Flowers for Your Grave -Chapter Two - 65 Years Earlier -
It was the beginning of chuutou, when my father and I set out for a small village about two miles to the North. I rose hours before dawn, when the moon still shone it's light upon the snowy ground. I slipped on the black robes over my normal clothing, pulling the black mask across my face. I looked over at Hakori...she was still sleeping. Good.
My father was waiting for me at the door, and we began our journey. It was only half an hour into the walk that my feet went numb, but I had grown used to such things. It had been nearly a month since I had begun my new career, and already I was becoming one of the better thieves in the area. My father had put together a small band of other commoners, who had no food or money. We were half-way to our destination when the other joined up with us, having gone ahead to scout for trouble the day before.
"They got guards," a rough man named Haidaji grumbled. "Demonslayer bunch. It's going to be a difficult strike."
"But not impossible," my father replied cooly. It was a statement, not a question. Haidaji and the three others looked unsure, but my father simply smiled and kept walking. I followed, and so did they.
The moon set, and the sun had not yet risen when we arrived. We went along the outside walls, as Haidaji explained the weak point he found in the guard-wall. A shrimpy looking fellow named Tsumaki, tiny compared to the bear-like Haidaji, gave up tips to the locations of certain stores, and places were there was food. Kukaku and Kukeku, twins, only nodded grimly and pulled out the hemp bags. We all took one, then began our mission.
My father easily scaled the small wall, as did Tsumaki and the twins. I, however, got stuck trying to help Haidaji over. After about three tries, we finally made it. Somehow, we didn't get noticed, which to me was more proof of a higher power than any religious text. My father motioned towards a smaller hut, and I nodded, keeping to the shadows. We didn't have much time before the sun rose, and we were caught.
The hut had a simple lock, which after a moment of tinkering, mearly fell off. I grinned, and stepped inside. The smell of cured pork and meat assaulted my nose, and if there is a heaven, that was it. I quickly began putting items in the bag, trying to take as much as possible, but not so much that the owners would notice first thing in the morning. Soon, the pack was nearly half-full, and I turned to walk out the door.
A large dog barred my path. I froze, and kept my eyes on the snarling animal. We'd had dogs chase us before...and it never turned out well. Taking a breath, I stepped towards it, hoping it would run. Instead, it lunged. With a yelp, I ducked, and ran for the door. I made it about ten feet, before pain shot through my leg as the hound clamped onto my ankle. I couldn't help it...I cried out. And I knew...I knew it was then I had sealed my fate.
My father came from nowhere it seems, slamming the dog on the head with a wooden board. Kukaku and Kukeku were already over the wall when I heard someone shouting, and saw the guards moving. Haidaji was even over the wall. I scrambled to my feet, but my father had to grasp my arm in order for me to even walk, let alone run. He threw my halfway up the wall before I heard the whistle of arrows, and a scream. I looked down from the top of the wall, only in time to see the arrow peirce my father's neck. There was nothing I could do, as he dropped lifeless to the ground, blood pouring around him in a pool.
A scythe weapon went towards my head, but I dropped to the other side before it struck me. The others were already off like a shot, and I could only run after them at half-speed. All I could see was my father, my sensei, as the blood poured from him...I don't know for how many miles I ran, before my breath came out in wheezing, rattle gasps. I was only aware of the shape of my little home as I dragged myself to the front door, collapsing just as my mother opened it.
"Onigumo...oh, gods...Oyama, grab his other arm, now isn't the time to be prissy about blood..."
They set me near the fireplace, and I could feel the icecicles melting from my face and hair as I shivered and wept. No one spoke, but I could feel their questions and despair. Finally, as my mother wrapped a hot bandage around my leg, I managed to find my voice.
"Father...is dead..." I choked, my chest heaving.
"...I know, child. I know."
I hear Hakori sob, and I could almost see Oyama out of the corner of my eye. Something in her eyes...something frightened me. It was one of the few times in my life that I felt sudden dread take over me, the endless kind that threatens to swallow you alive. My mother began to sing, putting on hand on my shoulder, and holding Hakori in her other arm. It may have been an hour or seven, but it was a long time before my eyelids dropped, and I fell into a restless sleep.
All I know is that when I awoke, my mother was dead.