The Agony I Couldn't Share
Chapter 2: Out on A New Adventure…… As a priestess
Disclaimer: Yes, yes, fooling around once more with disclaimers…. Let's see…. First of all…. I do not own Inuyasha's storyline and stuff…… Don't own Inutaisho, Midoriko, Izayoi, Myouga, Kirara and…… uhhh……. Oo that's it…… I think…
Genre: since we can put 3 all the ones that are really in here are: Romance, Action, Adventure, Drama, Angst, Suspense.
Rating: PG-13, cautions, swearing, and who knows if I'm gonna make the rate higher.
Hopefully I could get reviews even though Midoriko isn't much of a character that's known.. I apologize for Myouga's seriously OOC, but heh, he must've had experiences when he was young to be so scared of danger hmm?
On with the fic… Gah. Please don't kill me… I'm just trying my best to bring her out of the darkness.
Ah yes, there are many japanese words so if you do not understand them, please look at the bottom of ficcie.
"Nothing left……."
She heard a voice echoe through a distance.
"But yourself……."
It had a cool, female, ethereal to it, almost making her releaved from all pain and stress. If only it didn't say those words all in one demi-sentence, putting a depressing thought into her mind.
"Don't look back……."
It said once again…. In a fading tone.
"At whatever happens……. Just…… Believe in yourself and keep living. For.. th.-e w..o..r-l..d …….."
Those last words seemed to fade as reality came back.
"MIDORIKO!" A strong, raspy male voice snapped Midoriko awake, "wake up you little bitch!"
The young girl slowly open her eyes mid-way as the strong rays of sunlight blinded her. She looked up and saw a blurry face who only seemed firmiliar. A bad firmiliar……
Before her eyes could even adjust, strong arms took her by the collar of her kimono as she was thrown against the wall. Midoriko couldn't scream out in pain since she hasn't gotten water to drink in 3 days now. Dehydration and starvation was what made her looks so skinny and unhealthy. Her skin became pale but even through these conditions, her strength never decreased, her anger always stayed calm, and her determination to getting the hell out of here was getting higher everyday.
The man glowered down at her. He wasn't a well built man, neither was his handsome-looks great. He wore a a new clean kimono with odd snake patterns on it, making him look like a demon himself. Couldn't say he was a beauty, with a face resembling like a very ugly pig. Grotesque, crooked nose, deformed snake-like eyes, strict-thin lips and horrible yellow and black teeth.
"Get to work if you want your reward tonight!" he hollered and pointed to a huge pile of wood and boxes.
"…… Hai Satsujin-sama……" she mumbled and got up. Midoriko walked to the pile of wood and started carrying them outside, but from the corner of her eye, she saw Satsujin running towards the forest. He was a bad man, she knew that alright, but now that she saw him rape a woman already and steal everything she had, including the money the woman held, made Midoriko's hatred towards him even greater. After killing that woman, Satsujin discretely ran away.
On his was he caught Midoriko in a tree, where she has seen everything happening from the stealing to raping and then killing. After Satsujin had beaten her, she swore to never tell anyone, ever, and also swore to never go out in the forest and spy on him.
That night was indeed very painful for her, but somehow, in less than 24 hours, her wounds that proved fatal healed as fast as a any medicine could ever help. Midoriko didn't bother noticing this, but Satsujin did, and kept on staring at the four fushia-gleaming jewels on her forehead from that day on.
Cutting wood in half the whole day wasn't pleasant, plus bringing heavy wooden boxes filled with rocks used to hold down wooden boards for the roofs of houses was sure tiring. After delivering them to some people in the village for money, she returned to her "home" only to be yelled and shouted at for not working as fast, then getting no food or water whatsoever.
Sometimes at night, she sneeked out to the river to get a drink, and to visit her old 'step-mother's' grave, which often made her either sob, or depressed. And tonight was one of the nights she would sneak out.
Sure Satsujin held an eye over her, for probably dirty intentions since she has grown over the years. Not many, but 3 years and a half were more than enough to mature.
"Oh such a child like you! Satsujin, that young man, strict but he has taught you manners very well! Ah, I idolize him for being such. Here you go!" the last woman she had brought the box of stones to, commented. Those words put together in sentences made her ears burn. No, not even, they made her ears bleed, so she could become deaf…… or so she wished…… So she can't hear that bastard's yells and threats ever again.
The day passed quickly enough, it was already sun-set, judging by the position of the sun.
Midoriko collapsed on the ground beside her house and breathed heavily from all the work. The heat and radiation of the sun wasn't helping either, and neither was the lack of food and water.
By the time the pile of wood dropped down to it's last log, the young girl took her (right-oh, I need help here, did they have axes back then? I'm gonna say so here…….) axe and with exauhstion, managed to perfectly chop it in half. After both similar halves fell to the ground, Midoriko wiped off the sweat from her forehead and sat by a tree beside the log stack.
She'll have to think of a plan soon, or else her body will decay in this place of hell. But a part from running away, then getting eaten by demons, there was no other way. The poor girl had no idea whatsoever about weapons, and how to protect herself. Sure she went through a major event and was the only survivor left, but…… it was only luck, as she said so.
After being found by her step-mother, she re-called nothing about the attack placed on the Taijya village, where Midoriko lived with her family…… Peacefully.
Soon after the child got her energy back and stood up, Satsujin came back running to the house with something in his hands that gave off an odd sparkle. A very peculiar shine…… almost made her wonder if it were precious jewelry stolen from another raped maiden…… Then again, she wanted to keep her head right where it is, so it would be best off if she shut up. Even if Midoriko tried telling someone else, they'd probably tell Satusujin what they heard, not believing Midoriko…. After all, each way led to hell.
It wasn't before nightfall that Midoriko had discovered of what he had brought home……… They were effectively jewelries, but these ones seemed quite more valuable.
Not much to care, unless the poor girl wanted to get even more beating…… But after he small dinner, enough to satisfy her hunger for days now, she quietly observed the fire crackle as her knees were up to her chin. Mesmerized by the beautiful dancing of the specks of flames, she hasn't noticed the loud noises of what sounded like people in deep loud conversations, and galloping of horses coming into the village. After being snapped out of her trance, by the loud cheers that erupted after the horse hooves stopped, Midoriko slowly got up and went to go see what was going on. Shortly after, Satsujin arrived beside her and gazed upon the sight.
A highly dressed priestess, bearing many stains of blood on her, supposebly white and red kimono, wearing an armor with what seemed like four gleaming golden shards on the front, somehow indicating her position of prestige, threw down a huge demon head on the ground. Soaking the soft soil with its filthy reddish black blood, a dark red soul erupted from it.
The priestess gazed softly at it and with one swish of her staff, the soul split in two. One side seemed black and the other, a natural gleam of blue. After being purified, the demon's spirit floated up, to nowhere and the monster's head dissolved from flesh to bones.
Midoriko gaped at this sight, no wonder their village was often victims of frequent demon attacks. Not that they didn't survive, with all the weapons remade and new strong soldiers of the Taijiya village rebuilt. But after all, once in a while, demons would gang up and try to break in with tremendous force not even the strongest warrior can take on.
As many soldiers greeted her upon her arrival including the village chief, she graciously got off her horse and walked towards the chief cabin surrounded by soldiers. The Chief and her were probably engaged in some sort of deep conversation. Even if surrounded by many men, her beauty caught Satsujin's eye. Even Midoriko had never seen someone as beautiful as she was.
Draped with what seemed a higher rank of priestess clothing, the high exterminator held two sheathes at her sides. The sword handles gleamed, and perfectly sent out a message not to mess with her. The pristess had long flowing hair, with perfect degraded bangs.
The thief turned around and muttered something like, "Yarou chief…… Always take beautiful women to himself…… I bet he already has perverted intentions upon her…… wish she'd come and visit here for a while…… heh heh heh……"
But before Midoriko could think twice or even stop herself from asking a question, she suddenly blurted out, "He's not gonna rape her is he!"
Satsujin eyed her for awhile, and she winced in shame, but he still answered her in a harsh low voice, "No, if he even dared, that priestess would probably slap him to the other end of Japan…… Now go to sleep! We have a lot of work tomorrow!"
Midoriko thankfully bowed and quickly walked outside to change in a small clearing. Her sleeping clothes were probably not the cleanest and fittest of all, but atleast they fit. Upon coming back inside, she had found Satsujin, staring out the window once more, after the priestess.
The foul man slowly turned around. Midoriko gasped as she could see the lust in his eyes. Her senses told her he was in a mood for his own pure joy and ecstasies.
"Da-danna?" she feebly called out, yet uncertain if it was the right thing to do.
"I wonder why I haven't thought of this earlier. Why have this lust for warmth while you've been here all along hmmm?" a mad grin spread across his face, "Wouldn't you like to enjoy that too?"
The little girl's eyes widened in fear. She didn't need to be educated to know what he meant. That horrific action by men were mentioned in the village all the time, when she passed by. Feeling too immobolized to run away, Midoriko seemed glued to one spot, not knowing what to do. One side told her to hit him where it really hurt, and the other didn't want to injure the man. It was too late to react, he had pinned her to the wall as she tried to pry herself free. It was no use, his body held a strong pressure for grips as his eyes gleamed with pure malice.
"No, this is wrong, no, stop…… stop…… STOP!" Satsujin was shot to the other side of the hut, landing like a rag doll and marking his defeat with a large hallow imprinted in the wall.
A pure white glow surrounded Midoriko as she felt herself flaoting a few centimeters off of the ground. Energy, pure energy coursed through her veins.
Suddenly feeling limp, and weak, the glow had ceased to emit and Satsujin was back on his feet once more. Slumping down on the floor, power totally drained out of her system, her vision blurred.
"You little, bitch!" he yelled out, holding a long, razor-sharp knife in his hand. Raising the deadly weapon, readying itself to strike the prey…… Midoriko closed her eyes, she was about to join her family in the depths of hell.
A sound of flesh being torn rang through the air followed by an ear-splitting scream……
Satsujin stared in horror, a sword poked out of his chest with blood trickling out. Quickly being drawn out, he fell beside the almost-unconscius girl. Blood spilled out, slowly forming a pool of crimson, viscous liquid.
From Midoriko's semi-shut eyes, a pale face could be made-out of her vision. Soothing words caressed her ears and soft hands picked her up from the bloody-stained floor.
It felt like an angel……
Warm patches of heat stroked her head. Rustling leaves tickled her ears. A slow-paced rhythm supported her weight. A soft and warm, bulky body softly nuzzling against hers. And finally, heavy layers of silk rested upon her back.
Groggily stirring, Midoriko slowly opened an eye. To her confusion, the slow-paced rhythm had halted. A warm gaze met hers as the female's smile reminded her too much of old, good, days.
Instantly remembering yesterday's events Midoriko gasped and sat up too quickly. She slid off the horse's back but before landing in the soil, strong arms caught her. The young girl found footing on the ground and stared back at the priestess that seemed to be mildly surprised to see the one she had saved behave this way.
"W-where am I? Where's danna Satsujin-sama?" instantly those questions came to mind.
The higher being chuckled and relaxed, "He is in a better place. You're coming home, with me."
'Home, with her?'
As if understanding her wide eyes full of fear, the priestess placed a hand on Midoriko's shoulders.
There was an awkward silence, the bird sang cheerfully, playing a duet.
"B-but…… my home isn't…… with you," despite Midoriko's knowledge of the priestess's rank, her eyes grew cold as she backed away from the woman's soft grip. Those last words hadn't made a single impact on the older woman, her smile just broadened.
"And that why you'll have to learn. You might be the biggest challenge to me, yet," without another word, she turned around and started to walk once again, not looking back at Midoriko, not comfirming whether the young girl decided to follow or not. Midoriko stared after her, stunned. What did she mean?
As much as she felt like running away back to the village, her legs and feet didn't seem to respond to her desires. Instead, they moved forth to her upcoming destination……
Growing tired of their journey to what seemed like the other end of the world, a huge temple came into view followed by a large village by its foot.
"You know you could've asked to ride Kariudo if you grew tired?" the priestess gently patted the horse's back.
Midoriko shot her a cold glare, then looked back, flushed with anger. Deep inside she didn't feel that way. She'd feel really greatful for the priestess's kindness. Though something held this back as an uncontrollable grudge travelled through her veins. This wasn't herself…… though it seemed that Satsujin's behavior had perhaps rubbed off on her. And that her own social skills were low after spending so many years…… away from citizens.
"By the way," ignoring the little child's lack of speech, she went on, "my name's Kohana, meaning little flower. I wonder why my parents have named me this way…… do you wonder about your name?"
"…………."
"Green child wasn't it?" her soft gaze returned on Midoriko's small form.
"………… hai……"
"Well isn't that lovely?"
No response.
"Ah, the girls at the temple might soften you up. Who knows."
Wait-a-minute…… girls?
Afraid to even ask what she meant by, "girls," Midoriko shifted her weight at the extremities of her legs nervously. She hasn't been around other girls, or hanged out with any of them in her life. Hard duties awaited her everyday.
"The girls, they train in my temple. I teach them the ways of the priestess. We're a big community, a big family even. And I'm about to include you in."
"But I don't want to be a priestess…… What makes you think I'm so worthy of being one?"
"So…… it seems to be you haven't noticed," once again, gazing softly at the young girl she opened the door to the temple, "You'll just have to wait and see……" turning around, three girls have already appeared at the doorway, all of them wearing a priestess's outfit of red and white, bowing to greet their mistress.
"Konnichiwa, sensei-sama," after having daid that unisonly and monotone, all of their eyes were fixed upon Midoriko. It was true that her hair was a mess, face full of dirt not to mention what she was wearing didn't look quite appealing.
To her disadvantage, a group of six other girls had joined the cluster as well. Mumbling the same salutation. Afterwards, different whispers were amongst the girls. This made Midoriko feel really uncomfortable, not to mention having a higher spirit to turn back and run away.
Holding a hand up, Kohana dismissed the girls, "Please, make Midoriko feel welcomed to her new home," waving her hand at one of the tallest girls that first appeared in the pack of three, "Kyoko, please show our new family member her room."
She seemed to hesitate a little but nodded and escorted Midoriko down the long, and elegant hallway.
Everyone disperesed in their own directions.
Finally alone, the young child felt awkward. All this of a sudden. She didn't deserve to be amongst them, and they felt that way too about her.
Kyoko slid a door open and revealed a large room with everything a girl could imagine to have. The bed seemed much more comfortable than ground and the furnitures were stunning.
Amazed by being taken in with such dignity, her gaped.
"Here," the slightly older girl open a closet. There were several kimonos and many pairs of priestess outfit neatly folded and piled.
"………"
"Well aren't you ever the talkative type," she sarcastically muttered, "how lucky you are to be taken in by lady Kohana. This is very unlike her to take some random girl out of a random village and let her reside with us."
Midoriko already felt a surge of dislike towards this girl, "Anyways, you might wanna take a bath."
'Random,' this girl obviously didn't know how to treat her guests.
Taking one of the kimonos, the new priestess in training made her way out to the bathe room without another word to the other being. (I highly doubt they had "bathrooms" back then).
Supper went by quietly, as all of the girls talked between themselves, leaving Midoriko totally out. Though the priestess with medium-length, brown hair and oddly violet eyes kept on staring at her. Paying no attention whatsoever about this, she finished early and left.
Kohana wasn't there to stop her, seemingly on her duty in another village, warding off a demon.
Shortly after Midoriko left, they started whispering about the new permanent visitor.
"She's so unsociable," one of the girls whispered while swallowing down rice.
"I know! Did you see the way she looked at us? It's a murderer's glare I tell you!"
"What if she kills all of us during our sleep?" this statement agitated them all.
"Of course, by the looks of it. Her cuteness probably affected Lady Kohana and so she took her in. I can see the plotting in her eyes and in the name of the oldest and most powerful priestess beside danna, I, Kyoko, will protect all of you from this witch!" Rising to her feet, feeling all admired eyes upon her, she grinned triumphally. All eyes except the ones of those with violet.
"Don't you guys think that's ridiculous?"
Everyone turned around.
"Look Nariko. We know you're sensitive towards other being, and maybe too nice for your own good but face the facts! That child's evil! Trust your onee-sama, I can sense youki within each step she takes."
Nariko rolled her eyes secretively but nodded.
If they thought they could whisper behind Midoriko's back, they were sadly mistaken. After having heard their little conversation about her, she sighed. Her life was going to be hell. Probably being shunned out by the others until they humiliate her to the extreme.
Having thought of this for awhile, Midoriko lay motionless on her bed, gazing off into space. If they thought she was rough, well then she was just gonna have to show them rough.
'That'll teach them not to judge someone before they know them……' the little priestess swayed to her side as a single tear streamed down her face.
A/N: Wow, lol, updated and made new fics all at a time. Well actually, I was working on 5 fics at a time. All too hard for me to control with exams coming and dperession, and evil people at school. Anyways, I know there aren't many Midoriko fans out there like me, so well, this fic is gonna be great :smiles:.