YAMI NO MATSUEI – DESCENDANTS OF DARKNESS

The Shadows of My Past

Chapter Four – Inari's Fall

To the Readers

This chapter, and the subsequent chapters of this story, will contain insinuations of rape and suicide.

Three years had quickly gone by since Inari eloped and became Ishino Toya's mistress...

Ishino Toya. The name alone just sickens me...

It had been a while since I spent time thinking about that despicable monster. Never had I imagined that my sister would share the same bed with Ishino – a crooked politician who profited through extorting and cheating hardworking citizens.

I saw first-hand as a child how Ishino's goons hurt merchants' businesses for many years. They scared away customers from buying at stalls that refused to give money, harassed those who oppose them through taunting and violence, implemented every underhanded tactic, and even resorted to murder and got away with it to set a morbid example for others not to cross paths against Ishino.

Yes, the bastard Ishino had money but he would never have a good name. I would never understand why my sister jumped into such a shallow life as a lecher's plaything. Only one thing came good out of my sister's association with Ishino...his men left our stall alone.

Unfortunately, the other merchants' sufferings continued.

Almost everything else in my life was running smoothly. Business and school were going well. As the months passed, Mako-san and I enjoyed the steady increase in profits. Aside from being able to provide well for my family, I was able to pay for my education and save money for reserves.

In regards to school, I was attending Tokyo Imperial University. I juggled mountains of homework and projects while I made my shared business with Mako-san thrive.

How I wish that life at home was also fine. Now at the age of twenty, I was a firm believer that anything could be achieved through hard work...even peace of mind.

Ever since Inari left home, Mother drifted more towards depression and instability. She would uncontrollably sob if she saw anything that reminded her of my wayward sister. As much as I did my best to console Mother, my heart crumbled since I could not do anything to ease her pain.

If the life that my sister chose was already distasteful in my eyes, my disgust for Ishino supercedes it. Three years was not enough for old wounds to heal.

Although I did not fail to blame Inari and curse Ishino for Mother's condition, I mostly blamed myself for not being able to stop or fix the situation. I love Mother and Inari, but I have to remain strong for our family. There was no room for sorrow or tears if I want to ensure my family's survival.

Or so I thought...

As Mako-san and I worked all day at the market, I sensed the old man's uneasiness. Even though it pained me to see him go through such an uncomfortable state, I strengthened my resolve, focused on the work in front of us, and opted to have a heart-to-heart talk with him afterwards.

Once I found out the source of Mako-san's distress, I was stunned. All of a sudden, everything made sense...Inari's rebellion since she was thirteen, her elopement three years ago, Ishino's hands-off policy from the business for the past six years. Although many thoughts and emotions bombarded me, all that I could manage to ask was, "Is this all true?"

Mako-san just stared into my eyes as he told me the news about Inari…saddened in what he had to tell me but felt obligated in doing so. For as many times as he felt it was needed, he replied, "Yes, Tatsumi-kun…. Everything that I just told you is all true. I confirmed everything before telling you about this."

As I leaned my head against the tree and hid my face, Mako-san continued, "I told you this for your peace of mind, Tatsumi-kun."

Barely managing to hold back my tears and my body trembling from anger, I clenched my fist and punched the tree. Through gritted teeth and seething rage, I said to my old friend as pain burned through my bleeding knuckles, "Peace of mind? What peace of mind could I get from knowing that my sister was pushed into the life that she chose for my sake?"

The old man rested his hand over my shoulder and waited until the shaking of my body subsided. Sensing that I have somewhat calmed down, he told me as gently as he could, "The peace of mind will come from the fact that your sister is the same person that you used to know...loving and self-sacrificing. She did everything that she could do to save face and the family reputation, given that she didn't have too many options."

The heart-crushing disappointment that I bore against Inari for many years slowly transformed into guilt. How could I feel such animosity against my sister when I did not even bother to find out what caused her to elope.

"Are you going to be all right, Tatsumi-kun?"

In my own quiet and intent way, I replied, "I'm the one who should bear the family burden. I did everything so that neither Mother nor Inari had to make sacrifices. Inari should've known better that I'd do anything to set things right for her."

"She doesn't want the life that she now lives for herself, either. However, she loves you and doesn't want you to get involved. Ishino Toya is a dirty politician. He'll do anything to get what he wants."

I looked into Mako-san's eyes as if I was searching for an answer, solace, or anything that could quell my soul from the unexplainable ache that I was feeling this moment. "You don't understand, Mako-san. I failed. I'm supposed to be there for Mother and Inari. I wasn't able to protect her from that bastard. What would happen if Mother finds out about this?"

"What do you plan to do?" asked the old man, his face reflecting some regret from what he just shared with me.

With narrowed eyes and clenched fists, I remarked, "I don't care about Ishino or what he and his men would do to me. I'll get my sister back, no matter what it takes…."

Early in the morning, I headed to the university and asked my professors permission to be absent today due to family business. Relieved to have obtained their consent, I turned in my projects and I left to visit Inari after three years of not seeing each other.

Once the servants stood for a while and tried to figure out who I was, I heard Inari's voice. Finally reaching the gate, peeking out to see who the new arrival was, and seeing my face, her eyes went wide. "Oni-sama? Aren't you supposed to be at school or work right now?"

"I need to speak with you. It's important."

After ordering the servants to prepare a meal for us, Inari bowed and motioned me to come inside the house. As I helped her close the heavy gate, she told me, "It's been a long time. It's so nice to see you, Oni-sama."

My heart felt as if it was about to melt from hearing her say those words to me…not with just what she said, but also with the manner in which she said those words to me. The old Inari who used to be so sweet returned to me even if it was for a fleeting second.

I wanted to say to Inari that she was looking well also, but I just could not do so knowing the truth behind her elopement.

Actually, to say that she was looking well was an understatement.

At nineteen, she was a tall and elegant beauty. Slate blue eyes that reflected the deepness of her intellect met my gaze. The sun brought out the sheen of her long and straight jet-black hair as if it was a precious black pearl. Her gentle face was powdered to accentuate the whiteness of her already alabaster-like skin. Her cheeks and lips were lightly rouged just enough to enhance the beauty that the gods had already given her. An exquisitely embroidered red kimono covered her shapely body.

I have not seen my sister for three years. I have forgotten how beautiful she was until now. Such a regal beauty, especially one born to a noble family, was fit to be the wife of a respectable man - not the mistress of some depraved politician who took joy in exploiting and betraying public trust.

What sickened me was the wealthy lifestyle that my sister now enjoyed came with a heavy price…a price that she, as well as the public, had been paying for all these years. What sickened me most was that I was not able to do anything to save her before, but I will change that….

As Inari welcomed me at the receiving area of the palatial house, she asked me, "How's Mother doing? Is she okay?"

Taking a deep sigh and remembering Mother's faltering sanity, I replied, "She's not doing as well as she used to before you left. She's slipping away but she's missing you, Inari. Why don't you come home with me, or at least visit us?"

In the middle of chuckling and shaking her head, she told me, "I already have a home, Oni-sama. Mother will be better off just being with you, and with me out of the house and her presence."

With such quiet intent, I deadpanned, "I know what happened to you years ago, Inari."

A smile lit up her face when she remarked, "Of course you knew what happened to me. I eloped, remember?"

Noticing the tinge of nervousness in her demeanor and tone, I waited until our eyes met before saying, "You don't have to pretend to me anymore. I now know everything that happened to you."

Now unable to hold back the tears of sorrow and guilt, I gazed into her eyes. With each word becoming more difficult for me to utter without reacting, I told her, "When you were thirteen, Ishino wanted you. He was humiliated when you repeatedly said 'no' to his advances or his gifts to woo you. After you refused him many times, he had you abducted as you were walking home from school. He forced himself on you many times while his men watched, laughed, and howled. When that wasn't enough revenge for him, each of his men had their way with you."

"Please stop, Oni-sama. I don't want to remember anymore..." Inari begged before she looked away from me, hid her face, and wept...her voice filled with shame and regret.

Hearing her pleading voice made my body shake even more. As guilt took over my entire being, I mumbled, "That day was the first time that you didn't come home. You were gone for days, and that was the beginning. Ishino threatened to have his men kill Mother and me. He threatened to ruin our business. You did everything that he asked you to do all these years…even the elopement. I didn't know anything about this until recently."

Inari's slate blue eyes glistened in tears and her lips trembled. "H – How? How did you know?"

In the middle of fitful sobs, I continued while I bowed my head, "I'm your brother. I should've known about this when it first happened. Instead of asking you why you were gone for so many days, I scolded you. I was so stupid to think that you were running wild and destroying our family's reputation, instead of being coerced to do something you or I would never want. If I were a better brother to you, you would've trusted me to help you. Instead, you succumbed to his wants. I should've believed more in you, Inari. I'm so sorry for betraying you…."

As Inari's tears streamed down her cheeks, she hugged me and whispered in my ear, "You didn't do anything wrong, Oni-sama. I'm already ruined a long time ago. You, on the other hand, have a bright future and Mother needs you."

That embrace of hers said everything that she had in her mind...fear, loneliness, sorrow, guilt, and shame. Clutching her arms and looking into her eyes, I said with a tone filled with hope and desperation, "It's never too late! Come back home. You deserve so much better than this…."

"I don't want anything to happen to you or Mother."

After wiping some of the tears from her eyes, she touched my face. She then told me in the middle of stifled breaths and a forced smile, "Please don't worry about me anymore. Since I eloped with him, he had been kind towards me. It's not that bad…."

My eyes flashed in rage as they narrowed. My disappointment with Inari over the years had diminished and transformed into more animosity against Ishino. "I'll never forgive that bastard for what he did to you! He debased you! No amount of kindness will wash away the pain and humiliation that he put you through!"

Seeing her break down into tears once more prompted me to calm down. While I embraced her and stroked her back to console her, I saw my shadows flicker around us like flames waiting to devour anything and everything that approached it. I took deep breaths, concentrating so that my nerves would pacify and focusing all my remaining energies to reassure my poor sister.

It had been a long time since Inari and I had such a bonding moment together. I missed her so much. It pained me to see her so broken...

Once again, though, I know that no loving words or consoling hugs would restore my sister to the same wholesome person that she was before Ishino and his men raped her. My sister's honor, or our family pride, would never be restored...just as I could never heal the wounds that ail Mother's soul. While I thought about the atrocities that Ishino did against my family and other innocent people, I tightened my embrace around my sister as I mused, "Everything will be all right, Inari. If it means that I need to create a world without Ishino in it, I'll do it for you..."

The following day went by as quickly and as uneventful as it normally did. Business was good, school was interesting, and Mother was still slipping between coherent thought and fitful sobs.

Speaking of Mother, I did not tell her what I found out from Mako-san about Inari's past. I also did not inform her that Inari confirmed the validity of Mako-san's disclosure.

I told Mako-san about the outcome of my visit to Ishino's house. I confided to him that I was determined to take Inari away from that life and away from that monster. The old man feared that the lecher would start sending his men to harass us. He let out a sigh of relief as we packed up our crates at day's end since no one bothered us.

Everything was going well until someone from behind me and Mako-san said, "Tatsumi Seiichiro... I haven't seen you in ages. You were about seven years old since I last saw you. You should be thinking about working for me instead of wallowing your intellect and talent over produce."

My eyes narrowed and my nerves grated. My mind ran a myriad of scenarios in killing the owner of that voice.

Nonetheless, two reasons held me back from acting out my fondest wish of pulverizing the lecher. My first reason was the fear that my shadows might appear in plain view and Mako-san's gaze of caution. My second reason was that I wanted to protect Mother, Inari, and Mako-san from retaliation brought about by the new arrival and his men.

After I placed down the crate that I was holding and took a deep breath to calm down, Mako-san and I turned around.

By the gods, I hated Ishino Toya. The hentai was standing before us with a serious demeanor while his goons stood behind him. At his late forties, he looked as distinguished and as fit as I remembered him many years ago. The only difference in him was his silver hair and some wrinkles, the combination of the two adding a patina of wisdom and experience to his outer appearance. Although handsome, his face partially reflected his shrewdness and cruelty.

Upon seeing Ishino, others would normally react with respect stemmed from fear or intimidation. I, on the other hand, had no respect for the man but I did not want to endanger Mako-san. Whatever I had in store for Ishino would have to wait and I would relish every second whenever that opportune moment came.

Mako-san and I gave a slight bow to acknowledge the new arrival's presence. Afterwards, my old business partner remarked, "Your visit's quite a surprise, Ishino-sama. To what do we owe this pleasure?"

"I want to speak with the young man," replied the politician. He waved his hand and coaxed me to walk with him.

I did not know what to do, nor was I prepared to confront Ishino. After giving Ishino a probing gaze to assess why he came to see me, I looked into Mako-san's eyes. I gave Mako-san an unsettled nod when he told me, "I'll take care of the rest, Tatsumi-kun. Go ahead and speak with Ishino-sama."

The politician snapped his fingers and looked at half of his men. His piercing gaze was the silent prompt for his men to help Mako-san load crates into our wagon. He graciously bowed towards Mako-san before we started our walk. The remaining half of his men walked a couple of feet behind us.

I felt more uncomfortable for each passing minute as we passed by other merchants whose critical stares followed me. From the corner of my eye, I saw people begin their incessant whispers and how Ishino was aware but not bothered by those around us.

Once we were away from the merchants' earshot, Ishino cleared his throat before inquiring, "I heard from the servants that you visited our home yesterday. You don't like me very much, do you?"

As hard as it was for me to do so, I replied without any hint of emotion in my voice, "I'd be lying, if I say that your statement wasn't true."

Ishino mustered a half-smile. "It's fair enough. If I were in your position, I'd also hate the person who eloped with my sister. Nonetheless, Tatsumi-kun, let us put the past behind us. I treated your sister well. She lived a good life with me. I didn't come here to argue with you. I came in peace. Inari would've wanted it that way."

A chill traveled down my spine as I gazed sideways. I did not like the deathly silence that followed his words.

Did I just see and feel sadness coming from the filthy lecher? Did I not conclude that such an arrogant bastard would be immune from exhibiting or feeling any emotion?

Feeling as uneasy as I did when I found out what Ishino did to my sister, my blood thickened as he stopped walking. I froze. Shock and disbelief coursed through my veins as I heard him say, "In spite of what you wish to believe, I loved Inari all these years. I loved her more than I ever loved my wife. I came to tell you that she killed herself last night. As the patriarch of her family, please help me plan for her funeral..."

End of Chapter Four

Normal Disclaimer

Yami No Matsuei (Descendants of Darkness) and its characters are copyrighted properties of Matsushita Yoko. This fan fiction and the original characters (Mako-san, Inari, Ishino Toya) that appear within this fan fiction belong to PJ Zatken.