Ch. 16

To truly disown your own kin- even people like Spiker and Sponge- isn't as easy as you think, which is why it took me so long to renounce them. But the fact that I finally did so was, I think, the last tie that needed to be cut before James and I could start our new lives.
~

"That's right, ladies and gentlemen! Just ten bob to see the giant peach. Have your money ready so that you may witness this amazing sight!"

Rin rolled her eyes, sitting back on James's bed so that her back rested against the wall. Spiker and Sponge had been taking turns yelling more or less the same thing all day. Rin could hear them clearly over the noise of the crowd. The hillside was covered in men, women, and children, all of them shouting with disbelief as they beheld the giant peach, now safely behind a large wooden fence.

"Yes, yes, it's a miracle of Mother Nature. And you can see it for yourself. Just pay for your tickets first! And no photography please!"

"Give them a day and they'll be charging double for pictures," Rin mused, tapping her claws against the iron bed-frame. A soft sigh was the only answer the half-demon received. James was standing on his wooden chair, peering out the window. Rin could hear the laughter of children as they played some kind of game. Rin had no doubt that James was watching them intently and, judging from the tear tracks on his face, wishing with all his heart that he could join them.

"Come on down, James-chan," Rin called. "No need to torture yourself."

"They're having so much fun," James murmured, not taking his eyes away from the window. His hand gripped the windowsill as his brown eyes drank in the scene.

"Hai, I can tell."

"Do you think they'd let me play if I was down there?"

"Of course they would. Everyone would want you to join in their games."

James didn't reply. The young half-demon felt her heart clench as she watched her little brother. Judging by the longing on his face, parental love wasn't all James had been missing.

Not that I can really sympathize, James-chan. Rin gazed down at her hands and razor-sharp claws. Not once throughout her childhood had another child's hand gripped hers in friendship. Never once had she joined the other little girls her age as they held hands and skipped in a circle to some happy tune. No, Rin's place had been and would always be outside that circle.

Well, never mind that. Her childhood was over and done with. James was the one who deserved all the laughter and joy that came with having friends. And one way or another, he was going to have that life!

"They're starting to leave." Rin looked up as James stepped down from the chair, scrubbing at his eyes. Rin glanced at the sky and nodded.

"It is getting dark. They'll probably be back tomorrow."

James walked slowly over to the bed to sit beside his sister. Rin smiled at the little boy.

"At least you were ready for them," she said, gesturing at his clothing. James had elected to wear the same suit he'd been dressed in the day he and Rin had come to live with Spiker and Sponge. The black jacket, striped tie, white collared shirt, tan trousers, and black shoes and socks were in still in excellent condition and Rin smiled at the handsome figure he cut.

"Dad always put on a suit when he and Mum had people over for a special occasion," James said.

"I remember. My father always did too. And Okaa-san always dressed with care as well."

James looked curiously at Rin. "Do lady demons dress up?"

"They do, when the occasion calls for it. We usually wear silk kimonos when we want to look fancy."

"Oh. Do you have one, Rin?"

"I do. It was originally my grandmother's- my father's mother's- wedding kimono. It was supposed to be given to me on my seventeenth birthday but when Father died... well, Mother gave it to me wrapped up so it would be ready for me. It's in here." Rin patted her kitsune bag. "I haven't had a real reason to wear it yet."

James smiled at her. "I'll bet when you do wear it, you'll be the prettiest person in the whole world."

Rin laughed and wrapped an arm around her brother. "Arigato, James-chan. But like I said, I'll save my kimono for a really special occasion." James sighed and dropped his eyes again.

"It doesn't feel like we're going to have any special occasions soon," he said.

"No," Rin agreed as James rested his head against her shoulder. From outside, Spiker's voice drifted in through the window.

"We are closed for the night, ladies and gentlemen! We will have more viewings of the giant peach starting tomorrow at eight o'clock! Please come back in the morning."

Outside, the swell of excited voices began to die down. Night was falling quickly, but neither Rin nor James moved from the bed. Even as their room grew dark, neither sibling felt the need to get ready for bed or even light a candle. James seemed content to simply sit curled up beside his big sister, his head still on her shoulder. Rin ran her clawed fingers lightly through her baby brother's hair, staring at the dark sky through the window. The half-demon gave a low growl as she heard the voices of Spiker and Sponge in the kitchen.

"Can you believe it, Spiker? Look at all of this!"

"I know, I know! Quickly, let's start counting! I'll get my checkbook."

Rin ignored the two women as they bustled about downstairs. Eventually, she heard the scraping of wood on wood as the two kitchen chairs were pulled back. She ignored them, savoring the peace of being left alone with her brother as the minutes, and then hours, ticked by. Eventually, James sat up, blinking in the dark.

"What time is it?" he asked, rubbing at his eyes.

"Not sure. I'd guess around eleven-thirty or so. You must be starving, James-chan."

"I am hungry," he admitted.

"I know. I could go for a seagull myself. But it looks like we're going to bed hungry again." Damn the women! They just had to sit in the kitchen!

"Yoo-hoo!" Sponge's voice, falsely sweet, drifted upstairs. "Come down here, you two!"

"Why do they want with us?" James asked.

"Who knows?" Rin frowned as she rose to her feet. Did Spiker and Sponge forget what she had said to them that morning? Most likely, they were too elated with their new-found fortune to care. Huh, did they think she was going to listen to them now?

"Rin?" James was tugging at her hand. Rin paused, then allowed her little brother to lead her out of the room. Her new mindset regarding Spiker and Sponge aside, there was the chance that she could grab something for James to eat if she at least went down to the kitchen.

"Yes, Auntie Sponge?" James asked, descending the last step with Rin in tow. The half-demon glared at Spiker and Sponge, who had shed their beige jackets and skirts for soft cotton robes. They were seated at the kitchen table with stacks of money surrounding them. Spiker was smoking a long cigarette and scribbling in what looked like a checkbook. She met Rin's eyes and dismissively blew a puff of smoke out of the side of her mouth. Sponge, who was simultaneously totaling up the money and eating out of a box of chocolates, looked her nephew up and down.

"Oooh, you're all spiffed up," she crooned.

"I was hoping to play with the children," James admitted. Rin put a hand on his shoulder, not saying a word, but not breaking her glare. Her lip curled away from her fangs as Spiker and Sponge traded false sympathetic smiles.

"Awww, how sweet," Spiker said with a sneer. "The children have all gone, I'm afraid. But you can play with their garbage," The thin woman reached behind her for the old wooden broom that had been propped against the wall. Turning it over, she pulled off the bristled head, leaving only a sharpened stick. She held it out to James, who took it without protest. Spiker looked back up at Rin, who was still glaring at her.

"We expect every bit of trash cleared from the yard. Use the money basket over there." Spiker gestured to the now-empty basket that had been set by the back door. "Hurry up and perhaps we'll let you have some dinner."

"You won't," Rin said, her voice cold. Spiker frowned slightly, but then her horsey lips twisted into a sneer.

"Well, if you insist, then no dinner it shall be." Spiker watched her niece, expecting the half-demon to protest, but Rin just flexed her claws. Now Spiker's eyes narrowed.

"Get to work. Or else." Spiker's eyes flicked to James, who was collecting the basket. Rin held Spiker's gaze for a moment longer, then turned away from both her and Sponge. Spiker chuckled at her niece's back, calling to James,

"And don't even think of going near our peach."

"Because if you do," Sponge added, stuffing another chocolate into her mouth, "remember that they never did catch that rhino."

Spiker and Sponge's laughter followed Rin and James as they, unbeknownst to them, left the house for the last time.
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"Huh, you'd think people would be a bit more careful about leaving their garbage everywhere." Rin kicked at a piece of plastic that was trying to wrap itself around her foot.

"Maybe Auntie Sponge and Auntie Spiker told them they didn't have to worry about making a mess," James said as he stabbed at a piece of trash with his stick.

"Put that down, James-chan. Leave this to me."

James dropped the broomstick and set the basket down. "What're you going to do?" he asked.

"Watch." Rin unfurled her wings. Holding them out, Rin gave the air a few practiced sweeps, creating a small wind. Most of the trash was blown back around near the side of the house by the garbage pails. Snapping her wings back under her arms and out of sight, the half-demon allowed herself a satisfied smile. "There. Done."

"But there's still trash left. And don't we have to put it in the pails?"

"Nah," said Rin. "If Spiker and Sponge complain, we'll just tell them the raccoon came back."

"The imaginary racoon?"

"Hai. They'll believe it."

James nodded, his eyes shifting back to the ground. "Oh, look. I think this got caught." The little boy reached down to pick up a white piece of paper that had, curiously enough, not been blown away by Rin's wings. James's face fell as he recognized what it was.

"The balloon?" Rin asked. "I thought that was lost this morning." The half-demon peered over James's shoulder as he tore the bag open. To the surprise of both brother and sister, a small green form leaped out of the bag, landing on the ground with a few squeaks of pleasure. It immediately began leaping about, heading straight for the peach.

"No!" James called. "Wait a moment. Wait!"

"Oh no you don't!" Ignoring Spiker and Sponge's instructions, Rin and James slipped past the wooden fence and followed the tiny creature as it tried to burrow under the peach. Rin shot out a hand, but the little creature dodged around her. James came up behind his sister and grabbed at the squeaking creature before it could fully recover from Rin's attempt.

"Did you get it?" Rin asked.

James unclenched his fist, but his palm was empty. He sighed in disappointment.

"No. It only just got away."

"Huh, so much for working its magic on the first things it found. I swear it looked right at us before heading for the peach."

"Maybe it wanted to join its family," James mused, looking up at the peach. The little boy closed his eyes and inhaled the fragrant aroma of ripe peach. Even Rin, who didn't usually rank peaches among her favorite foods, felt her mouth water.

"Hey, want to try some?" The half-demon reached out and poked the soft flesh with her claws.

"Well," James said, peering up at the house. "Auntie Sponge and Auntie Spiker aren't looking."

"That's it, James-chan." With a swift slice, Rin's claws cut two pieces of peach close to the bottom of the giant fruit. She handed the larger piece to her brother. "Enjoy."

"Thank you!" James eagerly bit into the juicy fruit. Rin smiled as she watched her brother's face light up with delight. The half-demon took a bite out of her own portion. The sweet refreshing flavor exploded in her mouth and found herself gulping down the piece of fruit as fast as she could.

"Wow. That was good!" she admitted.

"The best peach ever," James declared. He was biting into the last bit of his own share when a strange sucking noise came from behind the two siblings. Rin and James turned around just as a large hole opened itself close to where Rin had carved out their meager dinner. James walked over to the hole, his face bathed in the green light emitting from within.

"James!"

"I think that's where that last crocodile tongue went." James knelt down and peered into the hole.

"It's a tunnel!" he gasped. "And I think we can both fit."

"Hold on." Rin joined her brother and cocked an ear toward the hole. "I hear something." Sure enough, her sharp ears caught a snippet of conversation.

"Will you calm down?" a male voice asked, sounding impatient.

"I'm the only one trying to do something!" another voice- this one rougher- replied.

"It sounds like there are people in there!" Rin breathed. Her ears twitched as she heard the tell-tale patter of feet. "And not just those two."

"Which two?" James asked.

"Two men, at least. And one is certainly not from England."

"Hmmm." James started to crawl into the tunnel.

"James!"

"I think we're supposed to. The crocodile tongue must have been leading us here."

"Well, maybe." Rin climbed in after her brother. To her surprise, there was enough room for them to crawl side by side. "But stick close to me. We're probably going to run into whoever those voices belong to and I'm not giving them the chance to attack us."

James began crawling. "At least Auntie Spiker and Auntie Sponge can't get in here."

Rin started after her brother when she heard the same sucking sound. Glancing behind her, the half-demon watched as the hole sealed itself back up.

"Well, they certainly can't now. Nor can we get out."

"Hmmm, well the tunnel must lead to the center of the peach. I think the crocodile tongue wants us to go there." James brightened. "Maybe whoever you heard talking can help us."

"Guess we'll find out. But what kind of people we'll find at the center of a giant peach, I have no idea. Either way, stay close and let's keep quiet."

James nodded. Slowly, he and Rin made their way through the damp murky tunnel getting closer and closer to the peach pit.
~

James certainly had faith in the fact that whoever we'd meet in the center of the peach would be friendly. I myself was preparing for an attack. Do you see now why I always listen to my brother?