DISCLAIMER*
I don't own Digimon
Forbidden Love – Chapter 6 – Kenyako Part 2
"Here, have some tea," Miyako offered as she placed a teacup on the table before Ken. Her voice was as sweet as ever.
"Thank you," despite being highly upset that he was actually dragged here to Miyako's house instead of walking most of the time, the young lad remembered his manners, and thanked the girl for her hospitality. While he was sipping his tea, Daisuke was questioning Miyako, "How 'bout me? Don't I have tea too?"
Miyako turned to face her cousin who was sitting beside her. Faking a bright smile, she used her sweet voice on him, "You are not exactly a guest of the Inoue household, practically family. So if you need anything, surely you can just help yourself to it yourself?" Miyako used more force to say out the last few words, obviously trying not to blow her top and still sound sweet. Daisuke also understood it as a 'don't-disturb-us-and-buzz-off' signal. He was supposed to be on his way to find Hikari, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't find her. Hoping that Miyako might know Hikari's whereabouts, he came over, only to be shot dirty looks from his cousin and ignored totally… well, almost.
"So, Mr. Ken, you mentioned about being on a backpack tour. How many places have you been to? Where's your hometown? How long are you going to stay in this village?" still using the extraordinary sweet voice, with her hands intertwined together by the side of her face like before and the seemingly boy-crazy gal started to bombard Ken with many questions. If one were standing behind Ken, it won't be hard to notice a very large sweat-drop forming behind his head.
"Please just call me Ken. As for your questions, ermm, I've been to so many places that I had practically lost track of them. I grew up in the capital and I'm just going to stay for thre… no… two days at the most, here to look around. "
"WHAT? JUST TWO DAYS?" Miyako shouted in surprise, startling the two boys who looked at her in surprise. Remembering her composure, she cleared her throat and began, "Just two days? That just won't do! Tsuki isn't as small as you think it is. Are you sure you are just going to stay for two days? Can't you stay longer?" the poor girl was literally begging. Ken shook his head quickly and vigorously. Sadness evident in her eyes, she lamented, "Two days won't be enough if you want to cover the whole village, unless…" As if getting a brainwave, she suggested, "Unless you have me as a tour guide!" The two boys were so shocked to hear about Miyako's offer that one of them nearly had his eyes popped out of his eye sockets in sheer horror and one choked on the tea he was sipping. However, Miyako didn't seem to have noticed their reactions and still continued on making plans for Ken. "Ya, that's right, I'll be your tour guide! I know Tsuki inside out; don't worry. Now let's see, we can go to the…"
"NO! No need for that, Miss Inoue. I can cover this village by myself, thank you for your…" Ken burst out frantically, trying to reject the village girl's kind offers but the girl seems oblivious to his desperate attempts.
"…And then we can go to the beach and watch the sunset! The view is magnificent, a work of Nature. We don't have much time! Let's go now!" And with that, Miyako dragged the unwilling lad out by the collar. Since he couldn't stay for long, being with him for two whole days should make up for it, Miyako thought to herself. Daisuke looked at the comical scene with much amuse and made an tsking sound with his tongue while shaking his head, pitying the young traveller.
He suddenly jumped up and ran after the comical pair screaming and shouting, "MI-YA-KO! YA HAVEN TOLD ME WHERE HI-KA-RI IS! GIVE ME A HINT AT THE VERY LEAST! DID YOU HEAR ME? MI-YA-KOOOO!"
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"Here it is!" exclaimed Miyako, hands outspread as if trying to embrace the scenery before her. Ken looked in surprise. It's… beautiful, and magnificent like what Miyako had bragged earlier. The long trip he had to take to reach this particular part of Tsuki proved worthwhile after all. He couldn't really remember which way they came from. All he remembered was that the path they had taken to come here was a rocky one. He had nearly missed his footings several times, not to mention about the sharp branches of the trees along the way that kept slicing against his skin. "This place is very hidden. Not many people know about this part of the beach. Hikari, Taichi, Sor…" she paused momentarily before continuing quickly, hoping that Ken wouldn't pick up the sudden pause. "…And I discovered this place when we came after Billy, a dog I used to own. It became our secret base after that."
Ken looked on from where he was standing. It was indeed very hidden. When it's high tide, the secret place could barely allow more than five people to set foot on it. It's a small clearing in a field of coconuts trees. On the sides were two incredibly large red rocks. Above it grew some coconut trees as well. Few clouds were in the sky and the setting sun cast a golden glow that spread across the sky, spilling light on the clouds too. The waves that splashed up the shore were bathed in a golden hue by the gentle sunlight and the water was as clear as crystal. Ken had yet to see such beautiful scenery before. Just like what Miyako had said earlier, it was indeed, a work of Nature.
"Don't just stand there like a rock, come sit down here!" Miyako patted the area beside her, motioning Ken to sit there. As soon as Ken took his seat, Miyako advised solemnly, using back her normal voice, "Take a very good look at this scenery, you might never ever see it again." Taken aback, Ken immediately questioned the now-normal girl and reasoned that should he come back to Tsuki, surely he would be able to see this breath-taking scenery before him again. Miyako shook her head sadly, "That would have to depend on when you come back. In another few years' time, this place won't exist anymore." Ken stared at her in surprise and shock.
"The king of Mizawa, for some unknown reason, sent an envoy here a few years ago to inform us that we would have to leave Tsuki in a few years' time. The envoy refused to give us a reason why we had to leave. He just kept saying that it is His Highness wish to develop this plot of his land and that he had his reasons for doing so and that we commoners should just do what we were told to do and don't have the right to interfere with His Highness' decisions." Miyako showed much disgust when she explained to Ken what had happened and especially so when she uses the term 'His Highness'. Ken listened on, apparently surprised about the whole 'His Highness' thingy. Miyako continued on, her tone getting harsher and more sarcastic with every word that came out from her mouth. "That His Highness still wanted to pretend to be very understanding, saying that we can still continue to stay here until it's time for the development. But he promised that he would give us at the most, seven more years. This… is the fifth year." She ended quietly. "Most of the Tsuki villagers had managed to put this matter at the back of their mind but I didn't. They could have forgotten the anger they had when they first heard the news but I didn't and I couldn't. I remembered everything like it had just happened yesterday. Koushiro and his family had tried to talk to that His Highness but that His Highness had never once granted them an audition, much less a chance to appeal."
"So you hate the king of Mizawa?"
"To the bones. Though I'm young, but my love for this place isn't any lesser than any other villagers. To that His Highness, Tsuki may only be a small fishing village, but to us, Tsuki is our home. Our dear home."
"But you must understand, the world around us is evolving at a tremendous rate. Only with development would there be progress. Only with progress would the people of Mizawa have a better life." Ken explained.
"But you must come to understand that there is only one Tsuki. Should development set in, Tsuki would be gone, forever. You would never be able to see this view ever again. Nature would be destroyed and would never come back again. That dummy just couldn't hear it or see it, all the way from his beautiful and fanciful castle."
"Hear what? See what?" Ken pursued.
"I can't hear it too, but my friend heard it. She has this mysterious power ever since she was young. She's able to sense things. She told me something once, and I wanted to believe in."
"What?"
"That the stars are crying… that Mother Earth is weeping… that Nature is withering… unless someone do something about it." She paused, "and that His Highness isn't helping…. And I witnessed it slowly too even from here; the withering of Nature as days goes by. That His Highness just couldn't hear it or see it. If that His Highness is still persistent about taking Tsuki from us and do the stupid development, I'll…"
"You will…" he echoed.
Narrowing her eyes that were by now, emitting a determined glow from within, "Fight him to the end. Everyone in this village would."
Ken widened his eyes, clearly taken by surprise with Miyako's answer. This village girl really loves her village. He shifted his glance from Miyako back to the setting sun. He's beginning to see Miyako in a different light.
And it's such a relief to the ears to not hear that high-pitched and 'sweet' voice, even for just a minute.
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In the distant, the soft fluttering made by the owls could be heard faintly in the dead silence. All the lights in Tsuki had already been blown out, meaning that everyone was asleep, or at least trying to.
"Say, which family lords over this vast land? The Shibayamas' or my family?"
"What a thing to ask my Lord, of course it's your family." General Shibayama answered.
"Then why didn't I know anything that's happening to my land!?"
"Your servant would not dare to disturb Your Highness with such trivial matters. What Your Highness should be genuinely worried about should be your studies." That was the reason General Shibayama gave when questioned.
The Lord threw him an angry glance that made the young general shivered so slightly. Rather satisfied with the reaction his general gave, the Lord let him off by focusing at the darkness that loomed before him. "Who gave the 'go ahead' decision?"
"Your Highness, it was my father who came up with the development of this particular area. It was also my father who gave the green light. We are planning to develop this area into a… ermm… a holiday resort for the officers and ministers! Ya… a holiday resort for the officers and the ministers of Mizawa! They had done so much for the country and they deserves a good rest once in a while."
"Holiday resort? I think it is for the Shibayamas." With an obvious hint of amusement, the Lord taunted his subject. The young general was quick to avoid his lord's glance. The Lord continued, "Don't presume that I am always at the study that I don't know what's going on in the court. I do know of your father's acts. Just recently, a group of natives in the forests were forced to leave because your father wanted to build a Shibayamas' mansion there." The Lord saw his subject fidgeted with uneasiness. "I had caught wind that your father had wanted a mansion for himself near a beautiful beach." Going up to the now trembling general, the Lord questioned harshly, "The evacuation of the villagers wasn't for the sake to build a holiday resort for my officers and ministers, but for another Shibayamas' Mansion! For the Shibayamas' own comfort! The long years of delaying were to avoid suspicions. Am I right or am I wrong?"
The plump general went down on his knees promptly and begged for forgiveness. Turning to look into another direction, as though looking at the now begging general was poison to his eyes, the Lord commanded, "From now on, on matter how trivial the matter is, as long as it concerns my land, my people, it should be reported to me. No more important decision-making for the Shibayamas again! Go! And tell your father to stop whatever he's doing now to my land and my people for the Shibayamas' own selfish comfort! I hope that you and your family bear this in mind; I am the Lord of Mizawa. I can execute your whole clan if I please. It's on the account that the Shibayamas have always protected this land from the clutches of our enemies bravely many a times without complaints, the three generations of service to the country and to my family and your loyal services to me for so many years that I am willing to let this matter rest today. If there be a repeat, I will personally make sure that the name of the Shibayamas' be reduced to dirt! Have I made myself very clear?!"
Still on his knees, trembling, General Shibayama replied, "Y…ye…yes… yes… Your High… Highness."
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I picked up my chopsticks, only to put them down again. I was hungry, but I was in no mood to eat. The thought of not being of any help to Iori's illness just won't allow me to eat in peace. I stared hard at the bowl of rice, as though doing so will allow me to recall everything. Needless to say, the attempt was futile.
"What's wrong, Hikari? Did something horrible happen? You didn't even touch a single moss of your food! Do eat some; you're a growing girl. Or at least finish the soup! It's your favorite." Mother asked worriedly.
I shook my head wearily and excused myself from the dining table rather awkwardly. I know Mother cared, but no one can help me in this. Only I have the answer. I kept walking and walking till I arrived at the beach. The secret base was just too far away and I cannot disappear for too long. 'Cannot let Taichi go to the secret base anymore than if he could help it, no matter what,' I thought and settled myself on the sandy shores of the beach and admired the lovely stars that are twinkling in the night sky.
"A penny for your thoughts?" a voice questioned. I nearly jumped out of my skin. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you like that."
I heaved a sigh of relief when I saw that it was just Takeru. He then sat down by my side and looked up to see the stars above. We spent a quiet five minutes of silence before he finally spoke up again. "Iori was the root of your problem, right?"
I nodded. "I don't understand… why was I able to survive? Why couldn't I remember anything that happened on that day? If I could recall them, then there is hope for Iori." Takeru was silent. "You know a bit of medicine, don't you Takeru?" another idea of saving Iori formulated again. "Do you know of any ways to prolong Iori's life? Drugs, herbs, or any type of food? Iori's mother is getting on age and Iori is her only kin. If we can do anything to prolong Iori's life, even if it's for only an hour, it would still be good. It would not be as hard and cruel to Mrs. Hida then." I reasoned.
"But it would be very cruel to Iori." Takeru answered in return.
I turned to look at him in surprise, or rather, more of anger than surprised. He was actually so calm when he was saying that! "How would it be so? I'm sure Iori would be more than happy to keep his mother company for as long as he could and live even that little bit longer."
"How do you know that he would be happy to live that little bit longer?"
"Because it is human nature to not to want to die, at least not so soon. The idea of going to another world and facing Death do scare people." I argued in exasperation. That is common knowledge. Someone as smart as Takeru should be able to see it straight away. "Beside, Iori is a filial son; he wouldn't wish for his mother to be lonely."
Takeru let out a sigh of exasperation. "Then I'm afraid his wish to die as soon as possible is far stronger than his love for his mother." I turned to look at him in shock again. "He wishes to die," Takeru continued, "He wish to be released from all that he's feeling now. He's suffering. It's so obvious, Hikari. Don't tell me you took his calmness towards his situation as a normal reaction? Death, Hikari, is definitely a release for Iori."
I stared hard at Takeru. How could he even think of that?! Never mind that he doesn't want to help, but he shouldn't say such negative things! I turned away from him, trying to not start a useless argument with Takeru. However I couldn't resist saying something in sheer stubbornness. "Iori would want to live. I know it. It was the same for me."
"Are you sure?"
"YES I'M SURE." I simply exploded. Why is Takeru doing this; trying ways and means to discourage me? Death is not a solution to any form of problem.
He let out a snort of laughter and questioned aloud, "Think Hikari!" He finally looked at me after so long and looked straight into my eyes. "Think…" an icy voice prompted. Then the color of Takeru's eyes seems to turn from blue to gray. Before I had the time to comprehend anything at all or even take a closer look at his eyes, images flashed past my mind.
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"Mama, why can't I go out and play like what Taichi and the rest are doing? Why must I lie in bed all the time and take awful medicine and have needles poking in my arms all the time? Why doesn't Taichi have needles in his arms? They hurt a lot…. They really do, mama."
"Because you are sick Hikari."
"Then can I not be sick? If I'm not sick, then can I play with Taichi and the rest at the beach all day? I don't want to be sick! I don't want all these painful needles in my arms!"
"NO HIKARI! You will die if you pluck these needles out just like that!"
"THEN LET ME DIE! These needles really hurt! Sobs. If I have to die to have all these needles out of my arms, if I have to die in order to be able to play with the other children… THEN SO BE IT!"
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" I.. I've never been happy," I sighed with regrets, " I feel so helpless.. Life can be so unmeaning at times. I often ask myself, why am I here? Everyone comes to this place with a mission and a purpose. Some is to save the world; some is just to fall madly in love. But why am I here? To fall sick and have to have needles poking into my arms? What is my mission? What is the purpose for my existence?"
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I bolted up. Why did such memories returned all of a sudden?
'So, Hikari? You still feel that living for even an hour longer is a blessing in that kind of situation after thinking it through?" Takeru taunted.
I fell silent.
Ya, I remembered. I was suffering a great deal when I was down with that disease. What I could recall of my childhood was very limited. All I could remember was needles, needles and more needles. And a hell lot of drugs and herbs too that tasted horrible. I was forever lying in bed. From my window, I could often see the girls playing hide-and-seek outside and Taichi and the other boys playing soccer. How I wished I could be out playing with them too. But I couldn't. My health forbidden me from doing so. When I was slightly better and attended school, I was rudely shocked that I was the only one who must take a lot of medicine and need to have needles poked into my arms. The others didn't need to do so in order to prolong their lives. I cried and cried, and started pleading with my parents all day to let me out to play with the other children in the village. I remembered once, in a moment of pique, I actually plucked out all the needles Kido sensei had put on my arms and told my mum that if I had to die to have all those needles off me and to play with the others, then so be it. Mum was so angry that she slapped me across my face and started to smash the bottles of medicine and anything she could lay her hands on, screaming that if even I myself do not give a damn, then why should she bother about me at all. It was a terrifying scene. My mum has never once scolded me nor hit me ever since I could remember. That… was the first time. I had upset her greatly by saying that I wanted to die. But at that period of time, I really felt like dying. I was… suffering and I wanted a release, quick.
A few more minutes went past before I make my way back home with Takeru quietly.
Death, could perhaps, be a release for Iori then.
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"Hikari! Takeru! Good Morninggggg~!" Miyako greeted from afar, waving her hands to get out attention.
"Good morning Hikari! And good morning to you too Takeru." Miyako was as cheerful as ever. Beside her, were Daisuke and another teen I've never seen before.
"Good morning Hikari. Did you had a good sleep last night?" That was Daisuke for you. The stranger introduced himself as Ken Ichijouji. He's on a backpack tour around Mizawa and Tsuki was a stopover and he would have to move on early next morning. Miyako had so kindly offered to be Ken's guide and show him around. And bless her; she remembered that Takeru was here for only a few days and hadn't really look around or been to any other parts of Tsuki, save Jyou's place, Iori's place and our place, and wanted to show him around as well. Takeru's patrol hadn't really started, you see. Miyako may seems to be a very blur, careless and clumsy girl at times, but sometimes, she can be very thoughtful and takes you by surprise.
I didn't want to go. After what had happened last night, I felt so small and insignificant in front of Takeru. He might not necessarily felt that way about me but… I just don't want to be small and insignificant in front of him. Things have been very awkward between the two of us these few days. The quarrel yesterday only proved to worsen matters. It made me feel so embarrassed with him around me. I don't know why but I just feel that. Especially when he was talking to me. Just like what happened this morning, Takeru woke up a whole lot earlier than he did for the past few days. He only gave me a plain smile when I finally woke up before going to beach for his morning jog. He didn't merely give me a plain smile when he saw me before last night on other mornings. He must be thinking of me as a silly girl.
"Erm guys… I'm not going. You guys have a great time okay? Bye!" I turned to leave as fast as I could but alas, I was that little bit slower and someone caught hold of my hand before I could make my big escape and pulled me back.
It was Takeru. "Why?" his eyes shone with concern. Shy of the attention I was getting, especially from Takeru, I could only bear to stare at the ground below me.
"I… I… I've got to help out my mum! Ya… I need to… to… help out with the fishing… no no no… the… the household chores! The household chores" I felt silly all over again and stared at my feet. I have given myself away yet again! Fishing indeed.
"C'mon Hikari-chan! Don't be such a spoilsport. The weather today is fantastic. It would be a waste to stay indoors." Miyako tempted.
"I… I…" I looked up to face Takeru. He had yet to let go of my hand. Feeling uncertainty all over me, I lied again, " I really…. Need to help my… mum…" I'm so sure my eyes betrayed me, as Takeru gazed at me thoughtfully. Even I myself wasn't convinced, let alone the others.
"Was it because of what had happened last night? If it is…"
"NO! Nothing of that sort. Don't get me wrong." I interrupted.
"Then take it as if you are accompanying me. I don't know Daisuke and Miyako well. It would be so awkward for me to be with them without you around," he leant forward and whispered into my ears. C'mon Hikari." He tugged my hands gently so that I would go, just like a little child would do in order to get something he wanted.
I looked into his blue eyes again. I agreed to go in the end. I just couldn't bear to disappoint Takeru. A bright smile plastered over Takeru's handsome face as he pulled me along to join the others. He kept giving me his trademark innocent smile. I was finally begin to feel more at home with him being around with him. I even felt a little bliss. However unknown to the both of us, a pair of green eyes was watching our each and every move…
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Tsuki, a small fishing village in Mizawa, has basically nothing much to offer to tourists. The fish we caught were barely enough for us, not because that there aren't much fish in the sea around Tsuki, but that the people of this poor village believe that catching enough to see everyone in the village through was more than enough. A small portion of the fish caught was sold in the market ten miles from here in order to buy some necessities. Though we are poor, but we are happy and content with our lifestyle. If there were anything that Tsuki can offer to outsiders, it would be the feelings of the people here for each other and the bitter but beautiful tale of one of the two hills that separated Tsuki from the city.
"Look, Takeru. The hill," I said, pointing to the hill on her right, "is the place where Jyou and Kido sensei hunted for the medicine our village needed. That hill is known as the Tsuki Hill. Hopefully, after some time, Jyou will bring you up there to gather herbs and learn to differentiate them." Takeru was nodding his head slowly when I was showing him the Tsuki Hill, as though absorbing what I had just said. He looks so cute when he's doing that.
"How about the other one on the left?" Takeru pointed to the other hill.
Daisuke, Miyako and I whirled to stare at Takeru at it. Takeru had asked something that was painful to us.
"Ya. The hill on the left is rather peculiar. Tsuki Hill is ablaze with greenery and pink flowers whereas this one here is bald. What is the name of this hill?" Ken added innocently. Daisuke and Miyako looked away with unease, leaving me to explain to the two foreign boys. However I didn't wish to talk about it. That hill was no ordinary hill. It's a painful memory of the villagers of Tsuki. Even looking at it brought many of us heartaches and tears at times.
"And if you look at this map that I've bought along, Tsuki Hill should be the only hill that stands in Tsuki. Why is there another one over there?" Ken being ultra insensitive, even showed me the map of Tsuki.
"Ya, you are right. That mountain on the left wasn't indicated on the map. Why is that so? Hikari, you know anything about it?" Takeru pursued.
The two boys had no idea of how much courage I had to muster up to say what I was going to say in a moment.
"That… is no ordinary hill. It isn't even a hill or a mountain to begin with. It's actually… a tomb." By then, tears were already welling up in my eyes.
"MY HOMETOWN! MY FAMILY! MY EVERYTHING! RETURN THEM ALL TO ME!" someone suddenly screamed. We whirled and saw a young man dressed in a native tribe's costume charging towards the three of us with a knife in his hand.
What happened later was all a blur to me. I only knew that someone pushed me away and I fell to the ground. Later I saw Daisuke rushed up and together with the other two boys, tried to bring the screaming young lad down. Miyako rushed up to me instinctively. But the native was just too strong for Takeru and gang to handle and with a fury and animal-like scream; he pushed the three boys away. Takeru and Daisuke were able to maintain their balance but Ken didn't and was thrown off to the ground a few feet away from where Miyako and I were. However, Takeru soon went down on one of his knees, his right hand covering his left arm that was bleeding profusely, an agonizing look covering his handsome features. The now insane lad rushed up to Ken, who was on fours and lifted the arm that was armed with the knife above his head.
"RETURN THEM ALL TO ME!" He screamed for the very last time and his arm went down.
I widened my eyes in horror. Then suddenly, a lavender figure zoomed past me. The next thing I know, Ken was lying flat down on the sand, and the lad stumbled to the ground in shock. Miyako was on top of Ken, with a knife plunged in her back………
"MIYAKOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Author's Notes: Well… it sure took me quite a long while to upload this chapter. Hopefully I didn't disappoint any of you. By the way, I had added a small paragraph to the previous chapter. You guys might want to take a look at it. The next chapter should be out before July… or so I hope…. Lol… So long.