Miko no Chikyuu, Gejo no Nihon
By: Mirai Megami
An: Hello again! Alright tenshi-chan was right! I have seen A Little Princess. Hey that's what happens when its cold, raining, your sick, and you have a headache that makes your head feel like its gonna explode! =P And I had been planning to write a chapter that day anyway and I already knew what Hotaru was going to go through, the problem was that I didn't know what to do with Usagi. Hey there are going to be a lot of chapters in this story and I'm drained of ideas. And also because I wanted to show why Kiray likes Usagi so much, since you can tell she's not exactly the one that becomes friends with many. And then I thought oh screw it! And then I wrote it! And if you hate me for this then sorry, and hey I'm only human! But if it makes you feel any better all the ideas in this chapter are mine! Now pardon me while I escape from the lawyers that are in this room pissed at me!
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Hotaru had just woken up from her restless night at the temple. She hated it here. Everyone seemed to hate her, the clothes were always itchy and made you sweaty, and the food was exactly something to be grateful for either.
'My mom cooked ten times better than this disgusting cook.' She thought slightly angry at everything she has put up with the past few days.
She continued to itch and when she turned the corner to leave for the beach which was the only thing she could enjoy nowadays. When she bumped into someone, and this certain someone just happened to be Hiiro.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention." She quickly apologized to avoid confrontation.
"You don't have to apologize I wasn't really paying attention either." He tried to calm her down, since he noticed how tense she seemed.
"You're the prince's servant aren't you?" Hotaru then noticed how rude she was in saying this, because she knew how every servant or slave hated being called such. She supposed it was because it made them seem expandable and someone else's possession, because that's how she felt.
"Well actually we're really good friends and the only reason I became his servant is because the king thought it would be good for him to have a friend to go along with on his trips. And since they couldn't send someone with him that wasn't related they decided to just name me his servant." Hiiro calmly explained with his cold yet soft Prussian-blue eyes.
"Why couldn't they send people other than family? I mean your good friends and your like my age." Hotaru couldn't quite comprehend the situation as good as he did.
"Well the people and the Emperors' officials might have thought that he was spending the nation's money so family friends could have a good life as if they were the emperor himself." He then started to walk back where he had come from and Hotaru quickly followed.
"You seem to know a lot for someone who can only be about seven. How do you know all this?" Hotaru tried to figure out in her head just how this boy knew so much that he himself could be running the country, but she came to a blank.
"Well I've lived my entire life in the palace, always being around the Emperor kind of rubs off on you after awhile." Hiiro looked at her and noticed that she didn't look like any other regular Japanese girl he had seen before. All the others had black hair and eyes but she had purple eyes, and while her hair was black there were tints of purple in them as well.
"Well what did your parents do? Did they work in the palace or something?" Hotaru seemed to be more curious than she should have as the two continued to walk around the temple in a circle.
"Well actually my mother died giving birth to me and my father was one of the royal guards at the palace, so we automatically get free a free room at the palace. And where ever the Emperor went my father went to and of course I went as well since my father didn't want to leave me alone. And eventually me and Wufei met and became friends." Hiiro just poured out his past to a girl he hardly knew. Usually he hardly spoke one word to any girl and yet here he was becoming friends with this one.
"Your father sounds like a great guy, unlike another one I know. Or at least I thought I knew." Hiiro then looked over at Hotaru who was staring at her feet, hair covering her face.
"How did you end up here if you don't mind my asking?" Hiiro suddenly got very interested in her past as well. While the two just walked Hotaru didn't say a word and just when Hiiro was about to drop the subject she spoke.
"Well you see my family wasn't exactly rich but my father had his own ambitions to become something great but I never thought in a million years he would ever do anything like what he did." Hotaru then looked over at Hiiro and their eyes locked.
"What'd he do?" Hiiro tried to pry further and then he noticed that they had gone completely around the temple and were back at the entrance.
"Look I would like to go to the beach now if you don't mind." Hotaru quickly changed the subject, because for the past week she had learned to block that scene out of her mind and build a wall around herself so no one would ever see her crumble apart once again.
Hiiro looked outside and noticed it was foggy and chilly. The dirt was now mud because of the recent rainfall that had occurred this morning. And then he looked at himself. He had on a navy blue T-shirt that fell to his mid-thigh and brown pants that were pretty baggy with black shoes that were actually cloth sewn together.
(Also when I say t-shit I don't mean a T-shirt that you and I may wear. If you know a temple's clothing you'll know the pants and top are separate pieces, think of Rei's temple clothing. So his "T-shirt" is really like something a priest would wear only worn out, longer, and not so big and heavy.)
"Well would you mind if I came with you. I just came from there but I really enjoy it there." Hiiro then started to walk towards the beach before she could even answer. Hotaru merely sighed and knew he wouldn't take no for an answer, she then ran to catch up to him.
"You know you're being extremely rude not waiting for my answer. And besides aren't you going to be really cold down at the beach with that T-shirt?" Hotaru thought trying to scowl at him but turned out as a failed attempt.
"Not at all. I've been colder before. And besides royal guards have to be strong enough to withstand cold whether." Hiiro proudly said as he started to walk faster and faster, and Hotaru was starting to fall behind.
"But you're not a royal guard." Hotaru was now practically jogging to keep up with Hiiro's speed walking.
"Not yet! But in the future I plan to be!" Hiiro was now jogging, and rather fast as well, while Hotaru was right behind him almost running.
"While you're at it can you tell me why we're running! What's the rush?" Hotaru was now heaving and trying to keep up with him.
"Keeps you in shape and anyway I wanna get there as fast as I can. I hope you can keep up." Hiiro then looked back and smiled at her as he then took off in a run with Hotaru really falling behind and getting aggravated. Eventually he was out of site and already on the beach while Hotaru was just arriving at the beach.
/I finally found a great friend in Hiiro. He was the first person since I had arrived at the temple that actually treated me like a person rather than a burden./**
*~~~~~~~~*
"Man I'm hungry. I can't wait to get some food." Kiray said stretching her arms out as she looked up at the bright sun, and shielded her eyes from it's brightness.
"I love clear blue skies, and how the sun bathes you in warmth. It makes you feel reborn or something." Usagi said looked up at Kiray smiling her bright smile, while Kiray looked down and smiled right back.
The two then reached the boiling pot where the rice porridge was being handed out. Of course they got all the old broken dishes and pots while the master got all the finest things.
The two got their share and then sat down under a cherry tree's shade. "You know it makes no sense to give us hot food on a hot day. I wonder what's going on in their puny minds." Kiray said joking around.
"I wonder if they even have a mind." Usagi said leaning further into the tree to get more comfortable. Kiray then looked up at the branches, which no longer had their bright pink color.
"You know when Spring comes again we'll finally be able to see some real beauty in this world. Cherry tree's are my favorite and they always inspire me!" Kiray said practically inhaling her food, by stuffing it all in her mouth with her chopsticks.
"Inspire you?! Like how?" Usagi asked looking over at the opposite end of the cherry tree, where Kiray was sitting.
"It inspires me on new ways to steal things. That's how!" Kiray said laughing a little, but accidentally spitting out some of her food.
"Yeah well don't go spitting out all your food in the mean time." Usagi said turning back to her food and imitating the way Kiray ate her food.
"Very funny." Kiray said inhaling the rest of her food and then putting her hands behind her head and leaning against the tree preparing to doze off.
"Tell me Kiray is it true that cherry trees represent a short but happy and filling life?" Usagi asked shoving the rest of the food in her mouth.
"Yes it is actually. How'd you know that?" Kiray said leaning over the side to look at Usagi.
"Well my mother told me that." Usagi said putting her bowl down and setting her hands in her lap. 'I wonder what she's doing now.' Usagi thought looking up at the tree and closing her eyes.
"Hey Usagi want to get some more food. Cause I'm still hungry!" Kiray asked as Usagi opened her eyes to find Kiray standing in front of her, hands on her hips.
"Where are we going to get it though. We're not allowed any more." Usagi asked standing up in front of her looking up.
"I have my ways." Kiray said giving her a thumbs up and winking at her.
"Well alright lets do it." Usagi said getting excited as the two calmly walked towards the barn. The minute they got to the side of the barn Kiray checked to see if the coast was clear.
"Well it looks like no one's watching us, and I think if we sprint fast enough to the house we should be able to make it." Kiray said still scanning the area, suspiciously.
"When I saw go we run got it?" Kiray said not looking back at Usagi. "And remember I'm not gonna wait around for you to catch up so you better be fast. If I do falter we'll get caught and I don't wanna think of the consequences." Kiray said eyes rigid as she turned to look at Usagi.
"Don't worry about me I'll be fast." Usagi said trying to reassure herself rather than Kiray. "I hope so, and thank god there are other trees along the way blocking everyone's view. But it's still 150 yards." Kiray said as she got in the stance to run. Usagi started to second-guess this plan, but it was too late for that.
"Go!" Kiray yelled as she sprinted off.
Usagi then was taken aback by this but ran off after Kiray all the same. 'I hope this works.' Usagi thought as she ran as fast as her legs could carry her, and trying to hide behind some the trees along the way.
Kiray had just reached the side of the house as Usagi was coming up on the last tree for cover. Kiray was already checking the kitchen to make sure no one was around, as Usagi finally reached the corner of the house.
"Alright Usagi it's the moment of truth. The kitchen is clear and I've already spotted a dozen hot muffins on top of the stove. Don't worry about the heat because it'll be nothing compared to the feeling we'll have if we're caught." Kiray said slowly turning the knob and slowly opening the door.
(Alright again. When I say stove I don't mean a stove like the ones we have today. It looks something like what they use to make pots. Hopefully you've seen one before. But in Ireland some people, like my grandparents, use stoves that aren't run by electricity or anything else. You put wood inside of this stove and then light a match! And of course there are iron racks to put things on inside of it. And since I doubt these people had matches lets just say they can make their own fire! I'm never good at explaining things.
-.-)
"Alright." Usagi whispered as Kiray entered the kitchen with Usagi following closely behind.
Kiray then stood in front of the stove with Usagi standing next to her, and checking both left and right for any sight of a person.
Kiray, after seeing no one, looked down at the hot muffins smiling. "Jackpot." Kiray whispered to herself. She then slowly took off one of the muffins and winced from the heat of it. She then handed it to Usagi who took it in her right hand. The minute she touched it she nearly dropped it and let out a little whimper from the pain.
"Sshh." Kiray said putting her finger to her mouth. Usagi then held back her cries as she held the hot muffin in her hand. Kiray slowly and as quietly as she could picked off another muffin for Usagi and two for herself.
"Alright lets get outta here." Kiray said heading for the door cradling the muffins, and Usagi closely behind her.
"THEIF!" A girl yelled out from behind them. Kiray shot her head back to look at the girl who had caught them. It was Warugaki.
(There's a little pun there cause Warugaki mean brat! =P)
Warugaki, ever since she came here three years ago, hated Kiray. Kiray was sly and always got away with things, but whenever Kiray didn't get away easily it was because of Warugaki. She had black hair and strangely blue eyes. Everyone said it was because her father was a foreigner but no one really knew for sure. Not even Warugaki knew.
Usagi and Kiray both dropped their muffins as the master with several other slaves showed up. They were caught red-handed and there was no way to deny it. The minute the master saw Kiray and Usagi with the muffins by their feet he went red. He started to yell, swear, rant and rave as Warugaki was just smiling at Kiray and Usagi the whole time.
"Well Kiray this is not your first time. You've been stealing for years now and every time I whip you nothing seems to go off in that head of yours' to stop. I have no choice but to send you to jail this time." Kiray then narrowed her eyes as she looked down and got an angry look on her face, which Usagi had never seen before.
"Kiray?" Usagi whispered as quietly as she could and grabbed onto Kiray's hand before she was taken away.
The master then narrowed his eyes at Usagi who stood powerless staring down at the ground.
"As for you. This is your first offense but if you're with Kiray I doubt it'll be your last. I won't send you to jail but I'll give you ten lashings." Usagi then started to fight back tears as she was overcome with fear.
One slave then grabbed Usagi's arm and led her outside while the master went to get his whip.
~~Several minutes later~~
Usagi was leaning over a wooden stool with her dress off and to her side. (Don't worry she still has underwear on! =P) She had a small piece of wood in her mouth to bite down on. And she was tightly clutching the stool.
"This girl along will be punished for stealing food. She will receive ten lashes, and let this be a reminder to all of you. That if you ever steal you will share the same fate this girl will." The master said as the released the end of the whip and threw it back.
He then whipped it forward and then Usagi felt it. The piercing pain, like someone just ran a burning knife down your back. She grunted as the wooden mouth-piece blocked her screams. Then she felt it again and tears started to fall down her face from the pain.
Then the third hit made her loosen her grip on the wooden mouth-piece because her mouth felt like it was going numb. Then on the fourth hit it finally fell out and she let out an ear-piercing scream. And the barrage of attacks continued as she continued to scream for her life. She then looked up after she gave up on counting and saw Warugaki there smiling!
/On that day I knew Warugaki and I would be enemies. And that if I wanted to survive I had to get rid of her./*
TBC…………
AN: Well finally I gave Hotaru a break and well let Usagi go through the torture! I hope you liked this chapter. And I hope you'll review it for me! It'd be greatly appreciated :hint: :hint: :wink: :wink:. =P Well anyway hope you come back for more! ^.-