got breakfast here, if ya want it," she said, gesturing to a pot over a campfire.
He blinked. "What happened to your accent?"
Chiume snorted. "Dumb question. We Shirohebi do that on purpose to intimidate people. I normally don't use it these days."
Hakyu tensed. "Why am I alive?"
The Shirohebi sighed. "Because for some odd reason she wants you alive. She wants you here, but she wants you alive. Don't question it, please."
The Tengu tilted his head to the side. "So… what would happen if I made a run for the door?"
"I've got a Kunai with your name on it."
"Well," he said suddenly cheerful, "What's for breakfast?"
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A/N: I know I promised Sakane to Hinamori interaction, but I'm out of time (mom wants me off the comp) and this was just begging to be written. The death of Shimizu Hotaru was necessary… we need it to understand Hakyu's emotions and motives and actions.
If you review, I'll be very happy! Even if it's just a theory of what's gonna happen, or a simple "I leik dis it is kewl."