Sheriel-sama Presents…

||Revenge||

Chapter 3: Sibling Rivalries

15 years passed quickly as Rukawa Hanami grew up into a fine young man together with his brother Rukawa Kyo. Hanami had always wondered why his parents didn't look anything like him. He always wondered why the village people wouldn't let their children play with him. He always wondered why he had this cursed red hair. Because of his looks people would call him the devil's child. He hated that name. He knew he was incomparable to his brother. Kyo had never been the outcast, he was almost perfect. His Cerulean eyes were much more beautiful than his could ever be. He was the one that his mother loves most. Hanami knew that somehow his parents could never love him as much as they love Kyo.

"Hanami, you shouldn't hold your sword this way. Do it like Kyo." Kaori said to his adopted son. "Yes, father." Hanami said obediently. "Not like that! At this rate, you'll master the true skills of the swift fox technique. Do it like Kyo." Kaori told Hanami. "Forget it Father. I'll never be as good as Kyo." Hanami said angrily and walked away. "Hanami…"Kaori called out to him but Hanami just walked away. Kyo looks confuse but later on continued wielding his sword the right way.

'Kyo this, Kyo that. Like Kyo, Kyo, Kyo, Kyo! Argh!!! This is infuriating. First of all, I'm not as good looking as Kyo, second, he's stealing all the attention from the girls, third, he's better in sword fighting than me, fourth, mom and dad loves him more! This is unfair!' Hanami thought. "Hanami?" his mother called out to him. "Yes mother?" he replied. "Are you alright? You look sad…" she said. "Mother, do you love me?" he asked. "Of course I do!" she replied. "More than Kyo?" he asked. "I…er…I love you both equally." She said. "I doubt. You love Kyo more. Sometimes I feel as if we weren't related at all." Hanami said looking at her. She could see Hanami's body language was showing he was angry but when she look in his eyes she could see a fragile glass that threatened to break anytime. "Hanami…you're my son. Nothing will ever change that!" she said hugging him. "I hope so mother. I hope so." Hanami said softly.

Later that night…

"Anata, do you think we should tell him?" Ayumi asked. "About what?" Kaori asked. "About his past. About his relationship with us. One of these days he'll find out that we're not his parents and you are the one who killed them." Ayumi stated. "I don't think it's a good idea. Ayumi, I don't wish to remember my past sins. Let's not talk about it anymore." Kaori said softly. "Very well then…"she replied.

Hanami, my son…I hope you will never find out about your real parents and who killed them. I've lived in guilt all the time. Even by taking you in as my son, I knew I could never be forgiven for killing your parents and many other innocent lives. I know I used to be a cold-blooded killer but there was something about you that made me realize it was not worth killing. Why were you so special? I asked myself many times. There's a strange aura around you. I could feel that you have a powerful Ki… it was rare to see a child or let alone a man of pure Japanese origins have red hair. Are you the child that Amaterasu-sama sent to realize my sins? Were you the light that brought me to the true reality of this cruel world full of bloodshed? I will never know…

Author: Aaaah I'm so sorry if it's short. Writer's block…I have no idea what to write…but if you review I might get more inspiration! ^_^ Thanks for the wonderful reviews and criticism. All I would like to say is…this is my fic and I can do whatever I want to make this story work…that includes twisting the facts a little here and there…I appreciate all your flames…