Chapter 9: Miyabi
"There! All finished…"
I start to clean up the kitchen after having just finished making a giant pile of Inari sushi.
It had been several days since Miyabi had very nearly assaulted me.
A lonely human… I had always figured as much, but Miyabi really hated humans I guess I just didn't realize how much he hated us…
Well, who could blame him… He had suffered so much for being half Ayakashi that he thought he should never have even been born…
The moment when Miyabi had rejected me suddenly came back to me. It made me terribly sad whenever I thought of it.
However, being depressed about it won't solve anything.
All I could do was encourage him to open up to me.
A voice from behind me suddenly calls out.
"Inari sushi…"
Miyabi then popped into the kitchen.
I continued to clean as I responded to him, "You know, you said some pretty awful things to me, but it would appear that I can still lure you in with the Inari sushi…"
Miyabi eyed the sushi hungrily and then sneered at me, "Whatever, just hand over the sushi. I'm hungry."
I glanced over at him suspiciously and then let out a heavy sigh, "You don't actually have to eat them, you know…?"
He now glanced over at me inauspiciously, "Then why'd you make so many? You made them for me to eat, didn't you?"
"Not necessarily," I retorted. "I'd be only too happy to give them to Ikumi, instead. Or I could bring them into work for everybody to eat. I'd just have to tell them that I made too much."
Miyabi hissed and then narrowed his eyes and in a low growl, "…You are a truly wicked person."
I narrowed my eyes back at him standing my ground I wasn't going to let him push me around anymore, "Well I guess you would know, wouldn't you?"
His dissatisfaction was apparent, however, in the end, he came over next to me and stuffed his mouth full of sushi.
"You really like it. But not plain fried tofu, huh?"
He glanced up at me a smirk playing at his lips, "That's because it has not single ounce of flavor."
For a moment I just stared at him as he continued to eat. It was so strange he was a completely different Miyabi from the one who had rejected me I just couldn't understand it. Did this guy like have a split personality or something?!
"Miyabi, do you have Inari sushi in the Mononoke village?"
He tilted his head and smirked again, "Of course not. So we probably first came across it when you humans left them as offerings to the divine messenger at shrines."
His smirk widened as he continued, "Besides, they're far better than fried tofu. And anyway, fried tofu's got no rice so it's not that filling."
I glanced down at the plate noticing that it was more than halfway empty and shook my head smiling, "You know, you're quite a big eater for someone so thin."
But I didn't stop him as he shrugged and continue to wolf it all down. I didn't want to ruin the moment this rare special moment of peace between us. Throughout the few days since Miyabi had rejected me we hadn't had a single real conversation, not even a friendly hello.
But finally, we were back to talking civilly.
However, Miyabi hadn't touched me once since that day. In fact, he hadn't tried anything with me since we came back from the Mononoke village…
A sudden unexpected sadness washed over me as a depressing realization set in…
Is he never going to touch me again…? Is this how it's going to be from now on with us…? Is he done with me…?
"Come to think of it… You haven't been coming to the library lately."
He glanced up and simply shrugged before saying, "I don't have to be in that building to protect you." He looked away again before adding, "If anything happens, I will protect you. So, you have nothing to worry about."
"Then why were you staying so close to me before?"
"So that I could get to know the place where you work. But I have finished surveying the interior. So there is no need for me to stay so close to you anymore."
My brain told me to believe him, however, my stupid heart just couldn't believe his cruel words were true.
I wanted to scream at him, "No need?! Even though you used to tell me to always stay within your sight?!"
But the words wouldn't come they all got lost within the swirling mess that was now my thoughts.
I was torn from that swirling vortex of my mind by the soft nudge of Miyabi's voice, "By the way… There's not a lot of flavor in the Inari sushi today."
I blinked at him, "Huh? There's not?"
Miyabi turned and started to leave the kitchen but stopped and then said over his shoulder, "Make sure that it has more flavor next time."
I snapped back to reality as I realized he was about to leave, " hey wait… Where are you going?"
He veered back around and faced me, a glimmer of anger in his eyes, "Why on earth should I have to tell you that?"
I hesitated and then let out a heavy sigh when I realized I didn't have an answer. And with that, Miyabi disappeared into the hall without even turning back to look at me.
I understand now, I thought miserably, Miyabi was keeping his distance, rejecting me, so that I wouldn't get in his head.
Perhaps I shouldn't have acted so familiar with him. Talking like I know about him, just like he said…
But nothing I said to him was a lie…
I guess it was just a subject that Miyabi didn't want me to touch or even know about…
….
….
It's been several days, and Miyabi's distant behavior hasn't changed one bit.
Shinra's Voice carried to me from the dining room, "Samon, come on, I want another one!"
I heard Samon's soft chuckle, "Very well, just give me one moment…"
Something smelled awfully good as I drew closer.
Next I heard Kyoga's loud gruff voice, " Meat. I love this. But if I were being a real prick, I'd say steak would have been much better than burgers..."
I could practically hear the frown in Samon's voice, " don't be like that. It took a lot of work to make this."
He then looked over his shoulder and right into my eyes, "Isn't that right, Snow?"
At first I didn't know what to say but then his frown smoothed over into a kind smile, "Thank you, Samon!" I then sniffed at the air, "It all smells wonderful!"
Miyabi, however, continued to ignore me, but at least he was still eating with everybody. Though I couldn't ignore the twinge in my heart as I recalled how he used to practically demand to have the seat next to me, however, now he always sat as far away from me as possible.
I couldn't believe he was avoiding me so blatantly!
I don't know why it bothered me so much I mean it's not like I was in love with him…was I…?
Shinra suddenly and loudly interrupted the unbearable silence, "…This is so damned depressing!"
For a moment I thought perhaps he was talking about me.
But before I could respond to Kyoga chimed in, "Yeah. We should have more fun at dinner."
I had a sudden compulsive need to apologize to everyone on behalf of Miyabi, but why should I apologize I mean it's not like I did anything wrong. The only thing that was going wrong was me being ignored or a daily constant, by a person who is forced me into some kind of ass backward contract that basically stated I was to give him a child against my own free. Well this was insane!
Shinra placed his hand on my shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze, "Of course we don't mean you."
Yukinojo glanced over at our black raven, " Chikage. Smile."
Chikage flicked his eyes to the snow spirit and narrowed them in a flare anger, "Excuse me?"
Shinra glanced between the two of them and then burst out laughing, "Well, would you look at that! Not bad!"
Samon slowly shook his head and let out a chuckle, " Chikage smiles so rarely. However, when he does, it really lights up the room."
Kyoga exhaled a heavy sigh and rolled his eyes in disbelief, "Oh please, Snow's smile is better than his, way better."
Chikage also sighed heavily but his sounded much more defeated, "I concur."
I felt awful that everyone was being so nice, and I got the feeling it was because they were worried about me which only caused me to feel worse.
Shinra glanced between Chikage and Yuki a look in his eyes that suggested he had an evil intent, "All right, Yuki. You tackled Chikage from that side."
Yuki winked at me before turning back to Shinra, "I guess I have no choice! But somebody better back me up!"
Chicago's eyes went wide and had I not known better I would've thought he was afraid, "St-stop it! There is no logical reason for you to be doing this…"
Kyoga let out a bark of laughter, "Come on, Chikage! Let's see a smile. Make the room a little brighter, come on!"
The three of them continued to jeer and tease their supposed friend.
Chikage's eyes remained wide as he watched his friends draw closer, "Hey. You're not really…"
All three of them laugh and try to tickle Chikage when…
A loud slam drew my attention to where Miyabi had been sitting but now he was rising to his feet.
The sound had been so jarring that it caused me to forget that I had been trying so hard not to care, "Miyabi… What is wrong?"
"I finished eating. I'm going back to my room. That is all."
His eyes met mine for a moment and he seemed on the verge of saying something more than he clenched his fists and turned on his heel and left the rest of us in silence.
Shinra grinned playfully at the fox demon's retreating form, "Seriously? You only ate Inari sushi!"
"I'll be in my room. Call if something happens."
I assumed his last statement had been for me. But I couldn't bring myself to say anything in reply. I just couldn't understand why he was going so far out of his way to avoid me.
Everyone's eyes turned to meet mine.
Yuki's eyes went wide at the sound of a door slamming down the hall, "I don't get it, why did he just leave?"
Samon glanced in surprise in the direction Miyabi had just left, "He has been in quite the mood lately…"
Shinra eyed me suspiciously, "Did you two have a fight, or something?"
I hesitated a moment also allowing my eyes to linger down the hall, "I don't know if I'd call it a fight… He's just been avoiding me."
Kyoga narrowed his eyes and almost seemed to snarl, "I see that jerk is still making girls cry."
I didn't say anything in response and only allowed myself to nod. I was afraid that if I opened my mouth that I would truly start to cry…
The look on Miyabi's face just now had been so cold so distant…
Perhaps… Maybe I shouldn't have said anything…
Yuki frowned momentarily in my direction his eyes locking with mine, "The house feels so gloomy when you're depressed."
Samon nodded in agreement, "That's very true, it's because you're usually so cheerful."
Shinra grumbled some thing about having to once again clean up Miyabi's mess.
Chikage glanced at the grumbling boy and rolled his eyes before returning them back to mine, "Nothing good will come of you being like this."
Kyoga reached over the table and gently took my hand in his, forcing me to look up into his eyes, "Look, Snow, it's all Miyabi's fault, no matter how you look at it." His eyes then took on an evil glimmer, "We should sacrifice him to bring back Snow's smile."
I almost laughed out loud, "Honestly, you really don't have to go that far…"
Shinra grinned with a child like glee, "It's fine. Leave it to us!"
I tried to protest but they were no longer paying any attention to me as they enthusiastically started planning the sacrifice of Miyabi. Well hell, what the heck were they plotting?
Much later…
Shinra sauntered into the kitchen soon after the sun set below the land's horizon. He glanced at the others, a sly twinkle in his eyes, "How's it going in here?"
Kyoga gave a low dark chuckle, "Perfectly."
Yukinojo gave the other two a quick nod, "We are ready anytime."
Chikage, growing ever more annoyed by the second, glowered at everyone in anger, "I still don't understand why you all had to get me involved."
Late that night, we were all hiding out in the kitchen…well…they were anyway…I was merely, you could say, standing watch.
Shinra then began to go over the plan, "Miyabi will get hungry, smell the Inari sushi, and come for a midnight snack." His eyes flicked to Kyoga's before he continued, "Then, me and Kyo will pounce from behind…"
Kyoga could no longer contain his own excitement, "We'll pull that cute tail of his and turn him into a fox… That's the plan, right?"
Hearing them babble on about forcing Miyabi into fox form, had me suddenly doubting their ability to scheme. I turned away from the doorway for a moment to face them, "Would that really work? I mean, would pulling his tail truly make that happen? Come on, guys…"
Shinra rolled his eyes at me, "Of course, it'll work. He didn't eat as much sushi as normal for dinner. I'd say his stomach should be growling any time now."
As cute as it would be to hear Miyabi's stomach growl, I was beginning to doubt the need to continue with this. I mean, setting a trap for Miyabi just in order to make me feel better… As small and fragile as he had made me feel, I just didn't feel right about this.
"You guys, I don't-"
Kyoga hushed us all, "Shh! The clown's arrived."
Shinra's lips curled up into a sly smirk, "It's showtime."
Yukinojo nodded a bright twinkle in his eyes.
"All set," said Samon, just above a whisper.
They're all so into this…But why?! Was I really acting so pathetic?!
A sudden hush fell over the kitchen, and I could hear the pitter pat of footsteps.
Miyabi almost sounded like a sushi zombie as he crossed the threshold, "Inari sushi…"
"Now…?" I whispered to the others in question.
Chikage, who was next to me, whispered his response in my ear, "No. We'll begin the attack once the," he rolled his eyes, "target has the sushi in hand. His guard should be completely down."
"Well said," whispered Samon.
Shinra winked at Chikage, "Good to see you finally coming around."
Yukinojo struggled with the chuckle clearly in his throat, "Well, he is the one who came up with the plan."
Miyabi slowly inched toward the Inari sushi, seemingly still oblivious to the prank that was about to transpire. And the second he picked one up…
Shinra was the first to pounce, "Gotcha!"
Something seemed off about what was unfolding, and then all went wrong.
I stood up from my seat and turned on them, "Wait! This wasn't part of the plan!"
The snow spirit chuckled gleefully and winked at me, "Oh, settle down. Shinra's just a bit excited."
Kyoga blocked Miyabi's escape route, "You should get a little taste of defeat once in a while."
Miyabi sneered at us all, "You're all morons."
He whispered the words as he nimbly dodged all their hands.
Shinra lost his grip on Miyabi and was tossed to the floor, "Shit… Yuki!"
The snow spirit grinned cynically, "Leave this to me."
I blinked and Yukinojo was suddenly standing before the fox Demon.
Miyabi smirked at him, entirely unfazed, "Did you honestly believe that I wasn't aware you were all up to something?"
Yukinojo charged as Chikage and even Samon both jumped out, but Miyabi was far too quick for them.
Shinra gaped at the losing fight, not a single blow landing on the target, "The hell?! Is he able to read our moves?!"
Kyoga jumped back to his feet and shot a look of annoyance at Shinra, "No! He, uh, is just very fast."
"What are you all trying to do, anyway?" Miyabi glared daggers at us all, me included.
Yukinojo gave him a look of pure innocence, "It's our big plan to return you to your kitsune form."
Upon hearing this, Miyabi fixed me with an expression that was so blank and dark, I felt a shiver rush through my whole body.
He then released my gaze and lowered his arms, "This is stupid…"
As Miyabi turned his back to us, Shinra called out to him, "Hey, wait! So, you're running away?"
The fox demon growled and whipped back around to face us, "I don't have time to go along with your childish games!" His eyes met mine once more before turning back around.
Kyoga grunted in irritation, "Well, crap. He's sulking again."
Chikage glared at Shinra, who of course was completely clueless about what he had just done.
Shinra glared back at him, " What?! It was your plan!"
Chikage scoffed, "There was nothing wrong with the plan."
"Enough!"
I surprised even myself by the force behind the word. All heads turned to me and silence fell over the room.
"I-I'm sorry. And I'm sorry I made all of you worry." I took a deep breath to calm my nerves, "But I'm fine…Really. Miyabi and I have an agreement, and that's all."
I struggled to sound as convincing as possible. But who was I really trying to convince? Them…? Or myself?
Yukinojo was the first to challenge my resolve, "But-Snow…"
"Please listen. I'll go along with whatever Miyabi asks of me."
I forced my lips up into a reassuring smile only to hear a bark of laughter erupt from the mouth of Shinra.
But when I looked at him, his eyes were quite serious, "Do that and he'll just keep acting up."
The gave them all must have suggested that I was confused, since Kyoga responded with, "Miyabi's unruly by nature. He just does whatever he wants as the mood strikes him." He let out a heavy sigh, "He'll just walk all over you if you pay attention to everything he says and does. So just leave him be. For now, that will be the best way to deal with him."
Yukinojo placed a gentle hand on my shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze, "Exactly. He just might come around like nothing ever happened."
"Perhaps…" I glanced blankly in the direction Miyabi had left us.
The time I had spent in the Mononoke village now seemed nothing more than a distant memory. How many days has it been since he rejected me…? My mind swelled with a swirl of emotions I couldn't even begin to comprehend. Why should I care that he attitude hadn't changed at all in all that time?
Shinra let out a roar of anger, "Dammit! This sucks!"
Kyoga's eyes went suddenly wide and he grabbed Chikage by the shoulders, "Hey. Chikage! What about…you know?"
But I barely heard them still lost in my miserable thoughts.
Yukinojo chimed in before Chikage could answer, "That's a thought. It might be just what Snow needs right now."
Samon smiled and nodded in agreement, "That's a splendid idea. You should do it."
I didn't like the sound of this "it".
"What exactly is 'it'?"
Chikage folded his arms and groaned irritably, "Why do I have to be the one…"
Shinra looked at him like he was a complete idiot, "Because, Chikage. Out of all of us, you are the only one that can!"
The other give me a firm push on the back, nudging me in Chikage's direction.
The raven haired Tengu sighed in defeat, "Fine."
He then glanced down at me with a look I couldn't quite read, "Get your jacket. We're going outside."
"Very well."
I grabbed my coat and rushed out the front door to join him.
…..—…..
It was late, and Chikage had taken me to a place where there were cherry blossoms in full bloom.
For a moment all I could do was silently take it all in. It were as though my brain could not comprehend this as reality. But then I found my voice, "Wow… It's incredible!"
Chikage also gazed at the falling petals, "Not a lot of people know about this place."
"Seriously…?"
A moment ago, I had gone outside with Chikage. And then suddenly he gathered me into his arms and told me we were going to fly. He then shot into the sky and brought me here.
"I've never flown before! Well, obviously, but still. It was amazing… The view is incredible!"
When I glanced back at Chikage, he almost appeared to be smiling, "Are you feeling better, then?"
I nodded and smiled, struggling to keep the tears from spilling over, "I'm really sorry for being the cause of such concern-"
Chikage placed a soft finger on my lips, "I don't want you to apologize. After all, would it make you happy if you on you wanted to help feel better apologized?"
I thought a moment about who that would be for me. The answer was clear…Miyabi.
He was right. If Miyabi were to apologize, it would only end up causing me to feel worse.
There was a sudden lull in the conversation, and I brought my eyes back up the falling cherry petals.
They really were surreal, like from a dream.
I suddenly wanted to bring Miyabi here to see this.
Before I knew it, I was picturing his face. And with it, something he had once said to me, crossed my mind.
"When I touch your skin, it turns pink like a cherry blossom."
I guess he was only playing with me then.
However, he did touch me and stay close to me.
Chikage reached over to move a strand of hair from my face, "You should smile when you feel like smiling."
"Huh…?"
He then moved his hand away from my face and let it drop to his side, "That way, Miyabi will soon smile as well. After all, your smile makes everything around you shine brighter."
He spoke to me in the same matter-of-fact tone as usual as he looked back up at the cherry blossoms.
"Thank you…"
They were all…trying to think of ways to help me feel better. I glance over at the gorgeous Tengu and couldn't help but smile. Chikage, who normally spoke so little, to be doing this for me…
It was touching how nice they were all being, that finally my smile grew.
A few days later, my coworkers invited me to go out with them after work.
As I crossed the threshold of the restaurant they had chosen, I immediately spotted Ikumi and the others sitting at several tables already eating.
"Miku! I'm surprised you came!"
"She's right," said another coworker, "In fact, I don't think you've come to any of these ever since that fiancé of yours showed up."
How embarrassing, I thought miserably.
"I'm really sorry. It's just he probably would have invited himself along if I told him we were all going out."
"Aww! He loves you!" Another coworker cooed.
I wanted to say that seriously doubted that he did anymore… but I couldn't. I found myself picturing him again, and I felt a twinge of pain in my heart.
Taro was staring at me. Here was my chance to apologize, "Taro! I'm so sorry about before."
However, he seemed a bit confused by my apology, "Whatever for?"
"You invited me to the museum…"
Now that I stopped to think about it, I've barely had a chance to speak with him since then.
Miyabi had told me that he had put a spell on a leaf, but…"
"Why are you apologizing? I had a great time." His smile was so genuine that I couldn't help smiling back.
"I'm glad."
I let out a sigh of relief.
It would appear that, somehow, the date had ended well. I guess that meant that Miyabi had pulled it off.
Taro's then fixed me with a blank stare, "Though, I must say, your fiance is sure a handful."
"You're not wrong," I mumbled.
His eyes then narrowed, almost like he was angered by this, "It seems hard to keep him restrained…and all the girls fawn all over him."
"That's true, but…"
He then gaped at me apologetically, seeming to think that perhaps had gone too far, "I do not wish to speak ill of him, but are you okay? The reason you haven't been coming in to work…"
Taro then leaned over and whispered in my ear, "He didn't cheat on you, did he…?"
It was my turn to gape at him, "Wh-What?! Of course not!"
But then again…
Was he? It was possible that when I was at work Miyabi would go back to the Mononoke village to see one of the beautiful Kitsune, and…
I recalled something one of the said beauties had said to him while we were both visiting, "Call me to your bedchamber again sometime."
I shook my head to stop that insane thought process.
NO! Miyabi wasn't that kind of person. He would never shirk his duties.
But couldn't I really trust him? How well did I really know him?
"Miku, your glass is empty. Want some of this?"
I glanced at Taro and saw he was offering me some of his drink and I gratefully accepted, "Yes, thank you…"
Feeling quite depressed, not to mention tired, I brought the drink that Taro poured for me to my lips.
—
I felt a sudden chill as I rolled around on a soft surface.
Why was it so cold…Blanket, I need a-
?!
My eyes flew open and I instantly realized that the room I was in was not my own.
"Oh, I see you're awake."
I glance over towards the voice and see, "T-Taro…?"
"Sorry. You were a bit drunk, so I brought you home with me."
This jolted me back into consciousness, "You what?!"
I tried to sit up, but Taro used his hands to hold me down.
"You should keep sleeping. After all, you're still a little tipsy, are you not?"
My head felt hazy and I started to feel a bit dizzy. I then oddly found myself apologizing to him.
He let out a soft chuckle, "You have nothing to apologize for."
I tried to make my brain comprehend what was happening.
I got drunk? And then was brough back to my boss's place…and not only that, I slept in his bed!
What the hell, Miku?!
Even if I was depressed over Miyabi…
Taro was staring at me, and I felt as thought he were looking straight into my very soul.
His next words nearly had my heart beating a bruise into my chest, "…If I said that I wanted you, would you give yourself to me?"
"Say what?"
Perhaps it was the alcohol, but I was have difficulty grasping Taro's words.
His eyes then became troubled as he struggled to explain himself, "I've loved you for a long time, Miku. I wish to make you mine, and mine alone."
"T-Taro…"
"I've seen you…looking at me. Am I wrong?"
(No…but even thought I liked him, hearing him confess his feeling for me now just made it harder to not think about Miyabi…)
I had a sudden flash of Miyabi saying these exact words to me…but I knew he never would.
"Taro…I…"
A glimmer of hurt flashed in his eyes, "…Not long ago, you would've said yes almost immediately." His eyes slid to mine and he held my gaze for a seemingly too long moment before asking, "What's changed…?"
Perhaps I was drunker than I thought, since for a fleeting second, it looked as though his expression had changed.
I had a terrible feeling about this. But when I tried to sit up, Taro grabbed me by my shoulders and pushed me down on the bed.
"What the hell?!"
In an instant his entire appearance had transformed; including his outfit. Just like Kyoga and the other had when they showed me their true selves…just like Miyabi…
"It's really too bad," Taro hissed as he spoke, "If I was just a little earlier, this would have gone off without a hitch."
He leaned in closed and sniffed my hair, "I didn't want to have to resort to violence."
He then pulled slightly back, his lips curling into a smile.
What the…?!
Well, hell! I should have known…
I tried to struggle out of his grip, "Stop it! Let go of me!"
"I can't do that. I can finally get what I've wanted."
He slid his tongue over his lips, "The special 'blood' flowing through your veins."
How does he…?!
And then it dawned on me just how stupid I had been. I could feel tears welling in my eyes.
Taro…is Nishiki of the Hebi clan…
