Ch. 15
Of course, our little adventure didn't get off to the most promising start. Especially with what happened between my aunts and I later that day.
~
"What's going on out here?" Spiker's shrill voice cut through the misty air like a knife.
Damn! "Let's go, James. Keep a good hold on that bag."
James balanced the bag carefully in his hands, following after his sister. Rin led the way up the hill, but paused halfway up. Her ears twitched as she caught her aunts' conversation.
"The fire isn't lit! What are those lazy brats up to?"
"Probably trying to get out of doing their chores. Honestly, how long does it take to get rid of a spider?"
"Certainly not this long. Come, Sponge, we'll set those two straight!"
"What's wrong?" James asked, his slippered feet skidding slightly on the damp stony ground. Rin growled as she heard her aunts tromping toward the front door.
"Trouble. Go around to the kitchen and upstairs. I'll distract them."
"Okay. I'll get a jug of water and the glasses too."
"Alright, but be quick. Go!"
The siblings split up, James heading toward the back of the house and Rin toward the front. The half-demon growled; no surprise her aunts were in a foul mood this morning. But if she could just convince them to stay out of her and James's bedroom long enough for them to mix the potion...
Maybe I can lock them out of the house. Yes, I can get to kitchen from the front door way faster than they can. That could work! James and I can-
Rin was jerked out of her thoughts by a loud thump and grunt of pain. looking behind her, she saw James pick himself up from the ground under the peach tree. He was scrambling around, trying to catch-
CHIKUSHOU!
Rin raced over to her brother as he nearly snagged one of the green things. It burrowed into the dirt just out of reach. Quickly, Rin dove for a small cluster of them, her claws just barely scraping their warm pulsing bodies. But they squirmed away from the half-demon, writhing with apparent glee as they vanished into the earth. In less than a minute, every single one of them were gone.
"No... please... wait," James whimpered as his lip began to quiver. He looked up at Rin, tears beading in his eyes.
"Rin, I'm so-" But the half-demon held up a clawed hand.
"No. No, don't apologize," Rin said with a sigh, rubbing her forehead. "My fault again, James-chan. I'm faster and more sure-footed than you. I should've been the one to take the green things." Another one of her failures James would have to pay for.
"Here they are!" Any further conversation was cut off by the arrival of Spiker and Sponge. The two women were peering over the branches of the peach tree, scowling at the siblings.
"We sent you out here to kill a spider," Sponge snapped.
"Not to laze around," Spiker added.
"I wasn't lazing around. I tripped," James said instinctively. Rin his heard his sharp intake of breath as he realized his mistake. Spiker and Sponge started in disbelief at the usually submissive little boy.
"How dare you disagree with us?" Sponge yelled.
"Beat him, Sponge," Spiker commanded.
Rin jumped to her feet, pushing James behind her. Holding her arms out, she faced Spiker and Sponge, baring her fangs and flexing her claws.
"Try it," she challenged. "You just try."
For a moment four pairs of eyes were locked on each other. Then, Sponge's shoulders sagged with a sigh and she fixed her sister with a weary look.
"It's too early, Spiker. And it's getting too hot."
Whether it was Sponge's whining or the look in her niece's eyes, Rin didn't know. All she knew was that Spiker merely scowled at James, who was trembling against his sister's back.
"Well that makes you the luckiest boy alive. Now go inside and get dressed. This instant!"
Rin eyed her aunt as she carefully led James around their rake-thin aunt. The half-demon was waiting for her aunt's hand to so much as twitch before she struck back. But Spiker merely glared at the two before following them toward the house. James clung to Rin's hand, eyes on the ground. Rin could still feel him trembling, either from an anticipated strike or Spiker's verbal wrath. The young half-demon growled; one way or another, she was keeping James away from their aunts today!
"Spiker, look! A peach!" Rin froze at Sponge's words.
"A what?" Spiker asked wearily.
"It's a peach! Right there, in the top branches!" James and Rin had turned to look at the tree. Sure enough, at the very end of one of the top branches, a small peach had blossomed looking like a tiny flame at the end of a long candle.
"Odd," Rin muttered. James tugged at Rin's hand.
"The tongues," he whispered. "Remember?"
"Hai, I remember," Rin whispered back as Spiker turned to stare at the tiny fruit in disbelief.
"Well, I'll be blowed," she said softly. "There really is a peach up there."
And that won't be all. The idea of all that power sinking into the ground just to help a nearly-dead tree produce a single fruit? The very idea was laughable. But what else was about to happen? What other magic would those things be working on the garden?
"Something else is going to happen, isn't it?"
Rin looked down at James's words. The little boy was gazing up at the peach as though it were the rising sun. "The man said that whatever the crocodile tongues first would get their magic."
"Guess they found the roots of the peach tree, then," Rin replied as Spiker and Sponge eyed the luscious fruit with greedy eyes.
"How do we get it?" Sponge asked, not taking her eyes off the peach. Spiker turned and eyed both her niece and nephew, sizing them up with utmost care.
"The boy," she decided. "He's smaller."
Sponge needed no second bidding. She started toward Rin and James, motioning to the little boy with a fat hand.
"Now you be a good little boy and go get that peach for your dear aunties."
"Wait." Rin pulled James closer to her, eyeing the peach. She shuddered as she felt a familiar sense of magic wash over her. Whatever the crocodile tongues had done to the peach, they weren't done yet.
"What? What, girl? Get your brother over there to climb the tree and get us that peach!" Sponge demanded. Rin glared at her.
"That's not an ordinary peach."
"What are you talking about?" Spiker snapped. The half-demon raised an eyebrow at her aunt.
"I'm telling you that the peach you're so eager to eat isn't normal. I can sense it."
"What nonsense is this?" Sponge asked. She eyed James, who remained at his sister's side. "You, boy, I said get over there and-"
"Wait!" Spiker's eyes went wide as she stared at the fruit. "It's... it's growing!"
Sure enough, the peach was beginning to swell on the branch. It was like watching someone blow up a balloon, only instead of the sound of rushing air pushed into a small space, there was a peculiar squelching noise as the peach flesh and peach juice expanded in its fuzzy skin.
"Heh, told you it wasn't normal." Rin couldn't hold back a smirk. Beside her, James's face shone with wonder as he watched the growing peach.
"Look, Spiker, it's still growing!" Sponge yelled.
"I'm not blind, you dolt, I can see it myself," Spiker shouted back. Now the branches began to crack as the swelling fruit pressed against them. Pieces of wood fell to the ground as the peach grew bigger and bigger, rapidly outmatching Spiker and Sponge's old rusted car in height and width.
"It's coming down! Stand back!" Sponge stumbled backwards, tumbling onto her well-padded rear at Spiker's feet. Rin started to pull James away as the bottom of the peach touched the stony ground, still growing and growing. The little boy took a step back, but pointed at the top of the peach.
"Look. The stem isn't breaking."
"Are you sure?" Rin asked, ears twitching for the telltale sign of the peach falling.
"I'm sure. It isn't going to come off the tree."
James's prediction was completely correct. The stem merely bent to accommodate the peach's size, which was now larger and wider than Spiker and Sponge's house. The peach continued to grow for a minute or so. Then, suddenly, the stretching noise ceased. The giant peach sat serenely in the middle of the garden, its skin a mix of buttery yellow and ruby red. The morning mist gathered on the soft fuzz, making the massive fruit sparkle in the slowly emerging sun.
"Marvelous things will happen," James breathed softly. "Just like he said."
"Marvelous indeed," Rin whispered back, glancing down at James with a smile. "And all thanks to you."
"Shut up, you little grubs." Spiker had overheard them. "This has nothing to do with either one of you, so just keep away from it!"
"Oh! Oh!" Sponge sniffed the air around the peach in thick heavy gulps. "Can you smell it, Spikey? It smells delicious!" She reached out to sink her teeth into the sweet skin, but Spiker jerked her back.
"No!" she snapped. "It smells like money."
************************************************************************************************************************************
"Yes, that's right. Yes, as soon as you can. We'll be ready!" Spiker slammed the telephone down. "The builders will be here in an hour. Sponge, did you manage to get through to the newspapers?"
Sponge nodded, staring into the hall mirror as she applied a coat of heavy red lipstick.
"A reporter will be here around three for the story. They want this for the morning paper rather than the evening edition."
"Good. Now hurry. The first crowd of people will be here any minute!"
"And how will they know to come here?" Rin asked. She and James were seated at the kitchen table, both of them finishing a light breakfast of buttered toast and orange juice. In the excitement of contacting the press and requesting carpenters to build a fence around the peach, Rin and James were forgotten. The half-demon had taken the opportunity to throw together a hasty meal which, judging by Spiker and Sponge's frantic activity, still hadn't been noticed by either one of them.
"We put in a call to the local news station of course," Spiker replied disdainfully. "They're probably broadcasting the news all over the country by now. Sponge, turn on the radio."
With a squeal of excitement, Sponge switched on the radio, turning the dials this way and that. Through a burst of static, a man's voice rang excitedly through the kitchen.
... Yes, a peach the size of a house has blossomed in the garden of two local women. These two avid gardeners, Ms. Spiker Worthington and Ms. Sponge Worthington, are inviting one and all to come view this miracle of nature. They are asking for a small donation to...
"You see!" Spiker crowed triumphantly at her niece. "People will come flocking and they'll pay whatever price we ask for just to look at the peach!"
"Avid gardeners, huh?" Rin fixed Spiker and Sponge with the most skeptical look she could manage.
"Well, of course!" Sponge replied. "What did you think?"
"I think if there was any gardening going on, James and I were responsible. Actually, more James than me because he's usually the one clearing away the scrub and raking the yard."
James turned to his aunts, nodding. "It's true, Auntie Spiker. This morning, I-"
"Shut up, boy!" Spiker snapped, adjusting the sleeve of her beige jacket with a flick of her wrist. "As if a stupid little creature like you had anything to do with that miracle out there! Huh, the very idea!"
"But-"
"I said shut up! And don't you think of adding anything else, girl! Don't you realize that this is the opportunity we've been waiting for?"
"Actually, yes," Rin answered, rolling her eyes. At least, it was supposed to be.
"Then you should know that Sponge and I are about to become extremely wealthy. We'll be living in the lap of luxury from now on and I won't have two insolent brats getting in the way!"
"That's right," Sponge agreed adjusting the small tasseled hat perched atop her auburn curls. "The crowd today will be the first of many. The money will come pouring in and then we'll have everything we could ever want.
Rin froze. Money? Yes, yes this was it! Oh, the opportunity to get away from Spiker and Sponge was still there!
The whole reason Spiker and Sponge won't let James leave their care is because he brings them money! But the peach will bring them way more money than they could get from the government. Now they won't need James anymore and there's no way they'll want to share that wealth with us. If James and I were to leave, they won't have to and they'll still be rich in the bargain.
"Rin?" James was shaking her arm. "Are you alright?" Rin shook herself, then grinned at him. Leaning forward, she whispered,
"I'm fine. Hey, maybe there'll be some kids coming up today."
James's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Probably. You'd better go get dressed." Rin gestured at her brother's pajamas and slippers. "Can't meet a bunch of new friends looking like you just jumped out of bed."
"Okay." James slid down from his chair. Spiker whirled around as he stepped away from the table.
"And where do you think you're going?"
"To get dressed for the crowds today, Auntie Spiker."
"Certainly not!" James's face fell as Spiker jabbed a finger a him. "Weren't you listening to me, you little fool? Your Aunt Sponge and I are about to become very rich women and the last thing we need are a worthless little boy and a wild young half-demon messing things up by bothering people with your little lies about having to do anything our peach!"
"That's right!" Sponge agreed before Rin could open her mouth. "The two of you will stay inside and out of sight."
"Please, Auntie Spiker," James begged as Rin came to stand by him. "I just want to-"
"I don't want to hear it!" Spiker crossed her arms, glaring at James. "You are to go to your room and not come out until we tell you to. Otherwise, you won't be eating for a week! Now get upstairs, both of you!"
Spiker jabbed a finger toward the stairs. Head bowed, James slowly made his way upstairs. Rin, however, didn't move.
"You too, girl!"
"No."
"What did you say?"
"I said no," Rin answered. Taking a deep breath, she met Spiker's furious gaze. "I know all about what you're up to."
"What are talking about, you ill-mannered little-"
"I know about why you want to keep James here," Rin said, cutting off Sponge's rant.
"Oh really?" Spiker asked.
"Hai. I saw the letter from the government. And I know about the checks you're not using to take care of James."
Spiker's cheeks darkened underneath their coat of rogue. "You've been spying on us? You nasty, sneaky little-"
"I had guessed there was some kind of benefit to you keeping my brother here. I just didn't know what it was until I saw the letter. But it doesn't mater now."
"Oh it doesn't?" Sponge asked.
"No. You both said it yourselves." Rin gestured toward the garden. "That peach is going to make you rich. If what you said is true, you'll make more money today than you have in the near year James and I have lived here."
"Meaning what?"
"Meaning there is no benefit to keeping James here anymore. You'll have all the money you could ever hope for. And if you give up being James's guardians, you won't have to share it with us. Believe me, we won't fight for a single pence. All we want is to leave."
"Is that so?" Spiker sneered. "Well, you're correct about us making more than enough money than we could spend in a lifetime."
"Exactly. So-"
"You're also correct in the fact that neither you nor the boy are entitled to any of it," Sponge added.
"I didn't expect us to be. Which is why-"
"But you are completely wrong about the boy."
Rin's ears stood straight up. "What?"
Spiker's thin lips were twisted into the cruelest sneer Rin had ever seen. "Listen well, girl, because I am not going to tell you again. There is nothing, nothing, you can say or do that will persuade us to give up custody of your brother. He will remain under our roof until he comes of age and that is that!"
"You don't need him anymore!" Rin cried. "All you've ever done is hurt him! You've said over and over that you can't stand the sight of him! Why, when there is absolutely no reason to continue to care for a child you don't even want, would you keep him here? Why?"
"Why?" Spiker's voice was soft. Staring straight at Rin, she asked,
"What makes you think there has to be a reason, half-demon?"
Rin stared at Spiker and Sponge, her golden eyes wide with disbelief. Dropping her gaze to the floor, the half-demon's mind tried to catch up with the truth her heart had already known. Spiker and Sponge wanted James to keep James miserable solely because they could. The government money was just a bonus; the true benefit to having James around was the joy of making him miserable for no reason at all. That was what Spiker and Sponge had wanted all along: a victim.
What kind of person wants to hurt their own kin for no other reason than the joy of it? Rin clenched her fists as she realized what she had to do.
"Ahh, she's decided to be sensible, I see," Sponge sneered.
"Well, then be a good half-demon and get upstairs with your brother," Spiker commanded.
Rin didn't move. Her teeth clenched and her claws dug into her palms as she fought to keep herself under control.
"Are you listening to me? Look at me, girl! Obey your aunt!"
Slowly, Rin lifted her gaze from the floor. Her golden eyes blazed as she met Spiker and Sponge's twin glares full on. When she spoke, her voice was pure ice.
"You are no kin of mine."
And with that, Rin Kurosaki turned away from Spiker and Sponge to join her brother.
~
At the time, Spiker and Sponge didn't understand the full meaning of what I'd said. They would, though. Believe me, they would.