Chapter 2: Death in the Village
9-year-old Namiyo ran up through the village to Tsubaki's house. She saw her friend helping her okaasan with the wash.
"O hayou gozaimasu Tsubaki-chan!" shouted Namiyo
Tsubaki looked up and waved to her friend. Namiyo smiled an evil grin. She held out her hand and a slick patch of ice appeared on the ground. Namiyo quickly ran across it and slide right in front of Tsubaki's house. Tsubaki giggled as her friend slide down on the ground. Namiyo laughed when she fell down.
"Good morning Namiyo-chan!" shouted Tsubaki.
"Namiyo! Stop that somebody could slip and break their neck!" shouted Tsutsuji.
Namiyo giggled. She stood up and quickly melted the ice. Namiyo ran up to Tsubaki and started helping her hang up the laundry. Tsutsuji stood in the doorway and watched the two little girls' work and laugh. Namiyo was the first friend Tsubaki ever had. And Tsubaki was the first friend Namiyo had ever had.
The girls finished up the laundry and then went to play. Tsutsuji watched the girls play. They climbed trees and went to the stream. Tsutsuji went back inside and started to prepare dinner. That's when she felt the ground shake. Namiyo and Tsubaki swam around the stream. They then lay down on the bank and looked up at the sky. Their clothes were folded near them and their under kimonos were drying on them. Their wet hair was spread out.
"Namiyo-chan ," asked Tsubaki.
"Hai?"
"Why did you and your okaasan leave your home?" asked Tsubaki
Namiyo looked up into the sky. She could remember the beautiful city her and her okaasan had left behind. She could remember everything about her old home.
"It became dangerous. My otousan wanted okaasan and me to leave," said Namiyo.
Tsubaki rolled over and faced Namiyo. Namiyo was looking into the sky with a vacant look.
"Your otousan? You left him behind?" asked Tsubaki.
Namiyo nodded her head. Tears sprang to her eyes. He was so brave. But Namiyo knew that he was dead.
"My otousan is dead," said Namiyo.
She rolled away from Tsubaki and curled into a ball.
"What happened to him?" asked Tsubaki.
"The city I used to live in, Kyoto, fell to war. My otousan was a samurai. He was called to battle. He told okaasan and I to leave. He said that after the battle he would find us. But he hasn't come. So he's dead," said Namiyo.
Tsubaki looked at her friend with deep concern. Namiyo's voice was filled with sadness. Tsubaki gently placed her hand on her friend's shoulder. Namiyo turned and looked at her friend.
"Your otousan may still be alive. So don't give up hope yet," said Tsubaki. Namiyo looked into her friend's eyes. Tsubaki's dark brown eyes were filled with hope and sadness. Namiyo smiled.
"I'll try, "she said
Namiyo suddenly looked in the direction of the village. A strange feeling was in the air. Namiyo eyes widened at what she saw. A black aura came from the direction of the hut she and her okaasan shared.
"Oh no!" she shouted.
Namiyo quickly got and ran to the village.
"Nani Namiyo-chan?" shouted Tsubaki behind her. Tsubaki heard a loud roar.
"A youkai!" she shouted. Tsubaki jumped up and ran behind Namiyo.
"Namiyo-chan wait!" shouted Tsubaki.
Namiyo stopped and waited for her friend. Tsubaki ran up to her.
"We must hurry Tsubaki-chan," said Namiyo.
Tsubaki nodded.
The girls quickly ran into the village. Several houses were destroyed. Fire roared from the houses. Namiyo and Tsubaki ran through the village. Burning houses were all around them. Namiyo and Tsubaki saw the villagers standing in front of Namiyo's hut. They stopped in the back of the crowd.
"What's going on?" shouted Tsubaki.
Namiyo jumped into the crowd.
"Namiyo-chan!" shouted Tsubaki
Namiyo pushed her way through the crowd. She finally managed to escape the crowd. Namiyo gasped at what she saw.
A giant youkai had Taki in its claws. He let out a loud roar. Taki screamed as the youkai squeezed her.
"Okaasan!" shouted Namiyo.
Namiyo started running to her mother.
Yoshi quickly reached out and grabbed Namiyo. Namiyo screamed and thrashed against him. He held her tight against his chest.
"Namiyo there's nothing you can do!" said Yoshi.
Namiyo felt tears stream down her face. Yoshi held her close to him. Her mother was going to die if she didn't do anything. Her okaasan was all she had in the world. She would not let her die.
"NO!" shouted Namiyo.
Yoshi was blasted back from a powerful energy coming from Namiyo. Namiyo ran up to the youkai and looked up at him.
"Let my okaasan go!" she shouted.
The youkai laughed.
"HAHAHA! What can you do about little girl!" the youkai laughed.
"Release her and I won't kill you!" she shouted.
The youkai smiled.
"You kill me? HAHAHA! Let's see you try!"
The youkai opened his ugly mouth. A huge ball of energy gathered in his mouth.
"DIE!" shouted the youkai. He hurled the ball at Namiyo.
"NAMIYO!" Shouted Tsubaki. She started to run to her friend. Her otousan grabbed her before she could.
"NO! Stay back Tsubaki!" said her otousan.
"No! I have to help my friend!" said Tsubaki.
"She's dead. There's nothing we can do," said Yoshi.
Tears sprang to Tsubaki's eyes. Her friend was about to die. Tsubaki tightly shut her eyes. She did not want to see her friend burned to a crisp.
The giant ball of energy hit her. Flames leapt up around her. The villagers gasped. Suddenly the flames were blown away.
"What in the hell," said Yoshi.
Tsubaki opened her eyes. She gasped at what she saw. Namiyo stood alive among the flames. Namiyo's hair was swirling around her head. He purple eyes glowed brightly.
"Namiyo..." said Tsubaki.
The villagers watched with awe.
The youkai's mouth gaped open.
"How can you still be alive? You're not a youkai! Your human" he shouted.
Namiyo looked directly into his red eyes.
"Because I am a sorceress. I am more powerful then you will ever hope to be!" she shouted.
Namiyo's hands glowed with a blue light.
"Hyaku Kazahana!" she shouted.
Thousands of snowflakes came from Namiyo's hands. The youkai screamed as their razor sharp edges cut him to pieces. Taki and the youkai's severed arm fell to the ground. His hand opened up and Taki rolled out.
"She defeated a youkai. She is but a child," said Tsubaki's okaasan.
Tsubaki couldn't believe that her friend had defeated a youkai. Tsubaki knew that Namiyo was powerful. But she had no idea that she was that powerful
"Okaasan!" shouted Namiyo.
Namiyo ran to her mother's side. She gripped her mother. Blood was flowing out from underneath her. Namiyo laid her head down on her mother's stomach. Namiyo felt a hand on her head. She looked up and saw her mother's eyes halfway open.
"Nam..iy..o.."
"Okaasan," said Namiyo.
"Come closer," she said.
Namiyo leaned down. Yoshi saw Taki say something, but he couldn't hear it. Namiyo just sat beside her mother. Her purple eyes were glassy. Taki stroked her face. She then stopped. Taki's hand dropped. Yoshi could see she was no longer breathing. Namiyo wailed and laid her head on her chest. Taki had tried to defend the village but the youkai hurt her fatally.
Tsubaki felt tears running down her face. Yoshi and one of the men from the village walked up to Namiyo. Tsubaki ran behind them. Yoshi kneeled down and put his hand on Namiyo's back. Namiyo sat up and looked at him.
"Is it all right if we take her?" asked Yoshi.
Namiyo nodded and moved aside. Yoshi leaned down and picked her up. Little drops of blood dripped as he carried her away. Tsubaki sat down next to Namiyo. Namiyo looked at her and Tsubaki took her in her arms.
"Promise me Tsubaki. That you will always be here," said Namiyo.
"I will always be here," said Tsubaki.
Namiyo nodded. Suddenly Namiyo screamed and rose into the air. A bright purple light came from her. Namiyo screamed again.
"Namiyo! Otousan something is hurting Namiyo!" shouted Tsubaki.
Yoshi looked over at Namiyo. Taki then felt very light in his arms. Taki rose into the air and her entire body was engulfed in a light blue light. Glowing orbs erupted from her body and soared over to Namiyo. The orbs entered her body. Namiyo screamed and then passed out. Taki's body then drifted back into Yoshi's arms. Namiyo drifted to the ground. Tsubaki quickly crawled to her side.
"Namiyo please wake up! Please don't be dead!" shouted Tsubaki. Tsutsuji ran up to her and put her ear on Namiyo's chest.
"She's not dead. Come on let's get her inside," said Tsutsuji.
She picked Namiyo and with Tsubaki following brought her into their hut. Namiyo was not moving. She just laid there. Tsubaki took her friends hand in hers.
"Please be alright Namiyo," prayed Tsubaki.
Taki's Final Words:
"My daughter. I am dieing. When I die you will acquire my power. You are powerful on your own right now. But when you gain my power you will become so strong no one will be able to stand up to you. Grow, live, and master your powers. I love you with all my heart. Goodbye, my Namiyo."
9-year-old Namiyo ran up through the village to Tsubaki's house. She saw her friend helping her okaasan with the wash.
"O hayou gozaimasu Tsubaki-chan!" shouted Namiyo
Tsubaki looked up and waved to her friend. Namiyo smiled an evil grin. She held out her hand and a slick patch of ice appeared on the ground. Namiyo quickly ran across it and slide right in front of Tsubaki's house. Tsubaki giggled as her friend slide down on the ground. Namiyo laughed when she fell down.
"Good morning Namiyo-chan!" shouted Tsubaki.
"Namiyo! Stop that somebody could slip and break their neck!" shouted Tsutsuji.
Namiyo giggled. She stood up and quickly melted the ice. Namiyo ran up to Tsubaki and started helping her hang up the laundry. Tsutsuji stood in the doorway and watched the two little girls' work and laugh. Namiyo was the first friend Tsubaki ever had. And Tsubaki was the first friend Namiyo had ever had.
The girls finished up the laundry and then went to play. Tsutsuji watched the girls play. They climbed trees and went to the stream. Tsutsuji went back inside and started to prepare dinner. That's when she felt the ground shake. Namiyo and Tsubaki swam around the stream. They then lay down on the bank and looked up at the sky. Their clothes were folded near them and their under kimonos were drying on them. Their wet hair was spread out.
"Namiyo-chan ," asked Tsubaki.
"Hai?"
"Why did you and your okaasan leave your home?" asked Tsubaki
Namiyo looked up into the sky. She could remember the beautiful city her and her okaasan had left behind. She could remember everything about her old home.
"It became dangerous. My otousan wanted okaasan and me to leave," said Namiyo.
Tsubaki rolled over and faced Namiyo. Namiyo was looking into the sky with a vacant look.
"Your otousan? You left him behind?" asked Tsubaki.
Namiyo nodded her head. Tears sprang to her eyes. He was so brave. But Namiyo knew that he was dead.
"My otousan is dead," said Namiyo.
She rolled away from Tsubaki and curled into a ball.
"What happened to him?" asked Tsubaki.
"The city I used to live in, Kyoto, fell to war. My otousan was a samurai. He was called to battle. He told okaasan and I to leave. He said that after the battle he would find us. But he hasn't come. So he's dead," said Namiyo.
Tsubaki looked at her friend with deep concern. Namiyo's voice was filled with sadness. Tsubaki gently placed her hand on her friend's shoulder. Namiyo turned and looked at her friend.
"Your otousan may still be alive. So don't give up hope yet," said Tsubaki. Namiyo looked into her friend's eyes. Tsubaki's dark brown eyes were filled with hope and sadness. Namiyo smiled.
"I'll try, "she said
Namiyo suddenly looked in the direction of the village. A strange feeling was in the air. Namiyo eyes widened at what she saw. A black aura came from the direction of the hut she and her okaasan shared.
"Oh no!" she shouted.
Namiyo quickly got and ran to the village.
"Nani Namiyo-chan?" shouted Tsubaki behind her. Tsubaki heard a loud roar.
"A youkai!" she shouted. Tsubaki jumped up and ran behind Namiyo.
"Namiyo-chan wait!" shouted Tsubaki.
Namiyo stopped and waited for her friend. Tsubaki ran up to her.
"We must hurry Tsubaki-chan," said Namiyo.
Tsubaki nodded.
The girls quickly ran into the village. Several houses were destroyed. Fire roared from the houses. Namiyo and Tsubaki ran through the village. Burning houses were all around them. Namiyo and Tsubaki saw the villagers standing in front of Namiyo's hut. They stopped in the back of the crowd.
"What's going on?" shouted Tsubaki.
Namiyo jumped into the crowd.
"Namiyo-chan!" shouted Tsubaki
Namiyo pushed her way through the crowd. She finally managed to escape the crowd. Namiyo gasped at what she saw.
A giant youkai had Taki in its claws. He let out a loud roar. Taki screamed as the youkai squeezed her.
"Okaasan!" shouted Namiyo.
Namiyo started running to her mother.
Yoshi quickly reached out and grabbed Namiyo. Namiyo screamed and thrashed against him. He held her tight against his chest.
"Namiyo there's nothing you can do!" said Yoshi.
Namiyo felt tears stream down her face. Yoshi held her close to him. Her mother was going to die if she didn't do anything. Her okaasan was all she had in the world. She would not let her die.
"NO!" shouted Namiyo.
Yoshi was blasted back from a powerful energy coming from Namiyo. Namiyo ran up to the youkai and looked up at him.
"Let my okaasan go!" she shouted.
The youkai laughed.
"HAHAHA! What can you do about little girl!" the youkai laughed.
"Release her and I won't kill you!" she shouted.
The youkai smiled.
"You kill me? HAHAHA! Let's see you try!"
The youkai opened his ugly mouth. A huge ball of energy gathered in his mouth.
"DIE!" shouted the youkai. He hurled the ball at Namiyo.
"NAMIYO!" Shouted Tsubaki. She started to run to her friend. Her otousan grabbed her before she could.
"NO! Stay back Tsubaki!" said her otousan.
"No! I have to help my friend!" said Tsubaki.
"She's dead. There's nothing we can do," said Yoshi.
Tears sprang to Tsubaki's eyes. Her friend was about to die. Tsubaki tightly shut her eyes. She did not want to see her friend burned to a crisp.
The giant ball of energy hit her. Flames leapt up around her. The villagers gasped. Suddenly the flames were blown away.
"What in the hell," said Yoshi.
Tsubaki opened her eyes. She gasped at what she saw. Namiyo stood alive among the flames. Namiyo's hair was swirling around her head. He purple eyes glowed brightly.
"Namiyo..." said Tsubaki.
The villagers watched with awe.
The youkai's mouth gaped open.
"How can you still be alive? You're not a youkai! Your human" he shouted.
Namiyo looked directly into his red eyes.
"Because I am a sorceress. I am more powerful then you will ever hope to be!" she shouted.
Namiyo's hands glowed with a blue light.
"Hyaku Kazahana!" she shouted.
Thousands of snowflakes came from Namiyo's hands. The youkai screamed as their razor sharp edges cut him to pieces. Taki and the youkai's severed arm fell to the ground. His hand opened up and Taki rolled out.
"She defeated a youkai. She is but a child," said Tsubaki's okaasan.
Tsubaki couldn't believe that her friend had defeated a youkai. Tsubaki knew that Namiyo was powerful. But she had no idea that she was that powerful
"Okaasan!" shouted Namiyo.
Namiyo ran to her mother's side. She gripped her mother. Blood was flowing out from underneath her. Namiyo laid her head down on her mother's stomach. Namiyo felt a hand on her head. She looked up and saw her mother's eyes halfway open.
"Nam..iy..o.."
"Okaasan," said Namiyo.
"Come closer," she said.
Namiyo leaned down. Yoshi saw Taki say something, but he couldn't hear it. Namiyo just sat beside her mother. Her purple eyes were glassy. Taki stroked her face. She then stopped. Taki's hand dropped. Yoshi could see she was no longer breathing. Namiyo wailed and laid her head on her chest. Taki had tried to defend the village but the youkai hurt her fatally.
Tsubaki felt tears running down her face. Yoshi and one of the men from the village walked up to Namiyo. Tsubaki ran behind them. Yoshi kneeled down and put his hand on Namiyo's back. Namiyo sat up and looked at him.
"Is it all right if we take her?" asked Yoshi.
Namiyo nodded and moved aside. Yoshi leaned down and picked her up. Little drops of blood dripped as he carried her away. Tsubaki sat down next to Namiyo. Namiyo looked at her and Tsubaki took her in her arms.
"Promise me Tsubaki. That you will always be here," said Namiyo.
"I will always be here," said Tsubaki.
Namiyo nodded. Suddenly Namiyo screamed and rose into the air. A bright purple light came from her. Namiyo screamed again.
"Namiyo! Otousan something is hurting Namiyo!" shouted Tsubaki.
Yoshi looked over at Namiyo. Taki then felt very light in his arms. Taki rose into the air and her entire body was engulfed in a light blue light. Glowing orbs erupted from her body and soared over to Namiyo. The orbs entered her body. Namiyo screamed and then passed out. Taki's body then drifted back into Yoshi's arms. Namiyo drifted to the ground. Tsubaki quickly crawled to her side.
"Namiyo please wake up! Please don't be dead!" shouted Tsubaki. Tsutsuji ran up to her and put her ear on Namiyo's chest.
"She's not dead. Come on let's get her inside," said Tsutsuji.
She picked Namiyo and with Tsubaki following brought her into their hut. Namiyo was not moving. She just laid there. Tsubaki took her friends hand in hers.
"Please be alright Namiyo," prayed Tsubaki.
Taki's Final Words:
"My daughter. I am dieing. When I die you will acquire my power. You are powerful on your own right now. But when you gain my power you will become so strong no one will be able to stand up to you. Grow, live, and master your powers. I love you with all my heart. Goodbye, my Namiyo."