Ch. 12
I've been asked if demons can sense the presence of magic. Yes, yes we can and I knew something was going to happen the day before James and I met that mysterious man. But I didn't sense magic; rather, it was a change in the weather that told me something peculiar was about to happen.
~
Rin frowned, raising her head to peer at the sky. The half-demon sniffed the evening air, brow furrowed in concentration.
Something's changed. I know it. But what? Rin sniffed the air, but there were no unusual scents being carried by the wind. And yet, something was different. She knew it!
"What's wrong?" James asked. The little boy had left off helping Rin collect trash from the yard to watch his sister's actions.
"I'm not sure, James. But there's something in the air. I can feel it."
"Is it a demon?"
"No, nothing like that. I'm not sure exactly what I'm sensing, but I can feel a change." Rin's golden eyes swept over the desolate yard. The sun was setting, bathing the hillside in an amber sheen. In the center of the yard, the bare branches of the peach tree were swaying slightly. Rin eyed the tree, unable to tear her gaze away from the apparently dead limbs.
What? Is the TREE trying to tell me something? Highly doubtful, as the peach tree's branches, devoid of buds, blossoms, or fruit, continued to bob about in the warm breeze-
Warm! That was it! That was what Rin was sensing. The half-demon felt her ears turn toward the wind as she sniffed the air again. Yes, warmth! And not just a warm breeze or two, no. Rin could smell plenty of warm air beginning to move toward her.
"James, do feel the breeze?" Rin asked her little brother.
Brow furrowing, James nodded. "I feel it."
"And does it feel warm or cold?"
"It feels warm. But-" James's eyes widened as realization dawned on him.
"Right," Rin agreed. "It's warm. But it's barely May and we don't usually feel warm breezes like this until the middle of June. And not only that, but I think there might be a heat wave moving in."
"So summer's starting early?"
"I guess so." But it wasn't just an early summer Rin was sensing. No, there was a sense of change in the air. Something was going to happen. The young half-demon could feel it within her, coursing through her veins like fire. Yes, something was going to happen. The seasons so suddenly changing proved it. If only-
"Haven't you finished yet?"
If only her aunts would vanish along with the cold weather...
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After disposing of the trash gathered from the yard, James and Rin headed back to the house. James grasped Rin's hand, halting the young half-demon.
"Auntie Sponge and Auntie Spiker sound mad," the little boy whispered.
"Well, that hasn't changed anyway," Rin answered. All the same, she heard her aunts' conversation as clearly as if they were standing next to her. And yes, both women sounded quite irritated.
"Where's the fan, Spongie? The kitchen is getting uncomfortably warm."
"I think it's in the cellar, Spiker. Ugh, I'm sweating freely."
That you are, Rin thought, wrinkling her nose as her caught her aunt's scent. Bending down, she whispered to James,
"When I tell you, go inside and go right upstairs. Warm weather is nice, but it can make tempers flare. I don't want you catching them in this kind of mood if I can help it."
Wide-eyed, James nodded. "Okay. Tell me when."
Gently pushing open the door, Rin nodded at her brother. "Go."
James darted lightly inside and ran to the stairs. He had barely made it up the first step when Spiker's voice rang shrilly out.
"Get in here, you two. NOW!"
"Chikushou," Rin muttered as Spiker came flying into the kitchen, her face twisted in a snarl.
"And just where do you think you're going, boy?" she snapped at James.
"Up to bed, Auntie Spiker," James whispered fearfully, moving closer to Rin. Rin stepped between her little bother and her angry aunt.
"We've finished our chores. It's hot and we're tired." Well, James was tired anyway, but let her aunt think a few meager domestic jobs could wear out a half-demon. Letting your enemies underestimate you was always a good idea. "And if you want me to find the fan for you," Rin added, "I can do that. But let James go upstairs."
"Were you two eavesdropping on us?" Spiker's eyes narrowed. Rin rolled her eyes and pointed to her furry pointed ears. Spiker threw up her hands in exasperation.
"Fine. Get upstairs, boy!" James needed no second bidding. He darted upstairs away from his angry aunt as fast as his small legs could carry him.
"As for you, girl, help Sponge find our fan and then join your brother. No dinner tonight for your cheek!"
"Ama," Rin muttered.
"What was that?"
"Nothing!"
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Ah, the thrill of the hunt! Rin panted with satisfaction as she closed in on her quarry. And it wasn't just her aunts tonight. Oh no, a whole mob of people were running in fear from her. Well so they should! After all, Rin Kurosaki was on the hunt!
Yes, yes, let them run! Let them believe they could escape! Soon, the half-demon would tire of the chase and then she would catch them. Her claws would rend flesh and human blood would flow like wine! With an eager growl, Rin sped forward. Ahh, how wonderful! Sponge, ever the slow one, was lagging at the back of the group! Well, then, she would be first! The half-demon drew back her claws to strike-
"No!"
Rin was jerked out of sleep at the sound of her brother's cry. "James!"
With a gasp, James bolted upright, his face drenched in sweat and clutching his travel book. Rin darted over to her brother, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay. It's alright. You're okay. We're okay." James met his sister's eyes before all-too-familiar footsteps pounded from down the hall. James stuffed his travel book under his pillow just as the door to the siblings' door flew open.
"You lazy little bugs! Get up!" Sponge snarled.
"We're up," Rin retorted as James, still panting from his nightmare, reached for Rin's hand. Spiker entered the room, glaring at her niece and nephew and pointing at her watch.
"You've already wasted four minutes of daylight."
"Like I said, we're awake. Just give us a few minutes to-"
"Get to work!"
Right. Work. Work, work, work, work, work.
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"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes, Rin, I'm okay. Really."
"Alright, James-chan. It's just... I worry, is all. That nightmare really scared you, didn't it?"
James nodded as he gathered up the wood his sister was chopping. "I dreamed about Mum and Dad. They were standing on the beach and waving at me. But when I got close, the sky turned dark and the rhino came and..."
"I know," Rin said softly.
James sniffed and rubbed at his eyes. "I miss them."
"I know," Rin repeated. "I do too."
"Why'd they have to die?"
"I'm not sure, James-chan." Rin grabbed another log and tore it into pieces with her bare hands. "I wish I knew. Actually, I wish I could have stopped it." James placed the wood pieces in the rickety wheelbarrow, giving his sister a sad smile.
"I'll bet you could beat the rhino, right?"
"With my eyes closed. Listen, why don't you sit down for a bit? I've got this."
"Okay." To Rin's surprise, James reached into the pocket of his discarded green sweater (the persisting warm weather made such attire unnecessary) and pulled out his travel book. Rin raised an eyebrow in surprise and James gave her a slightly guilty grin.
"I wanted Mum and Dad with me today."
Bad idea, James-chan, Rin thought. Out loud, she merely said,
"Best keep that away from them." Rin nodded at Spiker and Sponge, who were sitting several feet away. Thankfully, they were too engrossed in complimenting their own beauty to pay attention to Rin and James.
"I will," James said.
Rin went back to splitting the wood as James sat down by the wheelbarrow, staring intently at his travel book. The half-demon considered having James hide the book again, but decided to hold her tongue. After the nightmare James had experienced, the little boy would need the extra comfort and Rin knew the comfort of parental memento far outweighed anything she could give to James at the moment. The half-demon shook her head as she finished splitting the last few logs. Considering her dream, it was a wonder she'd managed to offer James anything at all.
Rin picked up the last log and dug her claws into the thick wood. CRACK! The log splintered into several small fragments. Peering over her shoulder, Rin made sure James wasn't watching her. Good, he was still looking at his travel book. Closing her eyes, the young half-demon remembered what it was like to chase her aunts. How thrilling it had been, knowing that she could take revenge without repercussion! She recalled the look of terror on Sponge's fat face as she delivered the fatal strike.
CRUNCH! Rin clenched her fists and ground the wood pieces into powder. The half-demon grinned; in a pinch, the feeling of splintering of wood could pass for bones. And much as she hated the idea of harming innocent people, there were two very specific people whose bones she'd love to crush right now.
With a shudder, Rin opened her fist and left the remnants of the wood dust float away in the balmy breeze. A pity it wasn't bone dust she was releasing into the wind. Oh, Spiker and Sponge should be grateful that Rin's sense of honor was stronger than theirs! Else they'd be little else, but sliced meat and crushed bones right about now.
Rin shook her head, pushing such thoughts from her mind. Was she really thinking of slaughter while James was in need of help? What kind of sister was she?
No sane judge would ever give you custody of a child! Spiker's words rang shrilly in Rin's mind as she gathered up the remainder of the wood. Much as she hated to agree with her aunts on anything, there was some semblance of truth to those words. If James knew what Rin had been fantasizing about, he'd be horrified! James saw Rin as his protector, his best friend, and his loving big sister. If he were to learn what viciousness lurked in her heart...no, no, James couldn't know! Not now, not when he needed Rin more than ever!
"You lazy bug! Who told you to stop working?" Sponge's word's cut through the heated air as surely as Rin's claws had cleaved through the wood. But Sponge wasn't addressing her niece. Her focus was on-
Damnit! Rin darted over to James just as Spiker snatched the travel book from behind his back.
"A travel book?" she asked as James stumbled upright to stand close to his sister. "How dare you even dream of leaving here?"
"Believe me, you'd be better off," Rin snarled. Better off with us gone and better off not knowing what I dream.
"You be silent," Sponge retorted before turning her icy piggy eyes back to her nephew. "This is the only home you'll ever have."
Spiker handed James's travel book over to her sister, pursing her lips in agreement. "No one else would tolerate a worthless little nothing like you. Nor would they tolerate a wild half-demon girl!"
"And as I've said, we can do more than tolerate each other," Rin snapped back, baring her fangs. Spiker's eyes narrowed and she opened her mouth to deliver a cutting remark to her niece, but was stopped by Sponge.
"Where did you get this?" the fat woman asked James, opening the travel book to stare at the various pictures of New York City. "Where?"
"Father gave it to me," James answered softly. "He said we were to go there one day." As he spoke, the little boy reached for his sister's hand, gazing up at her with a hopeful smile.
Oh, James-chan... Rin returned her brother's smile and bobbed her head in agreement.
"Stupid foolish man!' Spiker snapped, jabbing at James's shoulder with a bony finger. Rin tried to shield her brother, but the two women circled the two siblings, spitting malice with every word.
"Foolish man, always dreaming. That's what got him killed!"
"And your mother!" Spiker added.
"Why you-" Rin snarled as James gave a tiny whimper behind her.
"You think we don't know?" Sponge challenged. "Hah, that Henry Trotter! Had his head in the clouds all the time. Never once looked where he was going in life!"
"Indeed," Spiker agreed, her thin lips parting in a cruel smile as she fixed the siblings with a glare. "Neither he nor your mother saw that rhino coming."
"What?" Rin's ears stood straight up. "What're you talking about? Okaa-san and Henry keifu-san died in a car accident because of a storm!"
"So everyone says," Spiker replied. Her cruel eyes sought out James's pale face and large frightened eyes. "But WE know better, don't we, boy?"
"I... I..." James faltered as Spiker sneered at him.
"Oh yes, Sponge and I know all about the rhino, boy. We know how it came out of nowhere and gobbled up your foolish, dreaming mother and father."
"That rhino," Sponge taunted, grinning.
How did they... Oh, I get it. Rin had little doubt that Mr. Fred Sanders, attorney at law, had been only too happy to inform Spiker and Sponge that in addition to their niece being a vicious monster, their nephew suffered from delusions about his parents' deaths. Oh, he was going to pay!
Spiker took advantage of her niece's musings to point an accusatory finger at James. "And the beast will get you too if you don't behave!" Rin pulled James close to her, but was too late to snatch back her brother's precious travel book; Sponge was already tearing it to pieces.
"Now get these stupid dreams out of your head and get back to work!" she snapped, throwing the torn-up travel book to the ground.
"And while you're at it," Spiker added, sweeping back to her wrought-iron lawn chair, "clean up that mess!"
~
Yeah, seeing the hags destroy my brother's travel book and prey on his fears about the rhino was pretty bad. But the winds of change were blowing that day. Heh, if I wasn't so certain of it, I probably would've thrown caution- and my honor- to the wind that day as well. And my story- and James's- would've ended quite differently.