Chapter Three
;Fall into old paths;
She watched him watch her. Watched his eyes flickering with many questions, demands, and accusations. Watched them move slowly, almost afraid to believe what they were seeing, to rest upon the person next to her. She watched his eyes drinking her image hungrily, and looked at his mouth, which hung slightly open in complete shock.
Momiji sighed, and prepared to approach the man before her, the man who had graced the presence of her dreams and musings for so many years. She wondered what to say to him.
It seemed to her that the moment lasted for hours and the silence pressed upon the three of them like a heavy weight full of unfathomable worry and painful memories.
Momiji tried to blank her mind of all the very unhappy thoughts and stepped forward. She now stood between Kaede and Kusanagi. Kusanagi's eyes slid slightly out of focus and he continued to stare at the place where Kaede was standing, now blocked by Momiji's imploring eyes.
''Kusanagi...'', she mumbled inaudibly.
She knew this would be his reaction, but she really wished that it hadnt happened so soon! Kusanagi now moved sideways so he could see Kaede, who stood behind Momiji looking at Kusanagi with a strained smile and eyes full of pain. She too, seemed to be seeing memories come to life again inside her mind.
''Uhmm.....Kusanagi?'', Momiji said a little louder.
Momiji took another step forward and put her hand on Kusanagi's shoulder, shaking him gently. From the first touch of her skin against the thin black cotton shirt he was wearing, his eyes snapped back into focus with such speed and ferocity that for a second Momiji quailed under his sharp glare.
''What is this? Is it real?'', he said with bitterness and stifled fury marking every word.
''What is real, Kusanagi? She is here... I donÕt know how... but she is.'', Momiji said boldly, her words, in opposition, tinged with pride and hope.
His gaze slowly shifted over to Kaede again, and Momiji could see the lines of stubbornness slowly lessening. Momiji turned her head and glanced at Kaede over her shoulder. Her sister still stood in the same place she was when the twin girls raced into the house.
Her eyes were also widened in perplexion and was slowly biting her bottom lip. Momiji moved and looked into Kusanagi's saddened face again. She tightened her grip on his shoulder, and he looked at her again, and this time his features swiftly changed.
''So, Kaede. Here to try and destroy the world once again?'', Kusanagi said quietly, not looking at Kaede but at Momiji.
He seemed almost to be trying to not look at the girl in the pink ceremonial robes. His voice was quiet, but proud and strong and acrid. Kaede closed her eyes, shutting out his cruel features.
''No.. I... I have returned to Earth to live with my sister. With my family... My friends.'', she replied with a tone equal to his, but her voice flowed with spirit and overpowered his thoughtless anger.
He frowned, and Momiji could see he did not believe a word of it.
Men.,said the still operating corner of the feminine side of her mind.
''Kusanagi. Let the past fade away, dont let it ruin what is to still come. I know you will never forget, but still. Will you ever feel the way you did so many years ago?''
Kaede's voice came floating through the air over Momiji's shoulder. Her words brought him to look at her, and it almost looked like he was seeing her for the first time, because the fire in his slitted eyes faded and almost held a look of pity and regret. He brought his arms around Momiji and held her closer to him.
''Do you really think that you can just come back like this? Wouldnt your presence on earth reawaken the Aragami? Damn it, Kaede. You try so hard to do the right thing, but you just might ruin it all!'', he yelled furiously.
''The Aragami can only return when another Kushinada is reborn.'', Kaede answered calmly, though she was seething inside, being treated like some unwanted stranger like this.
Why isnt Momiji standing up for me? Why is she letting him just go on like this.... The words rang clear in Kaede's mind.
Momiji flustered suddenly, realizing what Kaede had just brought up. She could feel Kusanagi tense up slightly, too.
Another Kushinada...., she mused.
Silence rang through the kitchen. Now the scene was upon Kusanagi holding Momiji, with both of them staring quietly at Kaede. They almost seemed to be talking through the power of thought, their bitter argument continued in the shelter of their own minds. Finally, Kusanagi dropped his arms from Momiji, sighed, and closed his eyes. A smirk played on his tanned face.
How fine he seems..., Kaede thought secretly, though the nearest thing she wanted now is to give him a right good slap across the face.
Kusanagi shuffled a step back from Momiji, and his cat-like orbs looked off to the side, staring with disinterest at the china cupboard. He almost seemed to be trying to not look at Kaede or Momiji.
''Whatever is happening, it cant be good. She shouldnt be here'', he raised his arm and angrily pointed a single finger at Kaede. His voice was only as cold as the bitterness in his eyes.
Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode out of the kitchen in fierce steps.
''KUSANAGI!'', Momiji yelled, '' Kusanagi please come back!''.
Her voice was pained and hurt. It seemed to get to him, because he slowed to a halt, and turned his head slightly to look at her.
She stood there, her eyes wide and dejected, her face slightly pale and drawn, and he felt like a complete idiot for being this way.
But he knew, enough was enough, it was hard enough being in the same room as Kaede, much less trying to figure out why suddenly she was back in his life.
''Im sorry, Momiji.''. He felt like he should say more, but the words wouldnt come.
He turned away and started walking again towards the door. Implusively, he pulled at the collar of his red trench coat and drew in his neck in what he thought was a manly gesture.
Slam, went the door, and he was gone.
Ten feet away, Kaede shut her eyes and rubbed her temples with a slender hand.
Goddamn it, Kaede was already comndemning Kusanagi for his coldness, even with Momiji, the woman he supposedly loved. Curse him, and his irrational logic.
Poor Momiji...., she thought.
Momiji was just standing there, still blankly staring after Kusanagi's extinguished presence. Kaede couldnt see her eyes, but she knew the tears had already begun to roll. She had not known Momiji very long, even in the old days, but she knew her sister often wept.
Kaede shuddered unpleasantly at the reflection upon the past... she couldnt really remember her days when she was resurrected by Lord Susano-Oh to do his bidding... she was always controlled by that self-absorbed idiot...Murakumo.
Kaede's brow furrowed as she tried to remember... only a few glimmers could escape into her mind. She knew, though, that she was truly awake from her foolish destiny when Momiji sacrificed herself...for her.
Momiji, who would give up life just for Kaede and the other humans, who gave up love, her love, for Kusanagi, to protect the love she had for others.
When was it... that Kaede gave up her will to Susano-oh.. was ... --
Kaede's thoughts were broken by a quiet thudding noise. She looked up to see Momiji sitting slumped on the floor, her face buried in her arms. She was shaking slightly. From far away, she looked like a poor, lost little girl, with dusty, torn jeans, and a forlorn look on her tear-stained face. A leaf stained with autumn's blood was caught in her auburn hair.
Momiji shifted unfortably on the hard stone floor, even though she really didnt care. Why? Why did Kusanagi leave her?
Momiji's tears ran hot at the image of Kusanagi's face when he looked at her sister. The moment seemed to be burned onto the inside of her eyelids, and in torture she forced herself to see it again and again.
It almost even felt...like he was still in love... with Kaede....
Kusanagi... she thought bitterly.
She felt warmth on her shoulder. Kaede's hand rested on her shoulders. Momiji lifted her eyes to look up at Kaede's calm, tranquil, beautiful face. A breeze from the open kitchen door stirred through the kitchen, and Kaede's smooth hair billowed lightly around her face.
A small smile, sad and comforting, was upon her perfectly contoured lips. Her eyes seemed to know everything, and their vast, endless emeralds sparkled from her thick black lashes. From below, Momiji looked in wonder at her perfect, beautiful, powerful sister. She seemes almost unreal. But yet she was here. She was here, and prehaps she would always be.
Momiji instantly calmed under the gaze of her twin. She sighed relaxedly, and all her doubts were slowly ebbing away.
And all at once, Kaede's voice broke the painful silence and rubbed away all of Momiji's worries. Momiji closed her eyes and let her sister's melodious voice ring through her very being:
''Do not fear, sister. Dont let the pain consume you. Live. Live again.''
;Fall into old paths;
She watched him watch her. Watched his eyes flickering with many questions, demands, and accusations. Watched them move slowly, almost afraid to believe what they were seeing, to rest upon the person next to her. She watched his eyes drinking her image hungrily, and looked at his mouth, which hung slightly open in complete shock.
Momiji sighed, and prepared to approach the man before her, the man who had graced the presence of her dreams and musings for so many years. She wondered what to say to him.
It seemed to her that the moment lasted for hours and the silence pressed upon the three of them like a heavy weight full of unfathomable worry and painful memories.
Momiji tried to blank her mind of all the very unhappy thoughts and stepped forward. She now stood between Kaede and Kusanagi. Kusanagi's eyes slid slightly out of focus and he continued to stare at the place where Kaede was standing, now blocked by Momiji's imploring eyes.
''Kusanagi...'', she mumbled inaudibly.
She knew this would be his reaction, but she really wished that it hadnt happened so soon! Kusanagi now moved sideways so he could see Kaede, who stood behind Momiji looking at Kusanagi with a strained smile and eyes full of pain. She too, seemed to be seeing memories come to life again inside her mind.
''Uhmm.....Kusanagi?'', Momiji said a little louder.
Momiji took another step forward and put her hand on Kusanagi's shoulder, shaking him gently. From the first touch of her skin against the thin black cotton shirt he was wearing, his eyes snapped back into focus with such speed and ferocity that for a second Momiji quailed under his sharp glare.
''What is this? Is it real?'', he said with bitterness and stifled fury marking every word.
''What is real, Kusanagi? She is here... I donÕt know how... but she is.'', Momiji said boldly, her words, in opposition, tinged with pride and hope.
His gaze slowly shifted over to Kaede again, and Momiji could see the lines of stubbornness slowly lessening. Momiji turned her head and glanced at Kaede over her shoulder. Her sister still stood in the same place she was when the twin girls raced into the house.
Her eyes were also widened in perplexion and was slowly biting her bottom lip. Momiji moved and looked into Kusanagi's saddened face again. She tightened her grip on his shoulder, and he looked at her again, and this time his features swiftly changed.
''So, Kaede. Here to try and destroy the world once again?'', Kusanagi said quietly, not looking at Kaede but at Momiji.
He seemed almost to be trying to not look at the girl in the pink ceremonial robes. His voice was quiet, but proud and strong and acrid. Kaede closed her eyes, shutting out his cruel features.
''No.. I... I have returned to Earth to live with my sister. With my family... My friends.'', she replied with a tone equal to his, but her voice flowed with spirit and overpowered his thoughtless anger.
He frowned, and Momiji could see he did not believe a word of it.
Men.,said the still operating corner of the feminine side of her mind.
''Kusanagi. Let the past fade away, dont let it ruin what is to still come. I know you will never forget, but still. Will you ever feel the way you did so many years ago?''
Kaede's voice came floating through the air over Momiji's shoulder. Her words brought him to look at her, and it almost looked like he was seeing her for the first time, because the fire in his slitted eyes faded and almost held a look of pity and regret. He brought his arms around Momiji and held her closer to him.
''Do you really think that you can just come back like this? Wouldnt your presence on earth reawaken the Aragami? Damn it, Kaede. You try so hard to do the right thing, but you just might ruin it all!'', he yelled furiously.
''The Aragami can only return when another Kushinada is reborn.'', Kaede answered calmly, though she was seething inside, being treated like some unwanted stranger like this.
Why isnt Momiji standing up for me? Why is she letting him just go on like this.... The words rang clear in Kaede's mind.
Momiji flustered suddenly, realizing what Kaede had just brought up. She could feel Kusanagi tense up slightly, too.
Another Kushinada...., she mused.
Silence rang through the kitchen. Now the scene was upon Kusanagi holding Momiji, with both of them staring quietly at Kaede. They almost seemed to be talking through the power of thought, their bitter argument continued in the shelter of their own minds. Finally, Kusanagi dropped his arms from Momiji, sighed, and closed his eyes. A smirk played on his tanned face.
How fine he seems..., Kaede thought secretly, though the nearest thing she wanted now is to give him a right good slap across the face.
Kusanagi shuffled a step back from Momiji, and his cat-like orbs looked off to the side, staring with disinterest at the china cupboard. He almost seemed to be trying to not look at Kaede or Momiji.
''Whatever is happening, it cant be good. She shouldnt be here'', he raised his arm and angrily pointed a single finger at Kaede. His voice was only as cold as the bitterness in his eyes.
Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode out of the kitchen in fierce steps.
''KUSANAGI!'', Momiji yelled, '' Kusanagi please come back!''.
Her voice was pained and hurt. It seemed to get to him, because he slowed to a halt, and turned his head slightly to look at her.
She stood there, her eyes wide and dejected, her face slightly pale and drawn, and he felt like a complete idiot for being this way.
But he knew, enough was enough, it was hard enough being in the same room as Kaede, much less trying to figure out why suddenly she was back in his life.
''Im sorry, Momiji.''. He felt like he should say more, but the words wouldnt come.
He turned away and started walking again towards the door. Implusively, he pulled at the collar of his red trench coat and drew in his neck in what he thought was a manly gesture.
Slam, went the door, and he was gone.
Ten feet away, Kaede shut her eyes and rubbed her temples with a slender hand.
Goddamn it, Kaede was already comndemning Kusanagi for his coldness, even with Momiji, the woman he supposedly loved. Curse him, and his irrational logic.
Poor Momiji...., she thought.
Momiji was just standing there, still blankly staring after Kusanagi's extinguished presence. Kaede couldnt see her eyes, but she knew the tears had already begun to roll. She had not known Momiji very long, even in the old days, but she knew her sister often wept.
Kaede shuddered unpleasantly at the reflection upon the past... she couldnt really remember her days when she was resurrected by Lord Susano-Oh to do his bidding... she was always controlled by that self-absorbed idiot...Murakumo.
Kaede's brow furrowed as she tried to remember... only a few glimmers could escape into her mind. She knew, though, that she was truly awake from her foolish destiny when Momiji sacrificed herself...for her.
Momiji, who would give up life just for Kaede and the other humans, who gave up love, her love, for Kusanagi, to protect the love she had for others.
When was it... that Kaede gave up her will to Susano-oh.. was ... --
Kaede's thoughts were broken by a quiet thudding noise. She looked up to see Momiji sitting slumped on the floor, her face buried in her arms. She was shaking slightly. From far away, she looked like a poor, lost little girl, with dusty, torn jeans, and a forlorn look on her tear-stained face. A leaf stained with autumn's blood was caught in her auburn hair.
Momiji shifted unfortably on the hard stone floor, even though she really didnt care. Why? Why did Kusanagi leave her?
Momiji's tears ran hot at the image of Kusanagi's face when he looked at her sister. The moment seemed to be burned onto the inside of her eyelids, and in torture she forced herself to see it again and again.
It almost even felt...like he was still in love... with Kaede....
Kusanagi... she thought bitterly.
She felt warmth on her shoulder. Kaede's hand rested on her shoulders. Momiji lifted her eyes to look up at Kaede's calm, tranquil, beautiful face. A breeze from the open kitchen door stirred through the kitchen, and Kaede's smooth hair billowed lightly around her face.
A small smile, sad and comforting, was upon her perfectly contoured lips. Her eyes seemed to know everything, and their vast, endless emeralds sparkled from her thick black lashes. From below, Momiji looked in wonder at her perfect, beautiful, powerful sister. She seemes almost unreal. But yet she was here. She was here, and prehaps she would always be.
Momiji instantly calmed under the gaze of her twin. She sighed relaxedly, and all her doubts were slowly ebbing away.
And all at once, Kaede's voice broke the painful silence and rubbed away all of Momiji's worries. Momiji closed her eyes and let her sister's melodious voice ring through her very being:
''Do not fear, sister. Dont let the pain consume you. Live. Live again.''