Mizoshi stood in the middle of the clearing. The clearing she had been ordered to avoid by her brother ever since she so "impulsively ran off."
He treats me like a child, and I never once pleaded for the kindness of living under his roof.
Not our roof. His roof. And it still leaks.
Depressedly, Mizoshi watched the sun rise behind the trees. As she gazed at the lightening horizon, a wild gust of wind blew the branches above sharply; sending a scattering of yellow maple leaves showering over the damp morning air.
What a beautiful sight. I wonder why Ken does not spend more time outdoors. Not working of course, but actually relaxing. We all need to refresh ourselves once in a while.
Oh, wait. He does. In Kita's hut.
Mizoshi was only invited to the illustrious Kita's hut once. She had met Kita's parents and both were polite. But cold. Extremely cold.
Especially when they looked into eyes that were as glaring as these autumn leaves.
Kita tried to be diplomatic, but the visit had been unusually short. Even Ken seemed to recognize the reason why. Later, he too was distant towards her, as if the very shade of her eyes she had possessed from birth were a handicap in his "new life."
His roof. His new life. What of mine?
Again, Ken explained the perfectly natural cause:
"Her father's family originated in the far north. Most of their eyes appear gold rather than brown."
The pair had been plainly skeptical about this and had only scrutinized her more closely.
Her father, not our father.It's like there's separate lives for us. Is Ken so ashamed or so cowardly to claim he does not share father's blood?
Wiping away a treacherous spot of wetness from her equally treacherous eye, Mizoshi scanned the area.
No flashes of white.
Is he watching right now? Why does he not reveal himself? Where is he? Why hasn't he talked to me?
However, she was not foolish. Such a notorious demon could not casually visit the village. Besides, she was always with someone. Either Kita, her brother, or some other villager.
Or my customers.
It had nearly a week since she left Naraku's side, and Mizoshi still had not adjusted.
I never will. Not in this place. Not with the monster I am forced to live with. Yes, my brother is as feral as any demon.
Mizoshi waited until every shadow melted away; burned away by the bright light of the golden sun. Waited until the clouds that had congregated overnight cleared and the birds took flight from their hidden alcoves to gather food.
I too must leave. To gather a livelihood.
Morosely, Mizoshi returned to the village. The Jari Village. Probably the place she would live out the rest of her miserable days. Ever so stealthily, she had slipped out of bed while it was still dark and moved out to "her" clearing as Ken still slept.
Surely, he is up and about now, but still, he can't prove anything. He does not control me or my actions.
Rubbing her wretched eyes, Mizoshi's feet found the rounded path to the ramshackle structure that was getting more weathered by the day.
How will this place last throughout the winter?
Shoving aside the pitiful piece of cloth that just barely kept the drafts at bay, Mizoshi walked over to the stack of paintings that was undeniably getting shorter.
One small comfort is that I've sold over half of my paintings. Even Ken can't complain about that particular item anymore. But, Ken will discover something else. There's no denying that. Sometimes, I think he resents me being alive. Should I have died with Mother and Nibori?
Swallowing a lump in her throat, she left the deserted space, and hurriedly trudged off to the stands.
At least Kita is pleasant, even if her parents are not. Luckily, they do not come to this part of the marketplace until well after I leave.
With a helpless sigh, Mizoshi allowed a smile to creep across her face when the young maiden and her rack of multicolored kimonos came into view.
I suppose it's not going to get any better until I change my attitude about it. This is my life, and I'd best get used to it.
Unfortunately, her noble decision was not well received. She saw that as soon as she glimpsed Kita's face. She was frowning in a most disapproving manner and her eyes had narrowed suspiciously.
"Kita? Whatever is the matter?" Mizoshi quickly set her paintings down and hastily took her seat.
Kita stared at her accusingly. "Ken's been looking for you."
This did not bode well. "Oh. He has?" she replied casually. "Well, I merely went into the woods for a stroll. He should not worry so much."
"You didn't tell him?" Kita reared back slightly.
"No. How could I? I did not want to disturb his sleep."
The girl nodded and lowered her head. "You leave whenever you desire?"
"Yes. I'm fine, Kita. I always am. No one has to worry."
Suddenly, Kita's head snapped back up, a fire all its own burning in her eyes. "Why do you do that? Why do you run from the village for hours on end? Are you ashamed of us? What do you do out there under the trees all by your lonesome? How is it that you are never attacked?"
Now, it was Mizoshi's turn to rear back at the young girl's utter outrage. "I go into the forest to think. Don't you ever do this? Don't you ever escape into the wilderness? It really is glorious to behold."
Her efforts at placating Kita were futile.
"Escape?" Kita pronounced bitterly. "You're too good for us now, is that it? Ken imagines so. He claims ever since you met this "lord" that you have acted differently."
"Kita, it's nothing! Listen to me…"
"You can speak to your brother about it, Mizoshi. You should know that family always comes first." The young maiden folded her arms across her chest in defiance.
Mizoshi was truly stunned.
This thirteen-year old child is berating me? Has Ken turned her against me as well?
I really need to talk to him.
"Did you know Ken thinks that you act no better than a child? He says that I, five years younger, am more mature than you."
Mizoshi gritted her teeth. Her blood was boiling.
Not here. Not here…
Wisely, she forced herself to calm. Eventually, her temperature lowered to normal.
"No, I was not aware. I will speak to Ken--"
At once, the girl rose to her feet, impertinently ignoring Mizoshi. "Grandmother Ume! How are you today?"
Mizoshi glanced up, and sure enough, there was the stocky woman with her granddaughter.
"Well enough, child, " the matriarch called back. "Have you any new patterns? My youngest daughter is to be married and I require another kimono."
"Yes, Grandmother Ume. Always. Although, we have not so many that are little Nishi's size at the moment."
"My dear, I meant for myself! A new kimono for myself!" the elderly woman laughed. Within seconds, Kita began giggling too. Apparently, this was a sort of shared, private amusement between them.
As Kita and the old woman rattled on, Mizoshi's gaze switched over to the grandchild who was blissfully oblivious to the tedious scene. However, Nishi, although shy, was not inhibited. At the sight of a beetle skimming through the air, the tiny girl chased after the glittering black bug. So much for her company, and so much for Kita's also.
It makes absolute sense, doesn't it? I am the outsider. Kita and her family may have lived entire generations here. No one has anything to say to me. Even Grandmother Ume scarcely greets me, even when I was directly introduced.
How much of this is Ken's fault? This alienation? Or is it just a misunderstanding?
Somehow, the painful afternoon passed. Kita didn't speak to Mizoshi for the entire duration
What did my brother ever say to her to cause this amount of coldness?
What's more, not a single customer approached. Not one. Mizoshi had sold three paintings yesterday, but now, all her "business" seemed to have temporarily evaporated, or permanently depending on the circumstances. Yet, Kita's side of the table was blossoming. Indeed, the villagers congregated around her akin to bees buzzing around a delicious honey pot. Through it all, no one uttered one syllable to her.
For once, she did not sit back and wait for further explanation. Mizoshi simply gathered up her works of art and stomped away to the hell that she would be required to call home for the rest of her life.
Relax. It's just a bad day. I'll leave early today, smooth things out with Ken, and tomorrow shall be a fresh start for everyone. Kita's just worried because my brother is, and she most likely hates to see him in such a state.
As usual, Mizoshi was wrong. Nonchalantly, she slid aside the "door" of the "hut" and found her "brother" standing in the center of the room. His face was ashen, and his lips were firmly set in a sharp line of pure fury.
"Ken?" she gasped in surprise. "You're here."
"Yes. But, why are you here? Well, I suppose I'd best not ask." Ken crept closer to her. "I shouldn't expect a real answer, should I?"
Worriedly, she sucked in a breath. "Ken, Kita's been saying…"
"Kita?"
"What have you told her, brother?" Her fingers nervously gripped the edges of her paintings.
He smiled thinly. "I believe the what I've already discussed with her centers around this." Without warning, Ken threw a piece of paper at her. It drifted elegantly onto the earthen floor. From below, Naraku's crimson eyes glimmered up at her teasingly. Mizoshi's own eyes widened in terror.
He knows. He knows now.
A furtive breeze blew into the room. Though the day outside was mild, the atmosphere inside the ramshackle structure was colder than a tomb. Time had stopped altogether. There was no sound. No signs of life. Just still air as she watched her brother watch her.
This was it. The ruse had ended. She was thoroughly tired of this man who claimed to her relation and this prejudiced village both.
Deadly calm, Mizoshi stooped down and picked up the paper. The voice that issued forth from her cracked lips was not entirely her own. "Do you want to know who he is?"
"I know, Mizoshi," Ken hissed through his locked teeth.
"Yes, dear brother, but do you know what he is?"
Her brother said nothing. He merely stared whilst clenching and unclenching his fists.
"He is a demon, brother. He is the lord I served so many days ago."
Threateningly, Ken took a step forward. "How natural you speak of it, sister."
"But, brother, there's more." A slight tremble had entered her tone She was fully aware of what would transpire next, but could take no more of this empty existence. "Brother, I confess that I have fallen in love with him."
"Oh?" This did not seem to faze him, but the intense dislike—no--the hatred in his eyes had not diminished.
"Yes. I was wandering in the woods, and I came upon his injured form. Another demon, a dog youkai, had nearly slain him. Taking pity upon the man, I knelt down beside him. Automatically, he opened his blazing eyes and took me by the hand. When I became aware once more, I realized my predicament as I stood in the courtyard of his castle. It was then I became his…amusement."
I will not lie. I shall state the truth. Something even Ken cannot bear to do. Enough of this charade. I have nothing to be ashamed of.
All the same, her brother paled. Not in anger as before, but in absolute shock. "His…amusement, you say?"
"I cannot deny my feelings or my heritage brother," she went on quietly. "Naraku knew of our father's blood. Within a few weeks, I exhibited my power for the first time—the power of flame. I'm sure you have it within your veins as well. Do you want to see?"
But, Ken had totally lost his normally calm composure. Presently, he was shaking his head back and forth, his mind observably in complete disarray. "You…"
"You can hide it well, brother." Mizoshi's voice became louder and clearer. "Your clawed hands. But, I cannot. I refuse to close my eyes to the world just because they are different. I cannot deny my heritage, for I use it for sight. Both my abnormal eyes."
"No more," Ken whispered weakly. "No more. I can't…"
However, she herself had temporarily taken leave of her senses. She was going to tell him everything.
No more will anyone accuse me of deception.
"What's more, I have another confession to make, Ken. I am no longer a pure maiden. Willingly, I slept in the lord's bed, and it was not sinful. It was…indescribable. Please understand that I love—"
Out of the blue, her brother jumped out of his trance. "Demon's whore!" Ken shrieked. "Demon's whore! No better than our dear dead mother!"
Fuming, near mad, Ken rushed at her. Expecting the worst, Mizoshi put her hands up in a feeble defense. Yet, her brother ran right past her; literally flying out of their poor living space and now presumably intent on telling the entire village of her misdeeds.
And then where will I be?
Dead along with mother.
Faster than she ever dreamed possible, she flung off her kimono, or rather, Kita's kimono and dug her fingers under the impossibly rusted stove for the cloth-covered package hidden there. In under a minute, she had redressed in the viridian and mauve winter kimono. Then, lightening-fast, she fled from the ramshackle structure she would never call home again.
I must get away. If I do not, the villagers shall surely behead me…
Almost floating over the damp, freezing grass, Mizoshi made a break for the welcoming trees. Over her shoulder, several yards away, came Ken's desperate shouts with confused cries and demanding yells emanating from the people of the village itself. The spark had been ignited. Soon, it would kindle into an uncontrollable blaze with only one dread purpose…
They cannot burn a phoenix! I would like to see they try.
Or perhaps I would not.
Her bravery nearly giving out along with her legs, Mizoshi allowed herself to be swallowed by the shadows that had collected under the thick tufts of pine needles. The forest was at its darkest and most forbidding due to the heavy gray clouds that had very recently smothered the aqua sky.
Still, I can hide here for the meantime.
Unfortunately, she would surely be caught if her footsteps were heard disturbing the dead leaves below. In any case, it wasn't nearly far enough from the village and its inhabitants.
I cannot wait any longer. I must press further into the woods themselves, not simply hang around waiting to be caught on the outskirts.
Just about tripping over her protesting feet, she forced herself to weave around the tree trunks that were observably growing ever closer together and flee further and further away. Gradually, the voices that had been distant at first yet disturbingly close a few fleeting seconds ago had at last died away entirely. It would seem the villagers either thought she was not worth the effort or chose a different direction to search in their irrational desire to bring her to "justice."
I made it. I escaped. I know I did. I'm free. But what happens now?
Trying not to cry at the irony she was now lost in the forest again because of a hostile village persecution and by her own hanyou brother at that; she sullenly marched into the unknown once more.
Thanks to all reviewers for your support! I notice some are noting the lack of romance, but that will happen very soon. (The drama will stop for a spell.) Yes, I know I totally sprung that one (along with the mini-cliffhanger) but Sesshy will appear in the next chapter with the Naraku reunion not too far behind. (Two chapters.) And, at the last second, I decided to include Mizoshi telling Ken of her fire power. It just seemed…right. Oh, and Kuro the spider will be appearing. Haven't forgotten. :)
PurityFlower1989: Mizoshi's fire powers will get stronger every time she uses them, but she's not going to get any new ones. As for Ken, he definitely knows now. :)
NarakusGirlJeanne: No, I'm watching them every week too. I love the newer episodes! (Especially the Band of Seven.) ;)