In this World and Life
Chapter 1: Of Good and Bad Times
Hello minna-san! This is my first fic so please review. Any suggestions, comments and what-not are welcome. Even flames... I think..
The first chapter is from the point of view of an OC and might change every now and then. btw,
Disclaimer: I don't own saiyuki..
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Darkness all around me. I didn't know why, but I felt so... 'at home' here. But then, there was something bothering me. Something didn't feel right.
I felt around me, trying to make sense of where I was, but to no avail. There was nothing except cold air. I tried to scream, partly to let someone, anyone know I was there; and partly in pure frustration and fear, but as I opened my mouth, no sound came out. My whole body trembled as I struggled to fight my fear, renewed frustration and my hesitation.
Unsure of what the heck I was doing, I took a few steps forward. With each step, I began to realize that the ground beneath my bare feet was cold and hard, patches of grass scattered all around. Sharp-edged rocks too, I thought, just when my right foot came in unpleasant contact with one of those rocks.
Strangely, pain gushed up my leg, forcing me to limp. I guess small is powerful after all, darn rock. All pain was forgotten though, when I heard a deafening scream of terror and pain. At that very moment, the world around me brightened as if someone just removed the blindfold from my eyes.
I was then able to see where I was. I looked around me and realized that I was standing in the middle of a forest, a creek flowing just to my left. Instinctively, I looked to the sky. The full moon was shining brightly, but there were no stars...
All too familiar...
Again, my thoughts were interrupted by a scream in the distance. Because of curiosity, and because I wanted to help somehow, I followed the sound.
Pushing my way past a few bushes, I found myself in a clearing lit by pale moonlight. There I saw where the screams had come from.
"Iiiiiieeeeeeee!!!" the woman screamed just as razor sharp claws swiftly reached out to tear her into pieces. She managed to dodge the first two slashes, while still struggling to protect a child, a small girl who might have been her daughter, except for the fact that they didn't look alike at all.
I stared helplessly, my feet glued to the ground, my eyes glued to the scene, paralyzed, as I thought the third slash would do her in. The male youkai moved about quickly just to confuse them, practically disappearing right in front of them, then, with an evil grin, he charged.
The woman closed her eyes as if waiting for the pain and the blood, but it didn't come. A man suddenly stepped in front of the her and took the impact in her place.
Blood splattered and he fell to the ground, not moving.
"Otosama!!" the little girl was about to rush to her father's side but her mother stopped her, tears flowing down her cheeks.
Weakening, the mother wasn't able to hold on to the girl anymore. The girl rushed forward and confronted the youkai.
"Oniichan, naze? What happened to you?" I saw in her golden eyes not anger, but pain and fear. Fear for her family, and fear of what she might be about to do.
The youkai didn't respond. He glared at the girl. There was something in his teal-blue eyes the girl had never seen before.
There was a long silence. It took me quite a while to put it all together. So many thoughts, so many emotions swimming inside my head it made me dizzy. But then, full realization finally hit me. The moment it hit, I'm not sure anymore whether it was the pain in my leg or the shock of realization that let me fall to my knees. I couldn't move. "No. Not again..."
I could do nothing but stare, even as the little voice inside my head urged me to move it. I stared. Stared at the woman weeping at the side of the man's body. Stared, as the youkai and the girl exchanged meaningful words, though not a sound was uttered between them.
The youkai suddenly lashed out at the girl, but as quick as lightning, she dodged it, struggling to hold back her tears as she used all that her older brother had taught her in defending herself. She never would have thought that it would be that very same person she would have to defend herself against. That kind-hearted person, always smiling, playing with her, the person she loved so much.
She dodged a few more attacks, swiftly moved backwards, and, tears in her eyes, she held on tightly to the amulet-locket she had always worn around her neck.
"Yurushite kuddasai."
It was barely louder than a whisper. But I heard it. Loud and clear. I knew what was going to happen next. But I couldn't let it happen.
I wanted to save even just a part of my family, even if it's just...
"Iie! Don't do it! You'll..." I stopped. A clawed hand shot straight for me. Time slowed as it moved closer to my heart. Stupid of me, I thought.
"How could you, niichan?"
At first I thought it was the little girl who said that, but no... It was my own voice.
The youkai grinned again, showing his sharp teeth, and then, everything blackened.
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I got up suddenly, and looked around frantically. Doko...? My bed. My room. I stared at the mirror hanging on the wall in front of me. A girl of about 15/18 with medium length dark brown hair and golden eyes stared back, an interestingly shaped locket hanging around her neck.
Just a dream, I thought, beads of cold sweat on my forehead. Demo...
"Zeia-chan! Breakfast's ready, time to eat!" Yuki neesan called to me from downstairs.
"H-Hai! Coming oneesan!"
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I was on my way downstairs when I suddenly remembered something. I headed back to my room, to the desk beside by bed and put on my dark brown contact lenses.
Looking at the mirror, I now saw brown eyes looking back. It's not that I have bad eyesight, some people actually say I can see things clearer than others. It's just...
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.:flashback:.
The little girl roamed the crowded streets of the village, not knowing where to go, what to do. People staredat her and her golden eyes, some in disgust, some in hatred, others in fear. Only one word was said, whispered about that girl, and though it was barely audible, in resounded in her head over and over.
"Heretic.. heretic.. heretic.. heretic...."
.:end of flashback:.
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"Kyuuuu!" I turned. A small dragon, so white she was practically translucent, with [something] translucent blue across her spine flew through the door of my room and perched on my right shoulder.
Hizuryu and I met in the forest on that night, right after it happened. Right after my whole family, except my brother, died. We've become the best of friends.
"Kyuuuuuuuuuuuuu!"
"Hai, hai. I know how mad Yuki neesan can get if breakfast gets cold before I'm there. Besides, I'm hungry, so let's go before..."
"Zeeeiiiaaaaaaa!!!"
Hizu-chan and I looked at each other. "Uh-oh."
.:suzuku:.
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Yes, I know it's sort of overdramatic, and I do know of its complete OCness, but I still want to know what you guys think. r/r pls!!