Sohma Kingdom History, Lesson 2-
Shortly after the curse had been placed upon the unfortunate realm, a nearby kingdom declared war on Sohma. The Oni kingdom, nestled in the far east valleys, sought to expand it's empire and saw the weakened Sohma Kingdom as an obvious target. Some people believe that the war Oni's aggression are just another part of the curse. Political relations have been stressed between Oni and Sohma for generations, Oni would send in troops into Eastern Sohma and annex a chunk of the land, the Sohma Kingdom itself was nearly powerless to stop these attacks and an all-out war between the two countries had not completely broken out until 15 years ago. Ayame, a young powerful wizard had been given permission to strike back against their hostile neighbors and with one powerful spell, burned the entire Oni capital to the ground.
Ayame's attack on the Oni home ground was a first of its kind but forces were now reclaiming the land lost to the Oni. Hundreds of men from both sides have fallen in combat with one another as neither side is willing to give in. The boundaries between the two nations has become blurred as one day Sohma reclaim a village and the next the Oni will take it back. Even more grievous than the loss of soldiers has been the loss of civilians, as thousands of innocents have either been mercilessly slain or taken off into slavery by both nations.
Chapter 2- A Cursed Retribution
After their encounter with the Black Dragon, Yuki and Kyo had little trouble making their way towards the closest eastern village. Kyo had fallen out of a tree while attempting to scout their location and hurt his left arm, but that was about it. On the third day since they left Sohma Castle they reached the first village (And what both boys hoped would be their last) on their journey to the east.
The village had a residence of about 800 and several small shops where Yuki and Kyo could restock their supplies if they didn't manage to find the girl here. Everyone lived in small, one-room wooden cottages and got their water from a well in the center of the town. The wheat fields they cared for looked thirsty and haunted, 'barely enough to feed the village' Yuki guessed.
The boys entered the town and saw several young girls tending to laundry, many who looked like they could fit the description Kisa had set out for them. To Kyo, the girls faces seemed strained, and not knowing what to do, he looked away.
"Should we just go over to those girls over there and see if one of them is who we're looking for?" Kyo asked quietly, ashamed that he was unable to look at the famished girls.
"No that would be a waste of time, we are going to speak with the village elder to see if he knows any girls who are talented with white magic. It'll save us time from speaking to EVERY girl in the village." Yuki responded quickly, doing his best from referring to his companion as 'stupid cat'.
Yuki had been to this particular village twice before and knew where the village elder lived. The pair walked steadily through the village until they arrived a particular old and rotted-out cottage near the very center of the town. Yuki knocked gently on the large wooden door and heard a shuffling from inside.
"Hello! Village Elder! It's Yuki Sohma, I wish to speak with you about a girl who may be in your village!" He heard another shuffling inside and the sound of the door locking from inside.
"Go away! You Sohmas are nothing but trouble for me! Go on, git!" yelled an old voice from inside the cottage.
"Please sir, we just want to talk! We mean you no-"
"OPEN THIS DAMN DOOR BEFORE I BREAK IT INTO PIECES YOU STUPID OLD MAN!" Kyo bellowed, readying his fists to attack the door.
Quickly the door was unlocked and thrown open, an old man wearing a simple green peasants shirt and a look of extreme annoyance on his face greeted them. "What the hell do two noble boys want from the girls in my village? Haven't you taken enough from us already?"
Yuki pushed the fuming Kyo aside and spoke to the elder, "I'm sorry about my companion sir, he has quite the flashing temper you see. We just want to get some information from you sir. We won't cause you any trouble."
"I doubt that," the Elder said, walking back inside his house, waving the two boys to follow after him. "Sit down, I'll pour you boys a drink." The elder then poured three glasses of his homemade whiskey and gestured for the boys to have a seat on the table.
"The Living God of Sohma, Akito, has sent us on a quest to retrieve a girl who may be able to break the curse upon this land." Yuki informed to the Elder.
"Nothing will break the curse the royal family had put on this land, especially not just some girl." The Elder said as he finished his drink.
"Sir the Sohma family did not put this curse on the Kingdom, a witch did. As a matter of fact the Sohma royal family itself suffers the most from the curse." Yuki explained to the old man as he would a four year old.
"The royal family suffers the most…ha, that's a good one boy. You really think that your damned family is suffering the most out of all the people in this country? Take a long look out that window and tell me that again." The old made pointed to a dirty window looking out to the street.
Yuki cast his gaze out the window and saw the face of a war-defeated hungry people, the curse had taken away their food and replaced it with turmoil. "You think that being born with a little bit of animal in ya' is so bad? You ever gone to bed hungry kid?" The Elder continued.
Yuki sunk in his seat, "No sir."
"Damn right you haven't, you're just some royal brat. Get out of the town before someone hears that you're here, it's for your own damn good." The Elder poured himself another glass of alcohol.
Kyo then pinched his nose and scoffed down the shitty drink, "Listen you old asshole, I don't want to be here anymore than you want us here! So how about you just answer this question for me, if you answer correctly we'll be out of here before the sun rises tomorrow."
"What's your damn question?" The Elder scoffed.
"Does this village have any girls who are exceptionally talented White Mages?" Yuki asked, regaining his shaken confidence.
The old drank down his third shot, "White Mages? Magic users, huh? Not that I can think of… my wife was pretty good at it but she past away years ago."
"Not one freaking white mage?" Kyo asked, his hands pulling at his hair in frustration.
"Nope, sorry kid. You might want to try Giri village about 15 miles east of here, there might be one there." The Elder seemed pleased that he was able to upset the two. "There's an Inn on the other side of town, you can spend the night there, but I want you both out by tomorrow morning. And don't think that you're getting' to stay free 'cause your royals, old Helen's gotta make a living too ya know."
"Yeah whatever…" Kyo said as he started out the front door. 'Not even one lousy white mage in the entire damn town!' he thought to himself. "C'mon ya damn rat, the sun's already setting and I think the smell of old geezer might get into my clothes." And with that Kyo walked of the Elder's house.
Yuki remained seated in the Elders room for another second and then slowly rose to get up. "Please excuse him again Sir, its been a frustrating journey you see."
"Well it must be hard for a monster to blend in with humanity…" the Elder grumbled.
"Excuse me?"
"That boy, Kyo Sohma, he's the cat, isn't he? That makes him a monster."
"Sir what are you talking about? Kyo isn't a cat." Yuki was bewildered, 'How could the Elder know about the royal family secret!'
"Don't play dumb, I could tell as soon as I set my eyes on him, he's hair's a dead giveaway. You royals think us commoners know nothing about your little 'secret'? Of course we do, it's how this damn curse was started! Damn the first cat!" the Elder was growing angry, almost raging. "It's because of the first cat we all have to live like this! If that royal bastard had just been a man and married that witch none of this would have happened!"
According to popular lore the man that the witch had fallen in love with had been turned into a horrible monstrous cat. The grotesque noble went out of control and rampaged the country side, razing whole villages at a time. The legend also states that the only person who could stop the Cat was another one of the cursed royal Sohmas, the Rat. When the Rat had finally defeated the monstrous cat, the curse continued and sunk it's spirit into newborn child. And so the Cat's evil spirit has been transferred from generation to generation and now rests in the body of Kyo Sohma.
"I need to go." Yuki said as he briskly made his way out of the cabin, leaving the old man to further curse out the Sohmas, especially the Cat. Even among the royal family the Cat had always been treated…differently, as if he still was a hideous monster from the legend.
Kyo watched as Yuki walked out of the cottage and began to march down to 'Old Helen's Inn'. Yuki eventually caught up with him and looked like he had something to say but didn't want to say it, annoying Kyo enough to ask/tantrum, "Argh, what the hell do you want to say?"
Yuki gave a light cough in his hand and said quietly, "I didn't bring any money."
"So what, you want me to spot YOU!"
"Yes."
Kyo's hands were shaking in rage as he pulled two gold coins out of his pocket and thrust them into Yuki's palms. "Here ya go damn it! Now leave me alone!" Kyo then sprinted off to the inn, leaving Yuki at his walking pace.
Yuki grimaced about having to ask Kyo for money but still spent it on room and board for one night in the old eerie inn. Yuki looked around the tavern connected to the inn but decided Kyo must already be in his room, sulking. Helen, the owner of the inn, kept trying to talk to Yuki about how happy she was that someone with 'class' was staying at her inn, but Yuki felt her dialogue felt forced and unnatural and decided that it would probably be best if he retired to his room.
The room was Spartan, one lumpy bed with a single white sheet and a wooden box for him to apparently place his things in. Yuki slipped off his white armor and Vorpal Blade, placing both in the box. He felt like taking a bath but decided against it, he would have to continue his journey with that damn grubby feeling between his toes. Once he crawled into the bed he decided it wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as it looked and almost immediately fell asleep.
Less than one mile away a group of men were sharpening their swords and readying their arrows. 'We shall reclaim this village in the name of the great Oni Kingdom!' they would chant and over and over. Once their leader gave the word they would march on the defenseless village, and if they couldn't own it, no one could.