'Ello all! ROD here! In this chapter, I plan to let the world know how Raikku became…trumpet sounds Guardian of the Pendant! Thank you, thank you…
Disclaimer: Raikku of the Darkness doesn't own Shaman King or any of the characters within it. If she did, she would have kill of the Hanagumi LONG ago (I hate you tube-top girl!).
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If it Takes Forever
By: Raikku of the Darkness
Chapter 6: Chosen Part 1
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Wherever you go, I will follow, my darling.
That's what my mother would tell me as I lay in her arms. It's all I can remember of her: her eyes and voice. But I getting ahead of myself, allow me to introduce myself to you. I am Hitachi Raikku-Neshi, youngest child of Hitachi Reimei and Hitomi.
I was born in the spring of 1387, April 14th to be exact. At my birth were four people: My mother, Hitomi, my father, Reimei, my grandmother, Akane, who was the acting birthing coach, and my older brother, Ishio. I never knew my grandmother, but many older persons spoke highly of the former priestess. Ishio, however, was everything to me; my captain, brother, and best friend (even though he was 11 years my senior).
My father was the leader of the samurai of Oka Village. He was looked up to by everyone; the great leader of the people. My mother was the village High Priestess, exorcist, and nursemaid. And I was to do the same, 'tis why I wear the garb of the priestess: a tribute to my mother.
Oka Village. Land of my birth, land that I love. The village was hidden in the sakura trees, so most people didn't know where it was exactly. It was the perfect place to live and train away from the prying eyes of nosy people and thieves. My brother was trained to be a samurai while as I, being a female, was bred to be a priestess (which would come in handy during my years with Amida-kun and Mosuke-sempai). In secret, though, my mom taught me the art of the sword dancer.
Sword dancing is one of the rare art forms of the Japanese people. My mother's family were, at one time, one of the best sword dancers in the country, but since the era began, people have been less and less desiring to see a performance. Mother taught me that women must appear dainty and graceful, even in battle…
"Take the geisha, Raikku." Hitomi began, her 3 and 1/2 year old daughter listening carefully, hanging on her every word. "The geisha is a woman of beauty, but her duty is not only to enchant her victim, but to, if needed, assassinate said victim."
"But Mama," Raikku asked, raising her small hand. "What do geishas' have to do with sword dancing?"
Hitomi chuckled. "Because of their movements, a victim is enchanted. If you are to be an excellent priestess, you must know how to defend yourself. If you are in battle, you can use what you have learned to avoid injury and execute beautiful attacks, still looking poise and lovely to the- should we say, less fairer sex."
"Oooo……pretty flower." Hitomi looked to see that her young daughter happened to walk away. She sighed. "Mother always said she hoped I had a child just like me…"
I learned almost everything about the art that year…it would be the last that I would be with my mother and father alive. That summer, after my fourth birthday, on the eve of the summer festival, a man came to the village…
"May I help you, sir?" Reimei asked suspiously . The man came, unannounced, to our town and asked for my father by name, so it was normal for him to be that way.
"Yessss," the man hissed in a snake-like voice, eyes looking over the crowd as if for something. "I have a message from My lord, Miago--The Lord of All Thieves!"
The crowd gasped and then whispered among themselves. Miago was a dreaded bandit king who's reign of terror had reached the surrounding area. Now, he had his sights on Oka Village, not only for it's seclusion, but its closeness to the ocean. Raikku looked on, unknowing of her father's problem. She felt Ishio's hand squeeze her own and her mother's hands seep around her small body. Raikku looked to them both; their faces were filled with fear.
"Well?" Reimei asked, voice dripping with anger. The man smirked.
"Lord Miago says that if you wish to save this village from plunder," his eyes rested on Hitomi; Her grip tightened. "Go to him."
"You aren't going to go are you!" Hitomi asked as her husband readied himself.
"I have to, my love," said he, grabbing his sword. "who else will protect you, Ishio, Raikku, and the rest of this village? It's my duty!"
Reimei moved toward the door, Hitomi grasped his hand.
"Please don't go…" she whispered, tears filling her eyes. The samurai moved his hand over her cheek.
"I…don't want to."
"Then don't! If you do, then…"
"Hitomi, don't think-"
"Reimei!" she yelled. "WHAT WILL I DO IF YOU DIE?"
Reimei's eyes moved. He didn't know what to tell her. What would she do?
"You would do what you have been." he said with confidence. "Be a good mother to Ishio and Raikku."
Hitomi's heart felt so heavy. She dropped to her knees, head in hands and began to weep. Reimei moved to leave.
"I'm sorry…my Hitomi." he whispered as he left.
On the way to the village gate, he encountered his son and daughter.
"Are you leaving?" Ishio coldly asked, never looking toward his father.
"Yes."
"What about mom?"
"She'll…live."
"And us?" Reimei froze.
The boy balled his fists. "WHY? WHY CAN'T YOU STAY! MOM'S GONE HALF THE TIME! AND RAIKKU……" he began to whisper. "What is she going to do without her father?"
The man grabbed his boy's shoulders. "You are to take care of them. Ishio, you will be the man of the house. I've taught you everything I know."
Then he moved to Raikku, picking her up.
"Papa? Are we still going to the hot spring tomorrow?" she asked, her green eyes sparkling.
Reimei smiled. "Maybe."
Screaming.
Screaming.
Screaming; was all anyone could hear as the band of villains entered Oka Village. Reimei had been the victim of an ambush and had lost his life to save the village and people he loved. People were been slaughtered at every step. And yet, three were missing…
"Ishio!" Hitomi yelled, running toward her frightened son and daughter.
"Mama, what's-"
"No time! Raikku, go with your brother!"
"Mom, what's going on! Where's Dad!"
"Your father's gone!" she said, pulling Ishio toward the forest, Raikku in his arms.
"The bandits?" he asked
"Of course."
At the forest edge, Hitomi let go of her son's arm. "Take this," she said, thrusting a wooden box into his opposite arm. "you will know what to do."
She lend forward, giving each of her children a kiss. "Now run, Ishio! And don't stop running!"
It wasn't until he was far away that she whispered: "I love you both."
That was the last time I saw my mother alive.
Ishio and I wandered across the Japanese countryside for weeks, looking for anyone who would dare to care for parentless children. People can be so cold…
Soon, after days of searching, we came across an abandoned Buddhist temple. There, we met many others who, like us, lost their parents. They embraced us, giving us what they had and befriending. In return, Ishio helped protect the children and guard the vegetable garden. I was, of course, to stay out of the way. That was how I met my future "partners in crime".
It had been a year since Ishio and Raikku had a found a home in the orphans of the Buddhist temple and Raikku had since to gain any friends. So, she, alone, went to the meadow to pick flowers.
"What are you doing?" a boy, looking about a year older than Raikku asked her. He had lavender hair and chestnut brown eyes.
"Picking flowers." she replied. "For my brother when he gets back from town."
The boy kicked at the ground. "Can I help?" The younger girl looked at him with a curious stare. "Why?"
"Because I'm waiting for my friend to come back."
Raikku thought for a moment. "Ok, but just the blue and purple ones!"
The two worked in silence, the birds singing their songs. Raikku was first to break the tranquility.
"Well, this should be enough." she said, smiling. "Thanks for your help- um, what's your name?"
The boy handed her the plants. "Amidamaru. I'm Amidamaru."
"Well, Amida-kun-"
"Don't call me that."
"Amida-kun, I'm Raikku! Wanna be friends?"
"As long as you don't call me Amida-kun."
"Yay!"
And so, Amidamaru and Raikku became friends, soon after, she and Mosuke also became chums (Raikku called him "Mosuke-sempai").
I did everything with my newly found friends. Swimming, fishing, throwing rocks at travelers for no apparent reason. Yes, life was good…for a short while.
A year after my 6th birthday, the battling of soldiers and the growing amount of evil doers grew at a furious rate. Soon, lords were looking for warriors in every corner of land. No one was safe. At one point, a messenger for a lord came to our small community, looking for strong, older boys to fight. My brother was chosen as one of the seven; he was seventeen at the time.
Finally, the day had come. The seven young men chosen to fight for the lord, were to leave for his estate. Tears were everywhere that morning, but not from who we would think.
"Raikku, why do you smile?" Ishio asked his younger sibling.
"Because, you are going to become a great warrior of a lord!" she laughed. He smiled. Ishio had grown over the short time he and Raikku had been with their "family". His short, untamable black hair had finally been tamed and with it, he turned into a very handsome young man. He had also mastered his weapon.
He picked up his little sister, hugging her tight against the worn armor issued to him from the lord. Many hugs were going around during the final minutes of togetherness. The captain of the lord's army was waiting impatiently at the gate, tapping his foot.
"Come on, boys! We don't have all day!" he yelled. The seven began walking toward, Raikku right behind her big brother. Ishio turned to her.
"Rai, you can't come. It's dangerous."
"But, I-" she began "I don't want you to go."
The man kneeled before her and hugged her, one last time. "Don't worry! I'm coming back!"
He raised to his feet and walked closer to his destiny. Ishio turned his head.
"Don't worry, Rai! I'll be back!"
But he would never return to me. Ishio would die in his first battle, saving his comrades, but not himself. I lost my brother that year. I was…alone. Alone in the world; cold and lonely world.
This is just part one of a two part chapter set. Don't fret! In Part 2, you'll find out just what Raikku was chosen for. Don't mind if toward the end, the story seems a bit rushed. I've been really busy getting ready for my senior trip (goodbye, eighth grade!).
Raikku of the Darkness :P