Ah yes…and now that I have all of you good and confused, I shall begin the painfully slow process of illumination and the shrouding of further mysteries that shall pervade the entirety of this story. I'm so content right now. I feel so clever…sigh. Although, I must send out a respectful salute to shadowhawk who put in some very well thought out guesses as to what was going on. No one else even hazarded to suppose, although some people claimed they knew everything. Yeah…right. Now, let's get on with it, and perhaps some things will start to make more sense in this chapter. Or even LESS SENSE!!! Mwahahahahaha….hack…cough…yeah.
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Gossamer Dreams
Part 1
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"There we are. What do you think of that, Miroku?" Kaede addressed Keisotsu's son, who had been living in her care for the better part of a week. The dark circles of starvation had faded from under his eyes, and after a thorough delousing and scrubbing session, the boy was revealed to be quite adorable, despite his still emaciated form. That would pass soon enough, though.
"Komi's in there?" Miroku made a face at the stone urn Kaede had placed on a carefully secured platform in the western corner of her garden. It was dangerous, she knew, placing something that was so blatantly the mark of a Gifted grave in a place where it could potentially be seen by others. But then, Kaede was well aware that the patrols of even Heisotsu, the Youkai Imperial guard, would be unable to recognize the shrine as anything other than an odd statue in an old woman's garden. Although the Youkai fancied themselves aware of every intimate detail of Gifted lifestyle, they missed out on many of the things that the Gifted valued most. And Kaede could hardly let Mikomi rot in the earth, as the Youkai did with their dead. It was just too brutal an end for her to inflict on one of her kind, even if the stringent adherence to Gifted burial custom could lead to her discovery.
"Yes, and when we want to talk to her, all we have to do…" Kaede kneeled, holding two fingers to her lips and closing her eyes to demonstrate the procedure. "Is pray, like this. Do you see?"
"Like this?" Miroku had edged closer to Mikomi's remains and knelt beside Kaede carefully, lifting his own fingers and blinking violet eyes at the older woman in a plea for approval.
"Just like that. Now then, do you not feel ready for an afternoon nap?" Kaede stood, noting the added creak of protest her aged joints gave. She was indeed growing old, it seemed. Far too old to be raising a four-year-old Gifted boy and two newborn youkai-Gifted half-breed girls. But she supposed that her afternoon's errand would help them all, in the end. It broke her heart to do it…but it seemed to be for the best. Mikomi herself had told her exactly what she would do if the baby showed Youkai signs, and as the girls' current guardian, it was her responsibility to fulfill the wishes of their late mother to the best of her ability.
"But I'm not tired…" Miroku protested feebly. It was only a half-hearted argument, and she knew that until he was truly healthy, she couldn't expect anything very challenging to come from him.
"Ah, but if you go to sleep now, then I promise to bring you fresh milk when you wake up." Kaede winked at him, smiling warmly as the boy's face lit up. When he smiled, which he was doing with increasing frequency since he started to regain his vitality, his whole face lit up. No doubt he would be very handsome when he was grown, but at the moment, he was utterly adorable.
"And some for Gome and Kikyo?" he pressed eagerly. Kaede bit her lip at that. She couldn't very well lie to the boy about what was happening, he'd know soon enough anyway. She could only hope that he hadn't grown too attached to the younger twin, the one that showed Youkai signs so clearly it was hard to believe Mikomi was her mother and Kikyo her twin. Kagome's black hair and complexion matched her sister's, but her eyes were a bright blue instead of Kikyo's purple, obviously Gifted eyes. In addition, while Kikyo looked every inch the full Gifted baby, complete with a tiny Mark located at the base of her spine, Kagome bore no Mark and sported pointed ears that would make her father's lineage obvious to anyone with any knowledge of Youkai.
"Maybe." Kaede finally answered. "You'll just have to see. Now off to bed with you, and I'll go to market and see if I can't find a treat or two." At this promise, Miroku ran into the little house as fast as his scrawny legs would carry him, and had disappeared by the time the old woman had entered the house herself, heading immediately to the secondhand cradle both babies were crowded in, sleeping peacefully as though they hadn't a care in the world. She supposed that they really didn't. How were they to know that their parents were dead, that what was in their blood would send them to a quick end if anyone ever learned the truth, and never mind that they were only babies? Would it hurt them to be separated, she couldn't help but wondering. And yet…better for at least one of them to have a hope of being raised by blood relatives. And would they be good to the child? Would they love it and care for it, or would they shun it, somehow sensing it's difference from them? These worries plagued her mind, but it was what Mikomi had wanted. And she would do all she could. "Come on then, sweet child." Kaede spoke softly as she picked up Kagome, the girl with the pointed ears and already slightly clawed fingers. No doubt that when her teeth grew in, she would have a set of fangs to match all the other features.
I'll only look at them, to see if they are good people before I give her to them. Kaede assured herself. And if not, I can always leave without telling them what I truly came to do. And besides that…they're a rich family. She should be well assured of a happy life with her true family. As soon as I can find a Gifted willing to take the risk, I might send Kikyo to Seiiki, and then she shall also be raised by her family.
Kaede knew, though, that it would be very difficult to smuggle the obviously Gifted baby across the border. If the inspectors didn't see the eyes, as obviously the child was too young to begin training her spirit, they would definitely find the Mark. But while the baby was still so young, so small, it might be conceivable to stow her away where she could escape notice altogether. The idea deserved further thought, and yet…it was not the time to be concerned with Kikyo's future. Already, her hurried and nervous strides had carried her into the wealthy neighborhood across the Wareme River, and up ahead she could see the stylized lion coat of arms on the ka'Neko mansion. That the Youkai lived in splendor while the rest of Fukumaden suffered to pay the taxes that kept them high upon their throne embittered Kaede, but at the same time, it was much the same in Seiiki with the wealthy Gifted ruling over the peasants absolutely. Odd that even after the Revolution and the Great Conflict, both Fukumaden and Seiiki kept roughly the same social structures that the old aristocracy had placed upon the once united nations before they split in two.
Like children squabbling over the crumbs of a broken cookie, our ancestors tore their world apart and flipped it on its head. But even though they chafed under the rule of normal humans, Gifted and Youkai maintain the same attitude now that once pushed their forebears to revolution. Do we not learn from the past? Kaede wondered as she stepped up to the gates of the ka'Neko home and waited for the guard to notice her. Or do we simply feel our powers render us immune to the violence angry, suffering, desperate humans can, and someday will create?
"Healer." The guard addressed her with a nod. "I was not aware that you were summoned." But even as he protested, the man opened the gates and escorted her in, making Kaede realize once again the advantages of being one of the few healers in the city. Recognition alone wouldn't have been enough at the palace, or at many other Youkai homes, but Kaede was well aware that Madame ka'Neko was suffering from a chronic condition of the bones, and healers were constantly coming and going. Stories said that in the far past, before the Great Conflict, Youkai blood had been strong enough to eliminate the risk of all but the most vicious illnesses in its ranks. But years of letting their abilities go unused and marrying only from the ultimately limited pool of other full-blood Youkai had taken its toll.
Kaede watched a whispered exchange between the head maid and the guard, and after a moment, the guard departed and the maid led Kaede to wait in the parlor while she fetched her mistress, obviously assuming that was why the healer had come to call. It was as though no one could see the child she carried, and it was slightly unnerving that it had not yet aroused interest. Kaede was beginning to feel doubtful about the whole business when Madame ka'Neko herself entered the parlor, face firmly dignified until her eyes fell to the baby in Kaede's arms, at which point she sat across from the healer and tilted her head curiously.
"Healer, I did not call you." The woman told her guest. "And you bring a child into my home for what purpose?"
"Madame, I beg your pardon, but if you would only hear me. I understand that your late son was the young master Musouka?" Kaede inquired, and continued at the Madame's slight nod. "You may have heard that he was to wed a woman soon, and that he was to introduce her before what happened."
"You know much, healer." The old youkai woman seemed impressed, but it did not stop her from continually sparing soft glances for the still-sleeping Kagome. Kaede took a deep breath, her mind made up before she spoke the words.
"Both your son and his intended have passed from this world. I met the woman on her last day in this realm, and she died giving birth to your granddaughter." Nothing more was needed for the old woman to realize the identity of the baby in Kaede's arms.
"You brought her…" the woman who had seemed so emotionless at first suddenly looked so full of love for the baby that Kaede felt a surge of relief. Obviously, Kagome would be in good hands.
"Her mother named her Kagome. After a kinswoman from long ago." Kaede lied. True, she did remember from the past a member of the sei'Junjou with that name. It was how she had chosen the names of both babies, but obviously the mother didn't have a chance to name either. "I hope it pleases Madame."
"You've no idea…what this means." Kaede was shocked to see the glimmer of wetness in Madame ka'Neko's eyes. "I've been so poorly since Musouka left us. And now this. Michiko!" She clapped her hands and the head maid bustled in, curtsying easily. "Bring this woman a string of Kinka! Make sure it's the full hundred, as well."
"Yes, Madame." Michiko curtsied again and disappeared while Kaede's eyes popped. One hundred Kinka? With that kind of money she could practically afford to retire…though maybe not anymore with two extra mouths to feed.
"Madame, there is no need to reward me for what I saw only as my duty to you, who must have loved your son so much." Kaede lowered her head in deference, as was expected when one received any gift from a Youkai. "I wish only to see the child happy with her family."
"I must insist that you accept my gift in return for yours, dear healer. You have brought light to an old woman's heart." The old youkai woman reached for her grandchild eagerly, and Kaede curtsied before excusing herself quietly, so as not to disturb from the emotion of the moment. It was so wonderful to know that Kagome would be treasured and raised in a loving family. Not even feeling the added weight of her purse, Kaede nearly floated across Yuurei to her home. Once she arrived, she remembered her promise to Miroku and after secreting the string of gold coins, Kaede left once again with only a few small copper Douka to buy the milk before he woke up. She dreaded having to explain where Kagome had gone to, but then…Miroku still hadn't asked after his father. So perhaps things would work out in the end. And perhaps even an old woman like her could help to raise the two Gifted children in her home. Maybe she could even help them to survive. After all, that was what she had always done.
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"What's wrong?" the innocent concern in Miroku's young voice was reflected in his large violet eyes as he looked up from where he was sprawled out on the floor near the fire, diligently working on imitating the calligraphy in the copy book that Kaede had put together for him. Only a week after turning Kagome over to the ka'Neko household, the old woman had hit on studying as the only way to keep the child distracted from her mysterious disappearance. Kaede had been pleased to find that the boy's mother had managed to teach Miroku the two basic, phonetic alphabets used throughout Seiiki and Fukumaden, as well as a small amount of the ancient alphabet of scholars and aristocrats. Of course, the fact that he knew his numbers as well as his name and that of his mother in addition to a few common characters in the older, more complicated base of the phonetic alphabet that was more commonly known tipped Kaede off to the fact that his mother had indeed been the source of his Gifted blood. Although the name Chishiki didn't sound particularly familiar, Miroku had no idea what her maiden name had been, and Kaede supposed that she was probably from a powerful enough family to produce a daughter well learned enough to teach her son so much before she died. Kaede had first learned of his knowledge when she caught him trying to read a pamphlet that she had been handed by a pushy student on her way home. The fact that he was able to get anything out of it was enough for her to decide that even though she would rather he didn't read political complaints on the unfair taxation laws of Fukumaden quite yet, it was obviously time to continue his education. He picked things up very quickly, and Kaede entertained the idea that he might be able to attend the College when he became old enough and perhaps become a great scholar. Truly there wasn't much money in such a thing, but it would be a lot better than most jobs a Gifted child could hope to aspire to in this land.
Miroku's writing abilities, however, were not the subject of interest at the moment. He was still blinking at her, patiently waiting for an answer, small brush held in slightly chubby fingers, a fat drop of ink falling unnoticed onto the edge of scrap paper he used to practice his lines. He had lived in her care for nearly four months, and he never ceased to amaze her. The care and adoration he showered on Kikyo was no less than he might have shown her if she were truly his sister. His mind was a wonderful thing, like a sponge absorbing all she could teach him. And even though he was only just seven years old if the birthday he had given her was correct, he showed a sensitivity and consideration of emotion that oftentimes caught her off guard.
"My friend is having a problem. She wants me to visit her." Kaede explained to the curious child. She hated lying to the little boy, but she still managed to keep Kagome's whereabouts a secret by carefully avoiding the subject. When he was old enough to understand the trouble between Youkai and Gifted then perhaps he could come to see why there would be no visiting Kagome in her new home. Kikyo would likely be happier if she didn't know anything at all of her twin's existence, but that was a choice that wouldn't present itself for quite some time, as she was still only a baby. "I am trying to think of what I might be able to do right now, as I cannot bear the idea of leaving Kikyo and you alone, and yet I wonder if the two of you are old enough for the journey."
"Before I came here, I was on lots of journeys." Miroku informed her solemnly, and he set his brush down carefully to prop his chin up in both hands, still blinking at her curiously. "What's wrong with your friend?"
"It is complicated." Kaede was not entirely sure she could explain the situation Hanami was suffering through to a boy of seven who knew little of the world outside of his calligraphy and his small adopted family. She still would not let Miroku go outside to play with other children, as the risk of his eyes being noticed here in Yuurei was simply too high.
"You aren't going to tell me." Miroku made a face that told her exactly what he thought of her withholding information from him. "Kaede, how come you do that?"
"What do I do, small one?" Kaede asked, feeling a bit uncomfortable under his accusing glare. Surprising to learn how intimidating a seven-year-old could be when he really wanted to.
"You talk about things but you stop before you're done." Miroku told her, his voice slightly petulant. "If you can't tell me things then why do you even talk about them?"
"Miroku, you must understand that there are things in this world that are not happy and nice. There are things that small children should not have the burden of knowing, as it will only cause them undue worry." Kaede explained as judiciously as possible.
"So, I'm never going to understand if you don't ever tell me." He pointed out, and Kaede released a sigh of defeat. She could not believe she was arguing with a little boy and losing so miserably.
"Alright then. I will make you a promise, Miroku." She decided after a short time. "I will promise to never keep secrets from you, but only if you make me a promise as well."
"What is it?" Miroku was smiling slightly, a little unsure as he obviously thought that whatever he would have to exchange for this amazing privilege of what seemed to be endless knowledge was a bit daunting for such a very small child.
"You have to promise that you will always believe what I tell you, no matter if you doubt the truth of my words or not, because I swear that I will never lie to you." Kaede told him, and he scrambled to his feet, running and stumbling slightly to collapse in her lap, hugging her tightly.
"I promise!" his voice was muffled since his face was pressed into her neck, but she was still able to understand him perfectly well. He wiggled around in his spot until he was more comfortably seated and then turned an expectant look on Kaede, who was still wondering just how to approach the topic without confusing Miroku completely.
"Alright then." Kaede wrapped one arm around Miroku's back and looked up at the ceiling as though she could find the answers in the thatching. "My friend is named Hanami. Do you remember the day that we met?"
"Yeah!" Miroku's face split in a wide smile, and Kaede had to answer the grin with one of her own before she continued in a soft voice.
"That day I had come back from visiting her in the country. She was pregnant, you see, and it was giving her some difficulty." Miroku nodded knowingly at this. After Mikomi, Kaede doubted the boy would ever take pregnancy as lightly as most men seemed to for the rest of his life. "The baby has been born by now, and she wrote the other day to tell me that it was a girl, which is very good as she was hoping for a daughter. Unfortunately, the little girl has purple eyes."
"So do I." Miroku pointed out. "And Kikyo too."
"Yes, I know that you do." Kaede smiled at him. "Do you want to know a secret? My eyes are purple as well." Miroku narrowed his eyes at her in disbelief, but he had apparently taken the promise seriously enough to stop short of calling her a liar outright.
"They look gray." He looked closer as though he might have been mistaken before.
"I can change them because I have Gifted powers." Kaede told him, and he blinked at her as though the idea sounded intriguing, but he was not quite familiar with the terminology used. "Miroku, let me ask you a question. Do you know of the country of Seiiki? It is to the west of here."
"Mommy told me that was where she was born." Miroku's eyes lit up with pleasure.
"I was born there as well, Miroku." Kaede told him. "Because your mother and I are both Gifted."
"What's a Gifted?" Miroku wanted to know.
"Do you know what Youkai are?" Kaede asked after considering how to explain it so he might best understand.
"Aren't they the ones in charge?" Miroku answered hesitantly. "Dad said Youkai are money…sucking…uh…"
"Yes, well, that is close enough." Kaede laughed humorlessly. "Youkai are the ruling class of Fukumaden, this country. In the same way, Gifted are the ruling class of Seiiki. But you see, Miroku, long ago there was a big country that was ruled over by normal humans. It was called Mukashi, and in the days when it existed, Youkai and Gifted were feared and ostracized for their abilities. In those days, strong Youkai had the ability to change into huge animals that were something like demon gods, great and powerful and to be feared. Gifted had the power to control Youkai, but at the same time, Youkai were the only beings who stood a fighting chance against Gifted magic. But then the country of Mukashi had a great conflict, and in the end, only the strong survived. At that time, Youkai and Gifted were able to reverse the ruling classes of the country, and they became the leaders of a terrified human populace. At first, this worked out well enough. Youkai and Gifted compliment each other so well that they actually began to improve upon the government of Mukashi. And then there was another problem. You see, there are many different stories about what went wrong exactly, but whether the Youkai could not stand being repressed by Gifted magic or if the Gifted were too arrogant to allow association with Youkai, the two classes began a horrible feud that escalated into a civil war. It was so bloody that soon enough, both sides realized that in the end, they would be left with no country at all to control, and so a rough agreement was reached. The country of Mukashi was split in two, and that is how Seiiki and Fukumaden were formed. Even now, however, the undying grudges between the two races make friendly relations between the nations impossible, and Youkai found in Seiiki are immediately put to death. However, the same is true for Gifted found in Fukumaden. And that is where the problem lies for us, Miroku."
"How come?" Miroku seemed slightly confused by all the political talk, but it seemed he had gotten the gist of it, and that was good enough for now.
"Because, my dear little boy, we are Gifted." Kaede explained to him. "You can tell if you know what to look for, you see. All Gifted are born with purple eyes like you and I and even little Kikyo. Usually, there is also a mark like the one on Kikyo's back, and it makes leaving the country impossible for us. At the same time, we must hide ourselves or risk death. You see now why I hide my eye color and will not let you out to play with other children, Miroku?"
"But…if everyone knows that how come no one ever noticed me before?" Miroku wanted to know.
"Because you are now in the capital, Miroku. In the country, I doubt that there would be anyone who knows the signs of a Gifted, it has been so long since they have even seen one that they would have no idea where to start looking." Kaede told him patiently. "When you are a little older, I will teach you how to control the power you were born with and show you how to hide your eyes just like mine. They are the trouble, you see. Unless you try to leave the country, no one will ever spot a Mark, as they have no reason to look for one. But there are many soldiers in this city that would take a purple-eyed boy straight to the executioner as soon as they spotted him. And that is why Hanami is worried now. Her little girl is only half Gifted, just like you or Kikyo, and even though her first child looks like a normal human, her daughter has the purple eyes, and it is something that worries her."
"Well…" Miroku thought this over for a minute. "If she's in the country too, why does she have to worry?"
"Because she is sick, Miroku." Kaede explained to him. "Hanami was hurt very badly when she had her child, and she is worried about what might happen to her if she becomes pregnant again. It could kill her, and then there would be no one left to explain to her daughter why she must spend the rest of her life far from Yuurei and she must never try to leave the country for any reason. And of course, if she died then no one could teach her daughter how to hide her eyes as I taught Hanami when she was a little girl."
"So then what are you going to do?" Miroku seemed to think that Kaede had all the answers, and sometimes he almost convinced the old woman that it was true. Almost, but not quite.
"For now…I think that the best course of action is for her to avoid any further pregnancies. That would solve many problems, such as the risk of her dying so young and then leaving her daughter to grow up alone. But I think she wanted to tell me of her troubles just in case something happened to her." Kaede decided. "If Hanami does, for some reason, have to leave this world, she is hoping that I will be able to care for her daughter, but it would not be something she could explain to her husband. He does not know that she is Gifted."
"Why doesn't she tell him?" Miroku blinked at her again, and she ran her fingers through his slightly mussed black hair.
"If she told him…we do not know what might happen in that case." Kaede smiled weakly. "It is truly a violent time in which we live, Miroku. And so, you must always protect yourself and little Kikyo from discovery."
"I will." He looked so solemn, so sure. She thought that he might have fully understood her.
She wished that he didn't have to know.
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The End (Of Part 1, That Is)