Chapter 4: Shattered

"Sechi, I have something to tell you." Kyomi said after a long pause.

"And what might that be?"

"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you earlier, but I was afraid of the consequences. Sechi, about my family, we're actually shamans. People who bind this world and the next." Kyomi answered and paused for Sechi to absorb the news.

"…"

"Sechi?"

"How about Hao?"

"…He is a shaman too, from what I observed, and a very rare type too. He…"

"That's enough." Kyomi's sentence was suddenly cut off by Sechi. He quietly turned around and started towards the door. Much to Kyomi's shock and fear, Sechi pushed open the door and said in a dangerously low voice.

"Get out, now."

"But…I…"

"I don't care what you have to say. Just take your things and get out of this house and back to your cursed family."

"My family is not cursed, and how about our son, shouldn't you think about him? He is your flesh and blood after all!" Kyomi asked, desperate now. She never expected that her loving husband could change his feelings towards her because of her background.

"He is not my flesh and blood. He's a Devil's Spawn, just like you! And if you are so insistent on that, then I will severe all ties with you and your family. You are no longer my wife and Hao is no longer my son. Now leave!"

Kyomi opened her mouth to protest, but seeing that Sechi really meant it, she had better go back to her family until he comes to his senses.

"Fine, I'll leave." Kyomi said, trying to put a cold edge to her voice before quickly taking her things and went to Hao's room. When she opened the door, her son was still awake.

"Kaa – san, did you and Otou – san fight?" he asked, in a frightened voice. From all he remembered, they never fought before.

Kyomi paused before answering. "No, we didn't. But I'm going to bring you to my parent's house. For your training. Didn't you want to know about spirits?"

"I did. But are we going to leave Otou – san here?"

"Yes, you know your father is busy. He can't accompany us all the time."

" 'kay. Are we leaving now?"

"Yes, go get your things."

"Komi, why are you frowning? You have been doing that all day now." Senki asked.

"Nothing, I just have a bad feeling."

"About what?"

"It's nothing."

Komi then went on to do her daily chores, then she heard a knock on the door. Putting her things down, she went to get the door, knowing that the servants are too far away to hear it. She nearly fainted.

"Kyomi, what are you doing here?" she asked.

"I can explain, but can we come in first? We're tired after the long journey."

Komi quickly let them in and noticed a child holding Kyomi's hand. This must be Hao then. She never saw him before, only heard about him in Kyomi's letters. Her grandchild.

She turned to call Senki, but he was already in the doorway of the room nearest to her, with a concerned look on his face.

"Kyomi, what happened?"

"I will explain later, but can you arrange a room for Hao? He is tired already."

Komi went into action, calling on a passing servant to take care of the rooms.

It took quite some time, seeing that Kyomi had arrived unexpectedly. But an hour later, Kyomi had Hao in bed and was in the living room telling her parents about Sechi and Hao.

"So, Sechi chased you out of the house after finding out the truth about us, severing all ties with the family, not even caring about his son." Komi said.

"Yes."

"And you suspect that your son, our grandchild, is actually one of the shamans who can control nature." Senki added.

"Yes, that too."

"Well, I have nothing to say about this, except welcome back, and that we would have to train Hao soon. Oh yes, I'm going to kill Sechi if I see him again." Senki said, trying to lighten up the atmosphere.

"Actually, Otou – san. I was thinking of finding my own house."

"Why?"

"I wish to be more independent." 'Also, I don't want to get you into trouble if something happens because of me.' she thought.

"That's fine with us. Actually, we do have a relative who is going to move back here because her husband had passed away and she does not want to live by herself. You can stay there. It's not too far from here anyway, so you can still visit us often and bring Hao here to train." Komi suggested.

"Thank you then."

"There's no need to thank us, Kyomi. We are family after all. Meanwhile, you should rest after your journey. We can settle everything tomorrow."

Pika318: That's all for now. Actually, I don't want to break the family up. But I have to or the story won't go on. I was so sad  Anyway, if you have any comments, feel free to tell me, because I really think this chapter sucks. It's too stiff.