A Fanfic by Yomi no Miko
Chapter 15: Liu
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After fifteen years as a member of Kenzo's band of thieves, my name had started to become notorious all over the east of Makai. Being famous was "the best massage for the ego", like Liu would said, but it also had disadvantages. Going out to a innocent walk could mean being recognized by a hunter. I finally understood why Kurama never frequented public places, like markets and taverns and in his own forest he was always alert even when he seemed absent-minded.
I still had not forgotten him.
Kenzo had decided that the band should move on, so we needed to search for a new hiding place. It was an intelligent decision since our faces had become well-known by youkai in that area. It was determined that we would go east, not towards the forest region, what certainly was a relief to me, although we would pass by it anyway.
At that time the group was formed by ten thieves, not counting Kenzo, Liu and me. Liu was the only woman so she was spoiled by everyone, except by those who didn't hold any interest for girls, of course. It was the case of Vini, an hermaphrodite from the North of Makai, where this kind of youkai is rather common. Quiet, he never talked unless it was really necessary. We could never imagine the surprise that was being reserved for us.
We had been traveling for two months when we reached a clearing near the lake where I used to swim with Kurama. I had asked them to not go through that way in particular, but as I had no valid argument to give them, I was voteless. I hated democracy then.
That place brought me so many sweet memories... Unable to resist, I went to the lake, and sat down exactly in that same place near the margin, where I once had held him in my arms. Suddenly I felt someone coming closer. It was Liu. She sat beside me.
"So, sweetheart, was it here?"
"What do you mean?" I asked her trying to disguise my feelings.
"You know."
"Almost," I answered in a sudden fit of sincerity.
"You know, sweetie, whenever I see you like this I feel kinda jealous of that youko. Being loved this much is so fucking rare."
I lowered my head, feeling ashamed for being so transparent.
"Liu! Yomi! I finally found you. Hurry, Vini is dying!" one of the thieves, shouted.
We followed him the faster we could.
I almost couldn't believe my eyes when we got back to the camp. Vini was lying on the floor, suffering from strong contortions. He was in labor. His eyes looked like two small green spots dancing in pain while he screamed incessantly.
All of our fellows, including Kenzo, were totally startled. Some of them tried to calm down the "patient" while others worried about the danger that all that shouting could bring us.
"Everybody, clear, your morons! I'm here!" Liu announced, pushing away the circle of people around Vini "Go get other things to do 'cause I'm gonna take care of Vini. Tough guys like you sometimes can be as useless as teats in a snake..."
Everyone started to move away. So did I.
"Hey, dudes! I need at least one of you to help me."
A lot of them offered to help. When it came to Liu, everyone wanted to be a volunteer. Everyone but me.
"Don't try to escape, Yomi, you're the one I want!"
No way out for me. Kenzo approved his commander's decision immediately.
"Damn, Liu! Why me?"
"Cause I like to be your boss, sweetie," she said with a smile.
"Don't call me sweetie..."
Actually I was not very helpful, mostly 'cause I could barely keep my eyes opened. That labor thing was too much for me... especially for my stomach. After some minutes of screaming by Vini and damp towers by Liu, the crying sound of a baby was heard. I noticed that a strange emotion came across Liu's face when she held that little creature in her arms. She cried even more than the child when passed him to Vini who remained lying on the floor, exhausted. I moved away from them. They were so enthusiastic that they didn't even noticed it.
I sat down along with the other "males", who were at that right moment having a warm discussion about the newborn baby and his father/mother.
"Tell me, Yomi..." Kenzo asked "Is the baby ok? Will it live?"
"Yeah, tell us, midwife." Suzoni teased, annoying as always.
"One more of your jokes, Suzoni, and you'll be wishing to be in Vini's place." I answered, hoping that some rudeness would discourage future gags.
He glared at me but didn't have the nerve to strike back.
"The baby is healthy, according to Liu. Vini is a little tired but I think he'll be fine as well." I informed them.
"We can't keep a baby!" One of the thieves exclaimed. Most of the others agreed with him immediately.
"Vini will have to sell him if he wants to stay with us." Suzoni suggested.
Kenzo looked to the floor, seeming uncertain.
"What do you think, Yomi?"
"Well, I have no experience on this kind of thing. Maybe we shouldn't force Vini to sell his son if he doesn't want to, although I doubt it. However, if he refuses to give it away, we won't be keeping a baby with us either. So, I guess it's better to give Vini some time to recover. Then he decides what to do."
"I think we should sell the child to the slave market as soon as possible. We'll get a good price for him." Suzoni expressed his opinion again.
"Shut up!" said Kenzo, "I agree with Yomi. We'll do as he said. The decision is made. Now go take care of your own lives."
We didn't continue the journey the next day. Vini was very weak despite of Liu's tireless efforts to help him and the child. She seemed highly happy about the baby. A woman thing, I thought.
"How's that, sweetie? Aren't you going to hold the baby?" Liu asked when I approached her.
"No, thanks, I'd rather hold a porcupine."
"You should take the chance to get used to it, sweetie. One day you'll be a father too. I mean, unless you continue to be interested only in males..." She said laughing.
"Hell, Liu, give me a break! How's Vini?"
"Don't know, sweetie. If he doesn't recover 'till tomorrow I think we'll have problems."
"If he doesn't recover today we will have problems... do you think we are staying here forever?"
"Males! Never care about anything. I'm gonna talk to Kenzo. We can't leave them behind!"
I was surprised at her serious tone of voice.
"Liu... I've got something to tell you. Don't get too attached to this child... we are not keeping him anyway."
"You mean this poor thing's destiny has already been settled? I should have known better. Tell me, what was the verdict?"
"Vini will decide it. To stay with us he'll have to... well, he'll have to get rid of the kid."
"Is that so? I'm relieved. I though you had already fixed the price with the slave trader. Tell me who had such merciful idea."
"I did. Kenzo agreed."
"It's okay, sweetie. You can't really have everything..."
I noticed some unusual sadness in her voice. I
couldn't figure out the reason but decided not to ask.
I had nothing to do. A free day to enjoy in that place wasn't exactly in my plans. I wanted so much to leave. I would carry Vini with my own arms, if necessary. I walked by the forest for the whole afternoon, lost in my thoughts. If there was some way to rush our departure without causing Vini and the baby any harm... Not for them of course, but for Liu. I knew how much she cared about all of that.
When I realized I was back to the big hole where Najah's hiding place used to be. I had a creepy feeling. That place still had some power over me. I tried to avoid the image of Kurama trapped in the middle of the flames but it haunted me anyway.
I stared at a small object left on the floor. When I came closer I saw it was a tiny, delicate flower. Its white petals reflected the daylight, which made it slightly silvered. So beautiful, I thought. How could such beauty grow right there on that grave? I knelt down intending to pick it.
"Yomi!"
I heard someone calling me. Liu approached me with a traveling packet on her back and Vini's baby in her arms. I was glad at the thought we were finally leaving, but it didn't happen quite like I had imagined.
"I've come to say good-bye, sweetie."
"Are we leaving?"
"Yep, you are. And so am I, but we're not going together."
"What?"
"Vini is dead. He started to bleed again about an hour ago and didn't make it. Since he was subordinated to Kenzo, the baby become his property. They decided to sell him as a slave and I decided that I won't let this happen. I bought the baby from Kenzo. I'm gonna raise him like my son. I'm going to do what I should have done when my own son was taken away from me a long time ago."
"Liu... I'm sorry."
"Don't bother, sweetie! It happens. I'm lucky 'cause I found a way to make it up for the things I've done. I'm not leaving unwillingly. I want to do it. I would ask you to join the family but I know you've got other priorities in life."
"I'm gonna miss you, Liu. You may not believe but you're the only true friend I've ever had."
"I believe in you, sweetie. Good-bye... By the
way, don't touch that flower. It's an Amaruk. Kinda cute but deadly. Have
they never told you to be careful with this kind of thing?"
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Shrine to Yomi-Sama -