Mizoshi could've been knocked over with Kagura's miniature feather. The boy who stood in front of her now bore such a striking likeness to her brother.
That's because it is my brother.
Still, he died.
Didn't he?
"Mizoshi?" he suddenly looked concerned. "Are you hurt? You look dazed. Aren't you happy to see your brother?"
"Ken?" she called out weakly.
"Yes!" he replied, clearly excited. "I knew it. I knew we couldn't be all…"
A lead weight had dropped into her heart. "What?" Her voice was scarcely louder than a whisper. "Couldn't be all what?"
Her teenage brother's demeanor at once turned grim. "They're dead, Mizoshi. Both of them. We are the only ones that survived."
This time Mizoshi did slide down the wall. Her body hit the dirt with a thud. She landed on her hands; her eyes still fixed on her only living relation.
They're dead. Both of them. Of course, I'd known. I'd always known about Mother and Nibori. Oh, and Father too.
Five family members. Two left.
Gently, Ken grabbed hold of her wrists and set her back against the wall of the shrine. He wore a soulful expression.
"Do not worry. They are in heaven now. They out of pain, fear, and poverty." A slightly bitter tone entered his voice.
He sounds like he wants to join them.
Oh, Kami-sama, forgive me for thinking that…
Suddenly, his features brightened as if he had never been sad at all. "Well, come on, sister. Don't you want to return home?"
She swallowed. "Home?"
"Yes. It's not much, but it provides shelter and heat. We'll survive and build our lives anew." His voice was so sure. It was if he had just decided her fate for her.
"Yes, Ken, but please. I have only just arrived from…"
Abruptly, she stopped herself.
Should I tell? Would my brother understand?
"Oh? From where?"
Curiously, her younger brother drank in the sight of her. Mizoshi was quite aware of how she appeared in her fine silken clothing.
"From…a lord's castle."
Ken's jaw dropped. "A lord's…castle? What was his name?"
"Naraku. He…came upon me traveling on the road and…kindly escorted me back to his residence," she said haltingly.
"A lord? A nobleman?" Ken seemed incredulous.
"Yes. He recently released me this morning when I was well enough to travel."
The boy was dumbstruck.
I can't tell him the entire truth. Not now. I can't tell him how I entered a shadowy miasma-filled realm that was under the control of a dark hanyou with demonic incarnations serve him. What's more, how can I explain that I actually enjoyed the excursion? Not to mention actually developing feelings for the hell demon in question.
"Well, fate has certainly smiled on you. In the forest, when I…escaped," Ken's voice quavered a little, "I-I entered the outskirts of this village. It took me three whole days of traveling to reach here. I would've surely died if a sympathetic maiden hadn't taken me in."
"A maiden?"
"Yes. Her name is Kita. Oh, I hope you get the opportunity to meet her. Her entire family is so nice and welcoming."
Dully, Mizoshi let the information sink in.
A maiden. Kita. Is Ken surmising marriage?
He must, for there is no mistaking the dreaminess that had entered his brown eyes.
And, for some odd reason, Mizoshi felt a pang of dread and jealousy.
Why do I feel threatened? Am I jealous because he found someone special and might actually have the chance to be with her? Am I envious someone else in my life might drift away?
Wait, this is too fast.
"Mizoshi?" Ken questioned. "Are you sure you have not sustained any injuries?"
She blinked and let her eyes focus on her brother completely. Yet, she couldn't help but notice the small groups of village people milling around behind his shoulders. The crowd itself had dispersed. The onlookers from before were no longer interested in her presence. Now, the villagers were going about their own business.
Or did I merely imagine their scrutinizing stares?
Nervously, she forced a smile. "I am all right physically. I'm simply overwhelmed mentally. Tell me, Ken; what is this place?"
There. I'll continue the conversation. I don't want to answer too many inquires all at once.
"This is the Jari Village. You are leaning against the Hana Shrine. My home—our—home," he corrected, "is past the village square. It is very near to the fields. That is where I work."
Nodding, Mizoshi mildly returned her brother's gaze, and couldn't help observing that he looked different.
But how?
Her brother's face and body were the same, as was his personality and manner of speaking, but there was a new glint in his eyes. A cynical, world-weary glint.
So focused was Mizoshi on trivial matters, she almost didn't hear her brother speak.
"What is that?" Ken gestured at the bundle she carried. Immediately, she grew flustered.
"Oh, it is a gift from the lord whose castle I stayed at. I also collected the paintings I…"
That cynical glint grew more pronounced.
He's resentful. At me. And, I can't blame him. He had to struggle to survive whereas everything was just handed to me. I spent my days in leisure with my brush and paints, and Ken was chopping wood to cook whatever morsels he discovered in the brush.
"It is not important," she finished quickly. "Let us go to home, brother."
They began walking down the muddy road in silence. Ken moved ahead of her. In this position, she could clearly distinguish the kimono he wore.
It was old. That much was certain. The pale blue robe had an uneven hem and was very ragged. Grass stains and other marks decorated the shabby linen.
And here I am in my garment of ruby silk.
Mizoshi glanced down at her apparel and noticed the scarlet fabric was shimmering in the golden light of the sun.
I should be ashamed; I should've chosen the emerald green kimono. It would've been so much simpler.
Following this pessimistic train of thought, Mizoshi couldn't help discerning red and blue were polar opposites.
"So, what do you think of the village, sister?"
The question caught her off guard. "It is v-v-ery nice," she rattled out, "but so very secluded."
"Yes. Kita said the Jari Village is hidden behind these woodlands for the safety of the people. We hope to protect ourselves as long as possible from the wars."
We. He already acts as if he is a native. Will I too? As for this Kita…
At a steady pace, they left the village square and passed through the main gate. Ken turned sharply to the left; skirting the edge of a rolling hillside.
"Follow me along this bank. Our home is the second one you see."
Nodding, Mizoshi negotiated the sloping path. As promised, they approached the said residence, but it could hardly be termed as such.
It's even smaller than the cottage Mother owned.
The hut that now stood in front of her was barely large enough to house one single room and was built of wood that was rotten in many spaces. The scent of it pervaded her nostrils. A flap of sad, drooping material was hung across the hut's entrance to keep out cold and rain. The entire structure leaned to the right due to the builder's haphazard workmanship.
Or it could be from its dilapidated state.
"As I've said before, it's not much, but it'll do for now. My wages barely bring home meat…unless I hunt it myself."
Mizoshi privately thought she'd never taste meat again. Ken was not the best gamesman.
He couldn't even bring down one small bird as I recall. I'm quite sure Ken hasn't changed in that respect although he has changed in others I can't put quite put my finger on.
"Well, are you going to stay in the grass?" A smile lit up his face. "Come inside. Believe me, there's more than enough room for two. Especially for family."
My family. Yes. That is my duty now.
Leaving behind the memories of grandeur that covered every inch of the dark hanyou's castle, Mizoshi followed her brother inside the humble hut. Kindly, he opened the makeshift door for her. However, when he slid aside the tattered material, she couldn't help but notice the sleeve of his kimono covered not only his arm, but the totality of his hand as well.
My brother still hides the traits he inherited from father.
Ken's hands were not normal. In fact, they bore the resemblance of claws instead of hands. No matter how short Ken tried to file his fingernails down, they still took on a razor-sharp pointed appearance when they grew. Also, his fingers did not remain flat as when stretched on a table; they curled from the knuckle to the fingertip. Ken's hands were reminiscent of the claws of a bird more than anything else.
Naturally. Father was a phoenix demon. Ken himself does not know this information, and I cannot tell him. How to explain without revealing everything
Once over the threshold, Mizoshi's eyes roamed the structure's interior. Her inspection didn't take long. The floor of the hut was earthen, but it had been swept and smoothed of rocks. At the floor's center was a fire pit that would provide heat throughout the winter. Set against the hut's sagging back wall was a rusty iron stove with a heavily used pot and kettle. Twisted blankets and straw mats occupied the corner that was furthest from the door. At present, the fire pit was cold. Consequently, the air inside was cold, not to mention damp.
As if reading her mind, her younger brother spoke. "I shall light a fire when dusk comes. There are two sleeping mats, so you will have your own bed."
"Thank you," she replied almost shyly. Mizoshi crept over to the stove. "I will do the cooking," she decided. "I want to help however I can."
"Yes, I know, sister." Ken gazed at her with undisguised interest. A knot had tied her insides.
He's curious. Still, he's curious. Curious about my clothes, and curious about the lord who took me in. Perhaps he is even jealous.
"Have you any money?"
Startled, she jumped up in surprise. The subject had come up out of the blue. "No, Ken."
"This lord you lived with didn't give you any money for your journey?"
"No, Ken," she repeated. "I'm—sorry."
Her brother's face shadowed with disappointment. "I'm shocked such a frugal lord would accommodate a complete stranger in his extravagant castle."
At Ken's accusing tone, she reddened.
Why didn't I ask Naraku for some money? Why? I'm sure he must've had a stockpile of it somewhere in his immense castle. True, I suspect youkai have little use for money. They plunder whenever they needed something. But still, Naraku must've surely had something that would buy supplies and food for my new life.
"Well, it's over with now," Ken sighed. Turning, he set off in the direction of the door. "I am going to see if there is more food I can gather. Wait here, sister, and get acquainted with our new home." And then he was gone.
Our new home. Our new life
Trembling a bit from the autumn chill, Mizoshi knelt on the floor of the hut. Setting down her package, she quickly slid it under the stove. Then, she went over to the straw pallet that had been deemed "hers" and sat upon its scratchy surface.
My formal kimono will remain hidden. Ken will not have the opportunity to sell it. I couldn't bear to. Not now. Not while his image is still so fresh in my mind.
Dejectedly, she flipped through her paintings. She had painted at least twenty of them while she was held "captive" in the dark hanyou's lair. Scenes of villages, moonrise, sunrises, and seasides greeted her like old friends. At the end of the pile were two paintings she knew she'd never give up: the painting of the green and purple birds, and the portrait of Naraku. In the portrait, Naraku smirked up at her with his mesmerizing crimson eyes.
On paper. That's all I'll ever see of him from now on. A paper picture.
Without stopping to think, Mizoshi held the painting to her chest in the parody of a hug.
As always, thanks for all of your support, gang! I'm settled in at college, and updates will continue weekly. I hope. Kita will play a bigger role in the story, but she will remain a minor character. Sesshoumaru, Kuro, and of course Naraku will come later.
NarakusGirlJeanne: Yes, Naraku will come back. And this time, hopefully to stay. ;)
werewolfpixie: I'm a sophomore in Liberal Arts at the moment. Then, I'm thinking about going into Communications. (Maybe for Professional Writing.)
Freaker Krazer: (eyes boggle) So many reviews… I'm glad to know you like the fic so much! Mizoshi is actually a name I sort of invented. "Mizu" means water and "Hoshi" means star. So, I took the "miz" out of mizu and the "oshi" out of hoshi and blended them together. So, I guess it would mean "star water" or something like that. (I'm not too sure if that's exactly what it means though. I want to take Japanese so much, grr) And about kami, I had no idea to add the "sama" after it. Won't make that mistake again. Thanks for pointing it out!
Sakura evil twin of Sango: Yup, Naraku's gonna get her. But not for around 3 or so chapters.