Ch.4 Drama, Drama, and more Drama!
Minagi walked down the long hallways, takeing in all the beautiful paintings and scenery. Every now and then a servent would come through and she would have to hide in a corner, but she hadn't been seen yet. She came to a window, it was dark now and it had started to rain. She took in a deep breath of the damp night air and continued her journey.
She walked past one painting that caught her eye. It was an image of a giant dog demon standing on a hill, stareing down at a village in the mountains. And standing there, in what seemed to be a garden in the village, was a woman. She was beautiful, her long black hair cascading down her back. The dog demon was watching her. Minagi took a bite of her apple, smiled, and continued to walk down the hallway. The dog demon was probably the demon lord of the palace. Or maybe it was a previous demon lord. She didn't know, but she walked down the hallway. She saw many paintings that were beautiful in their own way. They were almost like a story, telling the tale of the demon and the woman in the village. Slowly the story started to unfold with each painting. Then a new set of paintings started to appear, it seemed to be the story of the woman now. She smiled as her interest grew.
But then, Minagi caught sight of a painting that didn't make her smile. The painting showed a village, a village burning. And there, standing in the middle of the choas, was a giant black haired, red eyed elf demon. It was holding a fresh, bloody human head in its grip. Dripping from it's mouth was the crimson blood of humans. On it's forarm was a tattoo, a similar tattoo to Minagi's.
" NNo.." she said almost in a whisper, her apple dropping to the ground in horror. Minagi backed up to the wall, dropping to the ground trying to hold the tears back. All of the memories started to come back. What she had done...the horrible thing the had done! She couldn't hold her tears back, so she let them flow. She could see the images in her head, the smells,and the feelings. She closed her eyes, gripping her hands over her ears. " No!" she gasped. " It was an accident! NOO!"
In a fit of panic, Minagi raced down the hallway, trying to find the exit. Blinded by tears and screaming as lightning crashed outside the castle.
" NOO!"
OoOOOOoOOoooOOOoOoOoOo-
Kitsumaru's ears perked up. He could have sworn he'd heard something, but he shrugged it away and continued down the hall to the room where his mother often sat to weave. As he pushed the doors open quietly and watched her. He remembered how when he was younger, his father would sit and talk to Catsumoya gently, admiring her work.
" Come inside cub...do not stand so. You make me nervous."
Catsumoya turned to where he stood smileing, her eyes shining. Kitsumaru stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
" You wished to speak to me?"
His mother pointed to a pillow near her. As he sat down on it, he remembered that his mother had never liked futons, explaining that where she'd grown up everyone sat in chairs and slept in beds with soft matresses and feathered pillows.
" I did...," she did not look up from her loom, but continued to weave,"...about yesterday...when you went after the Tensiaga."
Kitsumaru froze,' she knew..!'
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoo-
Minagi ran through many diffrent passages, trying to find a way out. She felt like a mouse in a maze! They were all comeing back, all those memories were comeing back! Horrible and bloodshed! She couldn't stay here! She couldn't hurt anymore, she wouldn't! Tears flowed from her eyes like endless rainfall. She had to get out! She couldn't kill!
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOO-
Kitsumaru swallowed.
" About yesterday...well there's really not much to tell."
Catsumoya raised an eyebrow, her pale face unbelieving.
" There must have been something to tell about," she said. " You having all those wounds."
Her straight accent made the words seems as if she were unconvinced. Kitsumaru shrugged.
" The girl was good."
He could have slapped himself for saying that, because his mother turned to him.
" Yes," she said interested. " The girl. I'd like to here about her."
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo-
As the tears slide down her face, Minagi knew that they weren't just for her past, they were for Kitsumaru as well. She knew that she would never see him again and the thought killed her inside. She wouldn miss him, but she would never be able to return. She had gotten too close to him, too involed. And she let him know her, another mistake on her part.
" I'll never forget," she sobbed as she ran. " I'm sorry."
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo-
Catsumoya kept her eyes on her son, her head tilted for a moment, then suddenly, she smiled.
" Oh my," she said smiling. " Kitsune, are you keeping her?"
Kitsumaru's head snapped up. " What?...No!"
" Oh, don't lie!" she said playfully. " Especially if you dont' do it very well."
Then she grew serious. " Is she here? Do you know what would happen if Jakken or someone else found out your were harboring a thief?"
Kitsumaru sighed. He knew alright. And so would his father.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO-
Suddenly, Minagi felt her hair go lose and her ribbon fall. She didn't go back to retreave it, she would leave it...maybe even as a memento for Kitsumaru. Then, straight ahead, she saw a room with light glowing from it. She didn't entend on stopping, but as she passed she glanced over to see Kitsumaru, and she halted.
Kitsumaru turned slowly at the footsteps.
" Minagi! What are you doing here!" he said surprised.
Then he turned to his mother. She only sat, looking up calmly. He turned back to Minagi. Tears streamed down her face, and she stood breathing hard. With one more glance at him, she took off down the hall.
' Kitsumaru.' His name raced through her head as she ran faster. She saw two, tall wooden doors ahead of her. She burst through the doors, out of the palace, and into the pouring rain.
Kitsumaru stood, wanting desperatly to go after her. He turned to his mother, as if asking what he should do. Catsumoya smiled and nodded.
" Go." she said quietly.
Kisumaru smiled sadly and bursted out of the room, chasing Minagi.
Minagi reached the edge of the forest right outside the palace, when suddenly she heard someone call to her.
Kitsumaru came running up behind her. " Minagi!..Minagi wait!"
He grabbed her arm before she could run off. " Minagi? What are you doing? Whats the matter? Where are you going!"
Minagi tried to break away from his grasp, but to no avail. She refused to look at him, she couldn't. The rain poured harder on top of them.
" I can't stay here!" she yelled over the pounding rain. " I don't want to hurt you...or anyone else!"
" Minagi, how could you hurt me?" He looked down into her eyes, the rain weighing his bangs into his. " You can't think like that. You can't think I want you to leave?...Can you?"
Minagi jerked away in anger and looked at him, letting fresh tears wash down her face. " You don't have any idea! You don't understand anything! I don't want to leave, but I have to! I can't keep having these feelings! I can't! I can never get close to anyone! Ever! I'm doing this for your own protection! So just apprieciate that I'm being merciful and just GO!" She then started to cry harder. She turned away from him and leaned her side against a tree, bawling.
" I killed him," she sobbed, hitting the tree with her fist. " I killed him! I killed my own father!"
Her eyes were closed shut, she cried harder into the tree before falling on her knees, hunched over. Her cries became small sobs.
" It wasan accident...II never ment to. I'm sorry...I just...can't stay. I don't want to...to end up hurting you!" She pulled her knees up to her chest and hit her wet face in them.
Kitsumaru watched her, an expression of sadness spreading over his face. He knelt down infront of her, wrapping his arms around her and rocking her back and forth.
" Shhhh," he cooed. " Minagi...don't ...shhhh." He was at a loss for words, as Minagi continued to sob. She cried into his chest, grabbing his hatori. She wanted to stay so badly, but she was so scared.
" I can't stay. I can't! I don't want to ...hurt you," she sobbed. " I do want to stay. I just..." she continued to sob into his chest, holding onto him, not wanting to let go. As the rain poured on them, the held each other, silent. Minagi was being pulled again, pulled into the feelings, the emotions, the warmth. The feelings she swore she would never feel again.
" I can't feel like this," she whispered. " But my emotions, my feelings are comeing back." She looked up at Kitsumaru. " Please, " she begged. " Let me go. Let me run! Let me be alone again...thats the only way." She buried her face in his neck. " Let me die alone..."
Kitsumaru shook her. " No!" he took her chin hin his hand and looked hard into her eyes. " No...I understand you are upset, and something has made you feel this way. But don't ever think that you have to be alone, because you don't and your not. These feelings...the ones you say you have, or feel...those are good feelings. Those are the ones you should embrace. You're no diffrent than anyone else when it comes to emotions. And if you want to stay, why not? I'd have to figure out how to keep Jakken from snooping, but..." he smiled wryly, hopeing she'd at least grin.
" Everyone that I care about or start to care about," she said, " I end up hurting...or worse. I could stay," she said standing up," but then you'll be hurt, and i couldn't bare that!" Minagi let go of him, but she didn't want to. She backed away slowly, away from his warmth. " I'm sorry," she said. " But my mind is made up. I'm doing this for your own protection, so be grateful." She then grabbed his hand and laced his fingers in hers. " Don't try to find me," she said, tears falling. " I'll just run. Just forget about me, forget I was here."
Kistumaru took a step toward her, but she backed away. He stopped and clenched his fists. " Do you really want to leave so bad! You must Minagi, or you'd be trying harder!You're afraid! Not that you'll hurt me, but you're afraid of yourself!" He seemed to struggle for words, then smirked mockingly. " Do you know what you are Minagi? A coward! I was right the first time! Your just a stupid little girl! A coward! You're so afraid of yourself and trying to solve your problems, you just run away! Well, run dammit! GO! That's what you want!" Angry tears filled his eyes. And he clenched his fists and jaw in disbelief of what he'd just said.
Minagi stared at him in pain and shock. She closed her eyes, wishing he hadn't said those things. " Maybe I am a coward," she said," and yes I am afraid. But please try to understand." She walked towards him and raised her hand. Kitsumaru wenched, afraid of getting slapped. But to his surprise, she gently whipped away his tears with her fingers. " I have already hurt you," she said. " Don't you see? Just knowing me has hurt you. You can't let me go and that causes you pain. So I was right." She touched his cheek and moved closer. " I can't bare the thought of hurting another person that I care about."
" Can't you try? I didn't mean all those things..I just thought maybe...maybe you'd stay. Minagi, you don't have to go! My mother, she can help you! She's half elf and her mother had dark elf blood. Please don't leave." He touched her wet face, pushing her stubborn black strand out of her eyes.
Minagi looked at him. " Why would you risk your life to keep me here?" She asked. " What benifit is in it for you?"
" Not to be harsh, but that really was a stupid question. Why do you think I want you to stay? I know we've only known each other for a few days but...well I like you. Thats the benifit for me. You. I really want you here now. I can worry about my father later." When she said nothing, he took her hand. " Will you at least consider it?"
Minagi sighed. Her head was telling her that she should leave, but her heart...her heart was telling her to stay. She grasped his hand and moved closer. " Fine," she said at last. " I'll consider it. But I want you to promise me something. If I do lose control...and I start...to kill. Promise me that you will...kill me."
" Minagi, you're thing ahead again like always. It's like your expecting yourself to lose control." He put his hands on her shoulders. " I can't do that and you know it. And with my mother's help, you won't have to worry about it. It must be kept a secret though." Kitsumaru looked closly at her, silently praying that she would agree.
" Kitsumaru," she said. " As long as I have dark elf blood in me, I always have the fear of loseing control. Please, if I do, I want YOU to be the one to...take me out."
Kitsumaru lowered his head for a moment, the rain dripping from his hair and down his face. When he finally looked up he nodded slowly.
" Alright, I'll do it...," then he quickly added," But I wont have to, so not another word about it. Right now, you need to speak with my mother. She'll know what to do."
" Okay," she said. they both smiled and turned around and walked towards the castle. Suddenly, Minagi swung her foot around and tripped Kitsumaru from behind. " Thats for calling me a coward!" she said. " Dumb mut!" then she stormed off to the castle.
Kistumaru sat up, blinking, trying to focus.
