Disclaimer: First and foremost, I would like to note to you readers that I do not own Marimite(but I own this fic! If you want to put this in your site, ask permission from the author first!).
This is my first fic, so please be patient with me. Kindly leave a comment after reading this fic, so that I will be able to improve it. Thanks!
Chapter 1: Chaos was Her Destiny
"You can't beat me!"
That statement was one of the many I could remember while I was still basking in the green meadows of Nanairo Mori. I could remember myself running as fast as I could, trying to outrun my master and friend, Mizuno Youko.
My name is Satou Sei, descendant of a family who committed themselves to the Mizuno family. Like my predecessors, I swore to be loyal to the clan.
Like all members of the Satou family, my hair is brownish-blond(I wonder how it is called?), which flowed gracefully at the bottoms. My eyes are, I don't know, too dark to be brown. I'm not chinky-eyed--my eyes are somewhat round and they slant at the far ends. My skin is fair, and not creamy white, which I always craved for.
"Ahahaha. That's what you think, Sei."
My childhood friend, Mizuno Youko. Or should I say, Master Youko. She was the 7th- generation descendant of the Mizuno family. Possessing the skill and beauty that she got from her ancestors; she is truly a gem of the said clan. She had black hair, and its style contradicts that of mine. Some of the villagers say that this is a bad sign, for we resemble the yin and yang(what they really meant was that we are the perfect opposite of each other, and this they say, is a bad sign), the two forces embodying the Earth. I don't really think so, because the only difference was that my hair is brownish-blond and much longer, and Youko's eyes showed nobility. There's also this funny fact that the villagers said about us, that our families are very closely related, that we are sisters by Fate, et cetera. I have seen the Mizuno family tree, and it showed only the 4th and the present generation. Probably we ARE distant cousins or something.
But that didn't matter to Youko and me. In fact, we just laughed at it at times the idea popped out of our heads. When our conversations concerning the matter grew a bit serious, we'd think that if ever that was true, then that might be the reason why we're so close to each other, not as best friends, but as close as sisters. If ever that was true, we promised to each other that we'd pray our gratitude to the gods and have a feast.
At that moment, where we were racing in those meadows, I remember Youko suddenly jumping out of nowhere and outpacing me by about 20 meters.
Flashback
I gasped. "What the-"
"You think you can outrun me? Think again. Ahahahaha!"
"Hey! No fair! You cheated!"
"Sei, to hurt a person is the only trick prohibited here."
"Waah! Youko, I'm going to get you this time!"
Youko only laughed.
End of Flashback
I was so upset then, seeing Youko outrunning me again. Whenever we had a race, she always won. But when there's an eating contest, I always had the advantage. What with my stomach being a bottomless pit and all.
I admit though, that the best part of that activity was eating at their place. Because my family was a member of the highest class of ninjas, I always had the advantage of entering the Hakuryu palace. There are always some restrictions though, but they didn't affect me much. Mizuno Youko and I always ate at her room, and at some times, I spent the night there. Her family has no problem with me entering and going around (and even sleeping around!) like that, because they placed the highest trust to my family. The same goes to my family as well, but of course they don't forget to remind me that I shouldn't go beyond my expected boundary. What they meant to say was, I should always remember that it is the royal family that I'm messing around with, though in a good way.
"That doesn't make me any different from you, does it?" Youko once told me. "I'm just like any other individual here, it's just that some sort of document made me and my family higher than anybody else in this village, well, except for the gods."
I agreed. I guess I always agreed to whatever Youko said, because her statements made sense. I guess I idolized her. I had no idea if she's aware of it.
"Youko, what-what are you doing?"
Flames and dead bodies of the Hakuryu villagers were everywhere. Houses, temples, and the Mizuno palace were in ruins. Amidst the burning scenario were ninjas and samurai from the-gods-know-where. What strange force came to our village? I always thought that our village was invulnerable, because of the fact that it has a high strategic value; add to that the huge population of skilled warriors. But seeing these scenarios made me shiver, knowing that almost everything, or maybe everything--is in shambles.
"I'm sorry, Sei." Youko said, her eyes darting their way into mine. "But this is my destiny."
Mizuno Youko suddenly disappeared.
I couldn't believe it. How could she have betrayed us and done this? How could she have looked into my eyes so coldly, as if our friendship never existed? How could she have the guts to tell me that destroying her own homeland is her destiny?
Hot tears pouring unchecked down my cheeks, time freezing. I thought my body grew numb, but suddenly, I felt a blow on my right shoulder. Instantly, my other arm, which held a shinobigatana made a quick yet powerful blow on whoever-hit-me, and I realized I cut him on his throat. His blood gushed straight on my face, and then, I saw nothing but crimson red.
But I was still alive. I tried my best to escape, even if I was getting a bit sluggish due to my wounds. And thank the gods, I successfully got away. When I found that no one else was around, I cut my beautiful hair with a sword, right below the level of my shoulders so as to protect my identity (and to renew my life as well). After that, I kept on walking, until I saw an abandoned hut.
That incident was truly frightening. It would seem fit of committing harakiri, but I did not, because if I did, I'd only let the culprit get away with this.
And I wouldn't be able to meet the most important person in my life.
Shiori.