Millefiori

Chapter 9

"How are they doing?" Her hand instinctively curled around the mug, accepting its warmth, but still moving as if nervous.

"They didn't sustain any serious injuries."

"That's good." She continued to fiddle with it. "I feel bad for dragging them into this."

"Don't be. They knew of the Three Worlds, and have not been drawn in any more than you."

"Huh?"

He ignored it. "But are you sure you're alright?"

She let him slide again. Giving a little laugh, Yumiko tipped back in her chair. "I have to be, don't I?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Mm." She took a sip. "Green tea takes an acquired taste for a steady drinker."

"Yumiko."

"It's a pity you can't add any sugar. Would you like some?"

He sighed. "Alright." She pushed the steaming iron kettle towards him; a mug was already to his left.

"So is it the Sato Clan?"

He raised an eyebrow, continuing to pour. "How can you assume?"

"They've been the main source of my problem since the beginning." She huffed, taking another sip. "I find it reasonable for me to 'assume' anything on this subject."

"Perhaps I should get to the point of why we came."

"It'd be much faster, per say. But I think I know the reason."

"Presumptions can go too far."

"I'm cutting to the chase, Touya." She set down her chair on all legs with a bang. "Rando is out to get me and stalking me because I supposedly know where my all-powerful brother is. And I managed to say it in one sentence."

"It's a different story now."

"Really, really. Do tell then."

"They're all dead."

She coughed slightly, choking, and dropped her mug. Hot liquid splashed her leg, but she ignored it. "What?"

"They've been striped of their powers, and assassinated."

Yumiko looked taken aback. "No. He just can't find them."

"It was only Hiroshi who erased himself."

"A Sato is a Sato, even if it doesn't look like one, if it has a technique it's a Sato. One Sato is like any other- identical…"

"…And shouldn't I know by now?"

-(Memory)-

Hurrying down the streets, and looking around the corner at the sounds, she nearly screamed in fright. Several cars that had rammed into each other were now spurting flames.

Nervously running forward, she called "Sir?" She tugged on the sleeve of a policeman nervously. "What happened?"

"Hm?" The fat man looked at her with a beady eye before answering. "Car crash- drunken idiots ran into each other, and there was an explosion."

"Was anyone killed?" She focused her gaze on him worriedly, wringing her hands slightly.

"The drivers and two pedestrians- and just them, thank God." He turned away. "The bodies are being taken away." He motioned to several still forms on the sidelines of the fire, about to be covered by a white sheet.

"Thank you." She hurried over towards the direction. "Please sir! Wait a moment!" She stopped as the worker obeyed, her eyes widening.

"…Hiroshi…"

"Do you know him?" asked the police officer roughly, coming up behind her.

"T-That's my brother!" She started to run over, but was stopped by a hand.

"Sorry little girl, I can't allow you further."

"That's my brother! We've got to get him to a hospital!"

"He can't be helped," he said gruffly, although he was trying to be kinder. "He's dead."

"Kaasan will be worried! I have to bring him home! He's-"

"Dead." A different voice. They turned to see another man, dressed in dark colors.

"Takeo Sato." He outstretched his palm, which the policeman took hurriedly.

'Takeo… he's near the top of the hierarchy of the Sato…' She stared up at him fearfully. "K-Koniichiwa Cousin."

"Koniichiwa." He bowed. "As a family member, I will return her to her legal guardians, her mother and father."

"G-Go ahead," the police officer said, slightly intimidated by the giant stature. "A-And I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thank you." He led her along the street, giant hand guiding her back.

"Don't cry."

"But he's dead- how can I help it?" Several tears streaked down her check.

"Indeed. But you will see him in another stage of your life." He closed his eyes momentarily, Yumiko looking up at him. "Death should not loom over someone as young as you." He opened his eyes. "Yumiko, was it?"

"Yes. Daughter of-"

"That won't matter to me. I'm to act as your guardian now."

"W-What? I'll bring your status down-"

"You have to have someone to live with. Who do you expect- your mother and father?"

She gritted her teeth. "No. Never."

"Then you're stuck with me. You aren't forced to, but it's better than with those psychopaths that are related to us." He chuckled. "Take advantage of your luck now."

She nodded. "Thank you Takeo-san."

"No suffix."

"Thank you Takeo."

He chuckled. "Come. You are welcome with me."

-(End flashback)-

"After Hiroshi erased himself, I was permanently banished, and Takeo was forced to look out for me, as I was a threat to the Sato Clan. And I find out years later that Hiroshi is alive, and the reason I was ostracized." She gritted his teeth.

'He is a betrayer that will do anything to get power.'

"All for the control over a sadistic family that is obsessed with blood and slaughter," she muttered. She cast a glance at Touya. "I know them," she hissed. "I know how they act."

"Why is it betrayal if he acted the same to you since the beginning?"

"Shut up!" She stood. "He loved me, even a little, before they turned his mind to cruelty!"

Shaking his head, Touya switched subjects slightly. "But what about Takeo?"

"What do you think?" she snapped. "He accepted me. That's why I stayed with him, and that's why I loved him." "The reason why Takeo's not here is because Rando can't find the Sato Clan. I will bring them out of hiding.

Touya sighed in exasperation. "Yumiko, there are none to bring out, but you."

"I am not a Sato."

"Just because you took on Takeo's name as a surname, doesn't deny-"

"I was excluded, what more proof do you need?" she snapped.

-()-

"Yumiko, for the last time, there are no more." He stood in front of her.

"I am no longer a Sato. I was eliminated from the family."

"Yumiko," sad blue eyes examined her face "Just because they-"

"I'm illegitimate."

"Deny it all you want, but you-"

"I refuse to be related to them, as they did to me."

"The fact that you were disowned doesn't cancel out the fact that you have Sato blood in your body though. You still have ties with them. Rando knows that the Sato Clan was a family in which ran high spiritual powers-"

"And techniques-"

"Jin," Touya warned before continuing. "He's been stealing from them for centuries, slowly killing them off. You know this."

She glared. "The reason why I was ostracized was because I was the only one who had no special ability. I'm the only one in the family who was thrown out- the only powerless one. So why would he come after me," she challenged.

"Yumiko-" she stood up, glaring at him, eye to eye.

"I don't care. I want to bury them as far behind as I can."

"Eh, but what about Takeo?"

"I will actually visit his grave," she responded viciously.

"Do you think Rando cares? Or even knows? Do you think that just because you were rejected, he will abandon his search for more power? He will leave your technique buried and unused?"

"I have none, and I said that I don't care."

A sharp crack rang out in the room. "Start to think about others," he hissed. Impatience pulsed through his veins. "There are consequences-"

Yumiko rubbed her cheek. 'He hit me…'

"You've been in Makai slaughtering other demons- perhaps the blood has gone to your head. I'm no worse than you!"

"I do that so you and others can stay in the light!"

"The light? So the Human World is the definition of happiness?" Yumiko gestured to herself slightlly. "Think again!"

"Better than the Makai!" he responded.

"Touya, Yumi-"

"Just shut up! You and Jin have powers! What else could you guys want!" Yumiko rested her forehead on the knuckles of her hand.

"Is that what you want? To gain powers so you can be accepted into your family again?"

"Shut up." Yumiko glared at them. "I have nothing to do with the Sato Clan. I will not accept the help of Spirit World on the matter of Rando. My life is of no concern to you or them."

Touya turned, and left, Jin hurrying after him. Just before he closed the door, he glanced back. "Try not to do anything you will regret later on." He disappeared, slamming the door behind him.

: End Chapter

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