Lasting Memories
Candy eyes fluttered open reluctantly as bright light engulfed her sight. Groggily turning towards the window, the blue-haired maid's vision cleared as the chirping of birds outside rang clearly through her ears. The sun, Botan thought in a monotone mood. Another day awaited her. Happily or grudgingly, she did not know. Golden rays shone on her tear-stained face, warmth awakening her senses.
"Warmth…" she echoed, noticing her voice was raspy. The only time of day with such high heat was… "The afternoon…" Trailing off, the girl slowly shifted her body to face the ceiling.
With a frown upon her lips, Botan could see Hari's face steaming with red anger at her tardiness. But it didn't matter anymore. The pain, the whipping, the torture, they wouldn't mean anything anymore… and the insults they couldn't hurt her anymore. For the first time in years, she found herself drained from the will to live on.
A pounding head and an aching abdomen ebbed away her little strength, barely allowing the weary maid to sit upright on her meager bed. It didn't take very long for her to realize that she was gasping for breath in small portions. It was because I was crying last night, she remembered somberly. Or maybe she was simply dying.
Sagging her shoulders, Botan stared distantly at her shaking pale hands, hands that were so delicate yet so scarred. Memories flooded back to her mind, ones of anger, ones of sorrow, ones of happiness, ones of love.
Love, she reflected on the word, that single word. Mother used to tell me about love, she told herself. She used to tell me how wonderful it felt. Recollecting reminiscences of her mother, a surging feeling coursed through her body, a feeling to once more break down and cry. Yet Botan found there were no more tears to cry.
She had neither emotions nor hopes left to find the comfort in weeping. It had, for the first time, occurred to her that crying would never bring her parents back to her nor would it bring Kurama closer to her heart.
"Kurama…" The name rolled off her tongue as if she had repeated it all her life. It felt so natural… saying his name. But it was all so strange how a single person could change her entire life, her heart, her soul. At first, it seemed he was a savior, the final piece to her puzzle, to her picture, to her life.
Instead, he broke it, shattered her remaining hope left behind by her father and mother. Botan was surprised if there was any scrap of hope left in her body. How foolish she was to think he would ever love her. Hatred swelled in her weak figure and died as quickly as it arose.
She couldn't hate anymore. She was tired of hating.
She couldn't feel anymore. She simply couldn't.
Turning back to the window slowly, Botan wondered how much time had passed since her awakening. Five, ten minutes? Or perhaps an hour had elapsed. If only time did not exist, there would be no point to rush into death, into life, into a future that could never arise.
Her lip quivered hearing the birds chirping. She didn't understand why, but suddenly, her eyes rimmed with crystal tears. Unable to contain her misery, she buried her head into her hands, silently weeping until her racked body could no longer cry.
The tapping of her impatient foot echoed throughout the elegant hallway, her heel clacking against the marble floor. Hair pulled back in a tight yet ridiculous bun, Hari waited intolerantly, glancing shiftily at the two staircases before her. Morning had past long ago and given way to the early afternoon, and still, her pathetic excuse for a half-sister had refused to awaken.
It didn't matter much to her that Botan was in some world of hurt or that some worry had eaten away at her soul. Either way, it worked towards her favor. What mattered to her was that she wasn't further torturing her step-sister. How dare such an ungrateful piece of dirt try to take her place next to the prince? Only she was worthy of being queen! And only she!
A smirk appeared on Hari's ugly expression as her maid, her own sister, slowly made her way down the stairs. Silence blanketed the two, the incessant tapping ceasing. Step by step, Hari walked casually towards Botan, annoyed at her unusually quiet hush, catching her lifeless eyes and tired expression. But she knew why. She knew why her lowly step-sister was so pained and she, as-a-matter-of-fact, did not care.
Nothing of her sister's pain concerned Hari.
Raising a hand, Hari swiftly attacked, her palm contacting with her sister's delicate cheek.
"Insolence! How dare you be late, wretched slave!" Botan's step-sister hissed. Enraged, the princess-to-be discovered no tears, no resistance at all and absolutely no yelp of pain escaping Botan's pursed lips. Gnashing her teeth together, Hari grew angrier but then composed herself, a cynical grin spreading upon her face. Another slap cracked through the palace followed by another and yet another as drops of blood stained the floor.
Hari would be sure that her pitiful step-sister would remember her place on the ground.
She would make sure of it.
Dear Readers,
I'm sorry for not updating in a long time but I had so much to do this year! And I apologize again but I only have a few more days of school so I'm hoping to update more often. Please tell me what you think of this chapter and what you want to come up. I have an ending in mind but please give me input, alright? Much love fans!
Luna
Teaser
The worlds seemed to shake around them, fire engulfing the trees in the forest, the heat becoming unbearable. Flames roared in his ears, a red shimmer reflecting upon his emerald eyes. He was unaware that his hair was becoming white and his demon ears appearing on his head; all he could think about was her. Everything was about her, he realized now…
Jumping from crumbling rock to crumbling rock, lava bubbled below him. He had to find her.
Gritting his teeth, the prince slashed through an incoming boulder, cursing his luck. Where was she?
As if an answer, a familiar scream reached his sensitive ears. "Botan!" he immediately thought. Rushing blindly towards the source, he came to circle clearing where the earth had been untouched, the flames parting as if afraid to burn such a ground. Leaping through the wall of fire surrounding the clearing, he winced as pain scorched his skin. Disregarding it, he pushed forward, determined to pass through no matter what.
Seconds later, he forced his senses to awaken, his body aching all over. He was sure he caught the scent of his own blood. Pushing himself off the ground, swaying as he first stood, he fluttered open his now golden eyes only to widen them.
"Botan…" he whispered disbelievingly. His mind registered the angel before him. His mind knew it was angel. Her blue hair blew in the nonexistent wind, a simple white dress upon her. She was screaming in pain, body arched back as white wings sprouted and flapped from her back, ivory feathers falling everywhere. Suspended in the air, every scream she let out, the flames seemed to dance again. Somehow, he knew it was her…
Another shrill snapped him from his shock. Running full throttle towards his angel, the prince leaped into the air, ready to snatch her from the sky, only to land square into a spiritual barrier. Skidding across the ground, another wave of pain coursed through his body. Cursing again, he pushed himself up again; almost sure he was going to collapse.
He looked up weakly at her, only now noticing her screaming at stopped. Her body became limp, her wings fully born. "Botan…" he whispered again. He longed to see her candy eyes, to see her smile at him, but somehow she didn't… Her wings slowly turned an odd color of black, markings of black appearing on her body. Narrowing his eyes, the prince charged again.
Attempt after attempt, he rushed at the barrier, only to be pushed back again and again. Minutes later, the prince smiled strangely at the irony. So it had come to this… Slowly picking himself off the ground, he walked, swayed to the barrier wall… Putting his hands on the wall, he pounded fiercely.
"Botan!" he yelled weakly. "Botan, you need to wake up! Botan, you can't let him do this to you! You can't let him control you…" He pounded again with his fists, ignoring the jolts of the barrier. "I'm sorry, Botan! I realize it now! So wake up, Botan! Wake up! BOTAN!"
In her darkness, the lonely darkness of her mind, she heard a voice, an all-so-familiar voice calling her name. Fluttering open her lavender eyes, she saw a face, a name on her tongue.
"Kurama…"