In a mist filled room, Midoriko held Eiichiro in her arms.
"I'll hold banquet after banquet, forever unchanging..." Midoriko said. "I may be lonely right now...but everyone is waiting for me...on the other side of that promise."
Midoriko fell to one knee in front of the two brothers.
"Hyuga clan," she said. "I swear to always carry out your promise. The Watanabe bloodline shall forever be ensorceled unto the service of this promise."
The priestess crossed her arms in front of the golden pentacle.
"S-AN!" The pentacle glowed, and the souls were drawn in, along with her own.
Suddenly her visage changed, and a hateful look over took her face as she spoke a word of curse.
"MU-DU-ROU!"
A mark sealed upon Kou's forehead as he screamed.
That was in the long-distant past...The original memory, forgotten by everyone. The original promise.
XXX
Kurisuta Hikawa sat straight up in bed. That dream again.
The Promise, the Lotis, the Curse.
"Ma...ram..." the word crossed her lips.
Kuri stood up. "It looks like it's cleared up..."
She headed away from her tent.
Kuri had long straight hair with bits of hair framed inward towards her face. There was a split in the middle of her widow's peak and she let a streak of hair on both sides frame her face in front of her shoulders. Her eyes were blue and her skin was pale. Kuri wore something like the miko uniform, a red medium dress, black stockings and brown boots. She wore a gold pentacle around her neck.
Kuri stopped at the Hyuga compound. "Huh? What is this feeling?"
The dream from the night before flashed in her mind as she looked at the house.
"Huh? How can it be that there is a girl here?" Neji said, finishing up his training in the courtyard.
"P- pardon me! I looked in without asking first!" Kuri said. "These bells hanging here...aren't they some of the ones used in the kekkai barriers?"
Neji looked surprised. "Now how did you learn something like that?"
"I learned about it in my training." Kuri said.
"Training?" Neji said.
"I'm a Lotis Master." Kuri said. "A Miko of the Watanabe Clan. Part of the training was to learn the stories and legends of the Hyuga clan."
Xxx
A younger Kuri, wearing a miko's hakama, was kneeling in front of Master Kaori, listening to her teaching.
"Eiichiro Hyuga, a prominent ninja, and Midoriko Watanabe, the village priestess, met by accident and fell in love immediately. However, because of their different social status, people did not accept their relationship. Despite this, their feelings toward each other grew deeper every day, and they were happy, no matter what other people said. And they were separated, not by those people, but by war."
"A war..." Little Kuri said.
""I'll definitely come back alive.' Believing in these, Eiichiro's parting words, Midoriko promised to wait for him. And after he left on his journey, she prayed day after day for his safe return. However, despite her prayers, Eiichiro fell with an arrow in his back, at the last fortress that protected the territory, in order to protect the village where she awaited him.
"When Midoriko heard the news, she went to the her shrine and told the kami that she wanted to give all her time to Eiichiro. The prayer was granted. Midoriko's time was given to Eiichiro, and he survived. Surrounding Eiichiro, in the place of his own blood, were scattered petals of the roses that Midoriko loved.
And on his return, when Eiichiro learned what she had done, he prayed to the kami in turn. "Please return the time she gave me to her once more." "Please exchange her frozen time with my time." The kami was moved by their strong bond and let their souls meet. Their time was given to the village that they loved, and eternal time was promised to the village. The village was protected forever, and the villagers never forgot about those two.
Little Kuri rolled her eyes. "That's too clean Grams. The ending's too easy."
Kaori patted Kuri's head. "Well now, with each generation of the Watanabe family we train in the art of Lotis to keep the spell together in the Hyuga family, an unending promise."
"But Grams?" Little Kuri said. "Just as Mother died, protecting me, she told me that even though we all have to die, the bond of love doesn't break. Love...is the greatest of all powers."
Kaori kissed Kuri's forehead. "Blessed Be."
Xxx
Kuri watched Neji's face as she was lost in her memories. "Sorry about that. I sort of spaced out. What were you saying?"
Hiashi Hyuga hit him on the head. "What are you standing around here for? Are you alright, Miko-dono? My nephew didn't do anything impolite, did he?"
Neji stared at her. "You are...from that clan?"
"Yes. My training is complete." Kuri said. "I was sent to await the head of the Hyuga family's discernment on my placement."
A pained look crossed Neji's face, but only for a moment.
"So where are you living?" Hiashi asked curiously.
"Uh...nearby." Kuri said, then quickly changed the subject. "W- well, with that, I should be-"
"Ah, Miko-dono..." Neji said.
"Yes?" Kuri said.
"Since you're already here, shall we go together?" Neji said. "You should be getting to your shrine, now that you are in the village, correct?"
"Ah! Yes!" Kuri nodded.
Hikawa Shrine
"I couldn't make any conversation with Neji worth calling conversation, either." Kuri said, staring into the flames.
She often meditated this way; it was called pyromancy.
"He seems unusual..." Mana Nicolae said.
Mana was often described as a very beautiful woman. She had flawless alabaster-white skin and long, rich black hair that fell past her slim waist, which was often tied into a loose ponytail with a ribbon and had big, brown eyes.
Mana was in charge of spells at the shrine. She was finishing one now and putting it in its pouch.
"Here it comes." Reiko Minamino said sarcastically.
Reiko had red hair, green eyes, and tanned skin. She wore her hair in a high ponytail with a big green bow.
Reiko was in charge of herbs, remedies and potions for the shrine.
"Unusual, you say?" Kuri said.
"I'm not quite sure about it." Mana said. "Well, there certainly is an unusual feeling about him. Anyway Kuri, do you have to work late at the shrine today?"
"Yes, I do." Kuri said. "I'm getting ready for the Harvest Festival."
"That's rough. You're still staying with your Grams in town, right?" Rei said.
"Yes of course." Kuri said. "Relax. I work so hard because I plan to become High Priestess of my Shrine when I'm older. I have to learn lots of things. Casting my circle, drawing down the moon, stuff like that."
"Is that so?" Reiko said. "Well don't work too hard."
I can't tell them. Kuri thought. They can't know that my real purpose is to serve the Hyuga family and strengthen the promise. Or that I keep having nightmares about some kind of curse.
Xxx
A young Kuri sat at a gravestone crying.
A wealthy man, Yuzuru Suo, walked over, holding the hand of a small child, then reaching out a hand. "Won't you come with me Kuri? I'm your father after all. Don't you want to be with me and Shimano?"
Kuri looked up. "You came all the way here to get me...but you couldn't come an hour earlier for Mom's funeral. Just...what was she to you?"
"A dalliance." Yuzuru said.
"Funny." Kuri said. "She said the same thing about you."
An older woman appeared behind Kuri, a hand on her shoulder, as if out of nowhere.
"You've gotten your money." Grams said sternly. "That's all your getting. You have the boy. You won't have my girl too. Come, Kuri."
Grams led her away.
"I'll never understand why she loved that man." Grams said later.
"Love...is weakness." Kuri declared.
"What makes you say that?" Grams snapped. "Love is the Greatest of all Powers."
"How can it be the Greatest of All Powers...when it causes such misery, and leaves you with nothing?" Kuri said stubbornly.
"Love..." Grams said. "Love is infinite. You can always make more of it. It makes a coward brave. It is your greatest weakness, and yet...your greatest strength. With Love, you have Lotis. Without it, all is darkness. Maram. Remember that."
Xxx
"Neji-sama, about this morning, I wanted to apologize." Kuri said.
"The same goes even more for me. I should not have been so rude, Miko-dono." Neji said.
"It's alright. The two of you...don't seem to get along." Kuri said. "And call me Kuri, if you don't mind."
"Mi—Kuri-sama," Neji amended. "How much do you know about the Hyuga clan?"
"A fair amount." Kuri said bravely.
"Do you know that the Branch house is subservient to the Main house?" Neji said. "It has been that way for generations."
"So Hiashi-sama..." Kuri trailed off.
Neji turned, a cold smile on his face, as Kuri came to an understanding.
He stepped closer to her, placed a cool hand on her forehead.
"I was thinking this morning, as well, that your color doesn't look too good." Neji said. "You should take better care of yourself. Well, see you tomorrow."
"He really is mysterious. Even so, Neji, I'll pretend I didn't hear that. I have to cast a Circle tonight." Kuri thought
Xxx
Kuri bowed and prepared to cast the Circle.
She was startled to see Neji Hyuga watching from the entrance to the shrine. She turned to wave him over, when she felt a shudder run through her.
Her body flew back in a wide arc, and she felt herself collapse on to the floor.
Xxx
Kuri sat up. She was somewhere else. This place...it was like her dream!
Kuri looked back down the tunnel. Nothing there except dancing light. Kuri turned to the wall and felt a jolt of electric shock. Whoa! There was a woman sitting cross-legged in front of the wall! She was wearing a white fringed dress that was beaded with the same symbols that were on the wall behind her. She was fantastically beautiful, with long straight hair so black it looked as if it had blue and purple highlights, like a raven's wing. Her full lips curved up as she spoke, filling the air between us with the silver power of her voice.
"Welcome, filia lunae. Daughter of the Moon. You have done well."
She used Latin, but even though Kuri hadn't practiced the language much in the last couple years Kuri understood the words.
"You're the Kami!" Kuri blurted, feeling awkward and out of place as her purple words joined with the woman's, making incredible patterns of sparkling lavender in the air around us.
Her smile was like the rising sun.
"Yes. I am the Kami."
Kuri took a deep breath. "Am I dead?"
Kuri was afraid she would laugh, but she didn't. Instead her dark eyes were soft and concerned.
"No, filia lunae. You are far from dead, though your spirit has been temporarily freed to wander the realm of the Otherworld."
"The Otherworld!" Kuri glanced around the tunnel, trying to see faces and forms within the shadows.
Your grandmother has taught you well, Paulo Anatis…little duck. You are a unique mixture of the Old Ways and the New World—of ancient wiccan blood and the heartbeat of outsiders.
Her words made Kuri feel hot and cold at the same time. "What do you want from me?" I asked.
"There is something I must tell you." Kami lowered her voice to a whisper. "When I made the promise, cast the spell long ago, I was unaware, but the Mara...Darkness of the Heart...made it into a curse."
"Curse?" Kuri said. "But what can I do?" All of a sudden she wanted to cry. "I—I don't understand. Find my destiny? I just want to find a way to deal with my new life—to make this all okay. Kami, I just want to fit in someplace. I don't think I'm up to finding my destiny."
Kami's face softened again, and when she spoke her voice was like Grams, only more—as though she had somehow sprinkled the love of every mother in the world into her words.
"Believe in yourself Kuri Watanabe. I have Chosen you as my own. You will be my first true Filia Lunae…Daughter of Night…in this age. You are special. Accept that about yourself and you will begin to understand there is true power in your uniqueness. Within you is combined the magic blood of ancient Wise Women and Elders, as well as insight into and understanding of the modern world."
The Goddess stood up and walked gracefully toward me, her voice painting silver symbols of power in the air around them. When she reached Kuri she wiped the tears from her cheeks before taking her face in her hands.
"Kuri Watanabe, Daughter of the Moon, I name you my eyes and ears in the Hyuga Clan, in a world where good and evil are struggling to find balance."
"But I'm sixteen! How am I supposed to know how to be your eyes and ears?"
"She just smiled serenely. You are old beyond your years, Kuri. Believe in yourself and you will find a way. But remember, darkness does not always equate to evil, just as light does not always bring good. Remember: To let go of your fear, trust in the Greatest of All Powers."
Then the Kami, the ancient deity Kuri's family had served for generations, leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. And Kuri passed out.
Xxx
"Kuri-sama?" Neji was leaning over her, looking concerned.
Kuri sat up, and her head hit his. "Ow...what are you doing here, Neji-sama?"
"I came to see you cast a Circle." Neji said. "Are you alright?"
Kuri laughed. "That was a pretty big failure. Sorry about that. I just wasn't focusing..."
"That wasn't it." Neji insisted. "You have a fever, Kuri-sama. Come on, let's get you home."
"I'm afraid we can't." Kuri said awkwardly. "My tent blew away last night."
"Your...tent?!"
Xxx
"I see. So that's why you're living in a tent." Neji said.
"Yes..." Kuri said.
"Since when?" Neji said.
"Since one week ago." Kuri said. "I arrived in Konoha after finishing my training in Suna. Tradition dictates that I live in the woods for a month and ground myself before contacting the Hyuga clan Head. So it seems to be fate that I come here, right as the week is up."
Kuri tried to stand, and bow as Hiashi entered the room.
"Kuri-sama!" Neji stopped her. "You have to take it easy! Oji-sama, she has a fever!"
"I see." Hiashi said. "In that case...I've decided. You'll remain here, Miko-dono."
"Wait!" Kuri said, alarmed. "What about my duties!"
"Leave that to me." Hiashi said gently.
"Ah...fine..." Kuri sighed. "I guess it could be worse."
"What do you mean, Kuri-sama?" Neji said.
"When I was four years old, I found my mother on the side of the road. She was dead...and no one would tell me anything. Grams finally told me she died nobly, serving the Hyuga family. But...she didn't change anything, did she? Is it really ok, for this to go on...unchanging..." Kuri fell asleep.
"When she used to live in Konoha...when she was small...she always seems so cheerful. It seemed like she had never known hardship or anything of the sort. But she's spent her whole life training just to serve our family, Oji-sama. I've had it easy, huh?" Neji said.
"It would be rude to the Miko to call it terrific." Hiashi said.
"You're right." Neji said. "Can I leave her up to you? I'm going to go bring her things back here."
"Yes. She will be fine here with me." Hiashi said.
Xxx
"Kuri?" Grams came into the library. "Kuri where are you?"
"U-Under here! Help!" Kuri's hand stuck out of the book pile.
Grams pulled her out. "Did you pull another all-nighter?"
Kuri yawned in response.
"Don't work so hard. You're very wise, you'll find the answer to the Hyuga family's problem. Don't give up! I'll always be here to take care of you!"
Xxx
"Grams...I can't..." Kuri said.
"Morning. How are you feeling? I think I was able to dig out all of your belongings. Could you check them?" Neji said.
"Neji-sama, did you do all this yourself?" Kuri said.
"Is that a problem?" Neji asked.
"Ah...Thank you." Kuri said.
"Welcome to the House of Hyuga. I'll have your things carried up to your new room. Ah, Neji-kun, let her borrow a change of clothes." Hiashi said.
"Are you sure? I don't want you getting in trouble because of me! Here let me—" Kuri went to grab her overnight bags.
"Don't work so hard." Neji said. "We don't mind taking care of you."
Kuri beamed, reminded of her Grams' words.
Xxx
"Sure enough, because it's been closed up, it has become moldy. It would be best to open a window for some ventilation." Neji said.
Hinata entered the room timidly. "M-Miko-dono?"
She and Kuri bowed at the same time and bonked heads.
"Kuri-sama! Hinata-sama! Are you two ok?" Neji said.
Kuri laughed. "Hey now, that one was your fault, Hinata-sama. You can't be bowing to the Hyuga family priestess. I'm here to serve you; that's how this works."
"I-I'm sorry!" Hinata said.
"Don't be. Tell ya what. Stop by my shrine when I get to feeling better, and I'll have Mana-chan whip you up a love charm or something." Kuri said. "I'm sure a pretty girl like you has a boy you like, ne?"
"Yes! I will, miko-dono!" Hinata said, cheered, and left the room.
Neji looked over at Kuri as she made up her bed and hummed a little.
Was she really so accepting of being of service for the rest of her life to the Hyuga? And the way Hiashi had 'coerced' her into living there. It was obvious they just wanted to use her as a servant.
He absently touched his forehead.
Would she be branded, like he was? No! He couldn't bear it.
"I think I knew it all along..." Kuri said, looking out the window as the birds flew into the sunset. "The feeling I had..."
"Yes...like something I have to protect." Neji finished..