Chapter 12-
Being Born then Dead
The Story of Her Past?
When a baby is born, it is pure. It's soul and mind full of innocence. Fragile, delicate, and precious to a mother. It's only when you look at this newborn with your own eyes that you see how loving you can be with this baby. It makes a love and peace within your heart. You would want to do anything to keep this infant safe from harm. But this baby is also born into a world of sin, sins that are unknown of to this little one. You try to do your best to provoke any happenings that will harm your child. You see this child as something so very precious to you.
A fresh soul, so tasty to eat is what a kishin may think though. When a baby is born, it has a strong aroma to the kishin's nose. When a baby is born, it is fresh. And the fresher a soul gets, the tastier and better. It gives off a little more power than an average adult soul. Many kishins long for these baby souls, but they are too protected by a guardian also known as a parent. Or perhaps a parent guardian for that matter. It seems in this part of time, a kishin was lucky to find what it needed.
Shyruki Miwasaki was one of the happiest women alive. She walked down the dirt path road that lead to an exit from CrossTown Village. She wanted to show her newborn baby the wonderful woods. She cradled this infant in her arm, this infant being a baby girl. Shryuki named her Shonaku Miwasaki, such a beautiful name she would think. Shonaku was beauty in her eyes, golden brown hair, a head full of it, and oh so soft yellow eyes that shined like the sun. She looked down to admire the baby's adoring features. Shonaku's eyes were closed as she was fast asleep. Her face showed how peaceful she was being in the arms of a mother who loved her so much. Shyruki's smile gleamed down at the sleeping child. Walking beside Shyruki, was the father of this child, Alan Miwasaki. He watched gladly as his wife admired this baby they brought into the world. This baby looked like one and the other.
Shyruki was a woman with dark black hair, and yellow eyes that glowed in the moonlight. She was mysterious, but was always outgoing to hide that side of her. As she was also a wizard herself, and Alan knew this himself. Shyruki was excited to teach her daughter spells that she learned as a child. She knew regardless that Shonaku would be handed down the powers of a wizard from her mother. Shyruki was also somewhat bipolar, she'd be quiet and mysterious, then aggressive and hot tempered the next. Of course Alan loved her very much regardless.
Alan was a man with respect. He was very kind, and gentle when it came to delicate times. He was a very calm soul at heart, and cared greatly for those he loved. His appearance, olive skinned with the same golden brown hair given to his daughter, and a pair of dark blue eyes. Shyruki always told Alan how his eyes reminded her of the deep blue sea. So deep, that you could just get lost in them. Alan was a retired weapon, whom fought in battles in his past. A great tragedy happened, and his powers were stolen away from a ruthless meister he had been partners with for so long. It didn't matter to him anymore though. He was quite curious though to see if there was some weapon in his blood that would pass on to Shonaku. He didn't know whether to doubt this or not. But he would just think that he would have to wait until time passed on to tell him so.
Shyruki and Alan were a happy married couple that had loved each other with a great passion. A love so real, it was never seen before by anyone. They eventually thought that one more person could share this love and become one in all as a family. After the idea, the thought of endless ideas overwhelmed the two. Such happy ones, it filled them with joy. Not long after, their wish came true. A baby was born, them both agreeing to name her Shonaku. Shonaku Miwasaki. They were covered in love, all together like one happy family.
They were so happy, that they became blinded and could no longer see the wrath of reality.
But it was too late before they realized that they should have been more aware of what was to come.
For as soon as the happiness was given, the sooner it would vanish like thin air.
Shyruki and Alan walked out the village. The woods was close into view. The clouds in the sky were gray and swollen, a few drops of rain tumbled down. But the couple didn't mind a few trickles of rain here and there. They continued to walk down the road that led to the woods. Little did they know though, that someone or something was watching them from a very close distance.
The baby being cradled began to whine, and Shyruki rocked her in her arms, swaying her so gently. She tried to calm little Shonaku down, but she would whine, and that whining would grow louder. Then it became a cry. Shyruki wondered what was wrong, she knew she fed her and showered her. Perhaps it's this rain, she thought. Shonaku was covered in a baby blue blanket, and Shyruki pulled the top of the blanket a little over Shonaku's face. But Shonaku still cried. Suddenly, something felt wrong. Shyruki felt a heavy tension nearby, so heavy it made it seem like the rain was pouring down hard. But she realized that the rain really had been pouring down harder. Then she felt as if she was being watched. She told Alan about this and was beginning to feel a little worried. Alan glanced around, but saw nothing.
Suddenly, rushing and lunging from a group of bushes, a kishin appeared before their very eyes. His mouth drooling with slobber, he towered over the two with deadly red eyes. The two were frightened, frozen in place. The kishin then pushed Shyruki with a great force and snatched the infant from her hands, then did a terrible thing. He put a hand over the infant's body and sucked the soul right out of the body. Then he swallowed it. Soon after, he ran with great speed. The empty body the kishin held fell to the ground, now lifeless.
Alan came to Shyruki's aid and checked if she was alright. He then helped her up. Tears formed in Shyruki's eyes and yelled in sorrow as she carried the baby's body in her arms. She saw an expressionless face now from the baby. And Shonaku was only a few weeks old. Shyruki cried in Alan's shoulder, still holding what was left of Shonaku in her arms. Silent tears slid down Alan's face as he softly hugged and rubbed Shyruki's back. Shyruki was so sad now..But she wasn't going to give up just yet. She didn't know how she could fix this.
But she knew someone who could.
The two quickly rushed out the other side of the village and headed to a very small wooden house. On the other side of the village exit, there was long fields that stretched miles and miles. When the arrived to this small house, they banged on the door. Out came a woman, one that Shyruki knew too well. This woman was Shyruki's wizard teacher. She didn't really have a name so that's all she would call her.
She had grey hair that reached her shoulders, green emerald eyes that didn't glimmer as much, and despite the color of her hair, she was actually a young for her age. She always wore the same look on her face. A blank one. Kind of boring like, you couldn't really tell what emotion she felt unless it was a strong one. She had taught Shyruki so many spells since Shyruki was a child. She was a very predictable kind of person. So she knew in a heartbeat that something had gone terribly wrong when she saw the two at the door.
Shyruki told her of the news that had recently occurred. Shyruki's wizard teacher held the dead infant in her arms, looking down, thinking..deeply..how to save this child's soul in which had been consumed by an evil kishin. Then something came into mind. She didn't know whether she was making the right choice or not though. She handed the body back to Shyruki and went back inside her home. She rummaged through books and other belongings. At last she found what she was looking for. She grabbed ahold of a box, nicely decorated itself. She stared at this box for a very long time, trying to make her decision. This was very risky and forbidden, but she was willing to do anything for Shyruki. Shyruki was like a daughter to her.
She slowly walked back to the couple and slowly opened the box. A gemstone was revealed. It glowed immensely, colors of purple, blue, pink, and yellow gave it a colorful look. The gemstone was in the shape of a sapphire. Shyruki's wizard teacher held up the gemstone for them to see. Shyruki knew exactly what it was. She had never known that her wizard teacher had possessed such a thing. This thing though was rumored to be destroyed. This stone was a very powerful stone. It was created to suck in the evil all around, a dark void inside the gemstone. Since this stone had been preserved for so long, no evil lived in the gemstone. Shyruki's wizard teacher spoke.
"Listen to me, Shyruki, Alan. You will use this stone to save your daughter's life. Go back to the village. I sense this kishin with your daughter's soul nearby. He has gone into the woods. Alan, you must take this gemstone with you. When you reach the kishin, use it to retrieve your daughter's soul back. Hold it to the kishin, and I want you to think of your daughter. Think of her now, and how she will be in the future. If you do this, the gemstone will sense that you only desire to take this one soul. Don't lose thought. And don't let this kishin perturb. Shyruki, you will wait with me in the village. I believe your husband is strong, even without extraordinary power, and will do this well. I know he loved this child as much as you did. Before I give this to you though, I will make this gemstone so that your daughter will wield this stone."
Shyruki's wizard teacher formed a wire with magic and bounded it to the gemstone. After this, the gemstone formed to look like a necklace. She then gave this to Alan. Alan gave the two women one last look and nodded. He then ran off after the kishin. Shyruki and her wizard teacher headed back to the village.
Shyruki waited impatiently for Alan to come back, pacing back and forth carrying the body in her arms. It felt like hours to her. She was worried that this kishin could kill Alan. But finally, he came back. He held the necklace with two hands, being cautious with it. Then he carefully gave it to Shyruki's wizard teacher. The wizard teacher held it in her hands and glanced at the dead infant. She told Shyruki to hold the body out.
She then place the necklace over the baby's neck with care. Her hand hovered over the gemstone.
"Now, to bring her back completely, I must sing a lullaby. This will also be a lock spell to prevent anything from coming or looking in the stone. She will be greatly protected." Shyruki's wizard teacher closed her eyes and began to sing.
~Cast a, spell onto you
A life returns, your heart beats
Your soul, it brightens now
But detaches, from you
Awaken now, I call out
The spell has cast
This stone, is your life now
Its magic will, keep you safe
Peace sign, means destiny
A journey a-waits you
Though the danger, in the world
May end you twice
Lalalalalalalala
Lalalalala
Cast a lock, onto you
To keep you safe from the great harm
Lalalalalalalala
Lalalalala
Hear my words, you'll find a way then
This is, the main key to
To unlock this, stone's lock spell
Repeat, and it will lock
May your voice be, the key
Its harmony, is your key
To create peace~
When she completed the lullaby, the necklace glowed brightly. It began to work its way through the body of the infant. The necklace's wire fit place to the infant's neck, and with that magic, the baby's hair turned a light blue, and when its eyes opened, they were a forest green. Then the glow faded away, and when it did, the three adults waited for something next to happen. The necklace then transformed into a peace sign and no longer the shape of a sapphire. A cry could be heard from the baby, and Shyruki fell to her knees holding her child tightly to her chest. She cried of joy and grief, that such a miracle was made to bring her the child that was once gone, but found again. Now she was given the chance to raise such a beautiful child. Shyruki still loved her child despite the new features.
But there were going to be changes that came as a price with this miracle.
When Shonaku was 5 years old, she lived a healthy life with great love from her mother and father. They did everything they could to make her the happiest child alive. She was so energetic, so lively, she wanted to be outdoors all the time. Even on rainy days. She played, she helped with her father sometimes, who made little gadgets that he'd sell around the tiny village. But she wasn't able to play with the children nearby in the village. This was because of the power she and her mother wielded. Because wizards have never been heard of to many people, the villagers took the two as witches, and thought that their magic was pure evil. But there's a difference between the two.
A witch uses its power to kill and create witchcraft, making a curse upon someone, or even sentencing them to their own death. But a wizard on the other hand, uses its power to do the opposite. They use a magic that creates potions, maybe even some that can cure an illness, or undo a mistake. These two are always meant to be polar opposites. But not many people thought of it that way in this world.
Shyruki would sometimes put up a small magic show for the little kids who would actually enjoy it, but those children's parents would take them away. Shonaku would sometimes introduce herself and play ball with the little kids, but the same thing would happen. Just to reassure Shonaku, Shyruki would always tell Shonaku that it wasn't her that would drive them away, but it was just how it was. Shonaku soon learned to accept that.
During that time, Shyruki's wizard teacher came to tell her that it was time that Shonaku learned to use her powers. Surprisingly, there was actually a wizard pre-school and Kindergarden school nearby hidden in the woods. So they decided to take Shonaku there to learn. But things weren't going so well for Shonaku when the campus heard about what had happened to her a few years ago.
Teachers were afraid of her, knowing what bejeweled item she possessed. The kids were sometimes afraid to. But a majority of them often made fun of the subject. They knew Shonaku couldn't die unless the necklace was taken off, which couldn't be due to the lock spell. So they'd tell her to do some stunt to kill herself and come back to life. Others would call her a zombie for coming back to life. They'd run away from her, thinking that she'd eat their brains. At first, Shonaku only took these things as a joke, seeing that it sounded funny to them and harmless. But eventually she learned that this wasn't meant as a playing manner. She begun to find it very offensive and hurtful. They'd also make fun of her for her appearance. Calling her a clown because of her "whacky blue hair" they would say. And that her skin was as pale as a dead person. Some kids didn't believe about the necklace and would try to yank it off Shonaku's neck. Of course, it never did come off. As time passed by, shortly, Shonaku would come home crying saying she would be bullied by the others. Her parents didn't like this, and even one day came to see this themselves. They couldn't believe their eyes, and worse, the teachers did absolutely nothing. Shyruki hated this fact and couldn't live a day longer to see her child in this pain. So she and Alan agreed to take her out of that school, and never come back. Shyruki, wondering to find another way to teach her daughter, found that her wizard teacher could be Shonaku's new personal student. So now, Shonaku would come by to her wizard teacher's house and learn from her. She was a strict teacher, but Shonaku liked her anyways.
Shyruki could see that Shonaku was starting to feel lonely so she decided to give her a little present for her birthday. When Shonaku unwrapped her birthday present, turning six at this time, there it revealed a teddy bear. It had blue button eyes, and was brand new. Shonaku loved it, but shyruki did something even better to make this Shonaku's best gift yet. She used her magic, and a spell she recently learned, to bring this stuffed animal to life. She made this spell so that this bear could be Shonaku's best friend for all eternity and never leave her side. Shonaku decided to name this little bear, Bubba.
One day, Shonaku was exploring the fields outside the village when she saw a little boy broom outside his house. He was about her age, with red spiky hair and brown eyes. The boy saw Shonaku in the distance looking at him sweep. So he decided to kindly introduce himself. His name was Zumo Foyoku. Eventually, they became best friends too. Zumo didn't mind the fact about Shonaku's past, special abilities, and appearance. He thought that everyone was the same kind, despite their looks. He was also very fond of Shonaku's little teddy bear. Shonaku would come and play with Zumo when he didn't have as many chores to do. Then, Shonaku didn't feel as lonely and hurt as before. She regained happiness again with all these new things.
Even better, she discovered another thing about herself. One time, in her house with her father and mother, they were in a conversation when Shonaku was going to do an impression of shooting with a gun. Suddenly, her right arm transformed into a bazooka and shot through the wall of their house. This was startling, yet exciting to Shonaku. Although, Alan was an axe before when he had his powers. Shyruki explained to both of them that Shonaku had a different form because, "When you're a wizard and have the abilities of a weapon, the magic you wield gives you any other choice of weapon. Of course, you don't decide this, the magic itself does." She explained. Shonaku was in awe and wanted to shoot a bunch of things, but Shyruki wouldn't allow it in this house, since, she would jokingly say, Shonaku blew a hole through their house and had to repair it. It was when Alan taught her how to use her power properly, for defense and such. Shonaku understood this, and tried to use it less.
Everything was going well for Shonaku, and she learned to adjust to these new things. Shyruki would always encourage Shonaku to be herself, and not be insecure with everything. She knew her mother was right, and same for her dad. Everything was so happy for Shonaku, but once again another tragedy fell that Shonaku would never forget.
On a particular day, Shonaku told her mother and father that she would go play with Zumo a while. She grabbed Bubba and left. Shonaku, that day, played a little longer than she had expected. She didn't want her parents waiting too long, so she told Zumo that she had to leave after their last game of tag. When she left, she skipped bobbing up and down with Bubba. She hummed, being cheerful as always, just like any other day. But then, in a distance she could see black smoke rising. Shonaku wasn't sure what it was, or where it was coming from, but it reminded her of the little fire her father would make to burn some things to make something new, or when her mother would cook something for dinner. As she got closer, she saw that this smoke was increasing in size, so she began to feel a little worried. Then she noticed that it was coming from the village. When she arrived to CrossTown Village, she couldn't believe it.
Fire. Everywhere. Burning the entire village. Shonaku looked at everything. Then she remembered. Her parents. She walked around in a hurry, looking at everything. The smoke was choking her, but she wanted to get to her parents. She was dragging Bubba and didn't notice he was getting a little burned. Bubba put down the fire himself. When Shonaku arrived to her house, she could see that it was no longer a house. It was burnt wood and ashes. She recklessly went in to find her parents. She called out for them, panicking every second of the search. Then she saw them. They were burnt and dead. Flesh peeled, and hideous expression on their faces. Shonaku's eyes widened and she fell to her knees. She cried and cried, so loudly and drastically. It could be heard miles away. They were gone and never coming back. Shonaku felt a hand on her shoulder, so she turned around to find her wizard teacher standing behind her. A grim look on her face. She seemed sad too, but didn't cry. She let Shonaku cry a little longer, then carried her home. She told Shonaku that she was going to live with her for now on. Shonaku had no choice.
It was hard for Shonaku, but after a year, she managed to stop crying and suck it up. With her strict teacher, she found that many things were bound to happen and that she had to start preparing herself for it. Her wizard taught her on and on, about both her wizard powers and weapon powers too. She took care of her and did what she could to make Shonaku feel comforted. Shonaku wasn't as happy as before, but it was good enough to see that Shonaku was ready to move on. Shonaku was seven around this time. Shonaku found a love for her wizard teacher and thought of her as her new family. She taught Shonaku new spells, one in particular that Shonaku wanted to know. Shonaku wanted to master the Speed of Light spell. This spell would give her the ability to travel at the speed of light. So her wizard teacher taught her. Shonaku still went to hang out with Zumo and still play with him. Then another thing happened not long after.
Shonaku's wizard teacher said she was going out somewhere far for about three days to get some items, and said she would be back. But she never came back, and disappeared. Shonaku waited longer than three days. More like a month or so. She waited and waited, learning to feed herself and clean on her own. Eventually, Shonaku thought to herself, She's never coming back... Then a letter came to the door and clarified that she was missing and assumed, dead. This really let Shonaku down. Although, Shonaku only cried for two weeks this time. Zumo eventually found this out and offered Shonaku to live with him. Shonaku agreed and took some belongings with her, she took the spell book she had currently been learning out from and Bubba. As he was still around.
Shonaku lived with Zumo and his mother when she was 9. She played with Zumo all the time, accidentally getting Bubba mudded on rainy days. It caused some parts of his body to fall apart and stuffing to come out. So Zumo's mother stitched those parts up. Shonaku still learned from the book by herself and trained herself. She tried to let Zumo do his chores, as there were more chores over time, but always managed to get Zumo to play with her during a chore. This became a problem for Zumo's mother. As time went on, the two would cause a ruckus inside the house, Shonaku being a troublesome child. Sometimes she wouldn't listen to things she was suppose to do, as she was always playing around. Eventually, Zumo's mother became sick and tired of this. She told Zumo that Shonaku couldn't stay anymore, mentioning that Shonaku was a great distraction. So Zumo's mother called up a friend who taught discipline to children. Her friend at the time, had no other children to teach so she agreed to take Shonaku. This made Shonaku very upset, but she didn't cry about it. When her friend arrived, Shonaku grabbed her belongings and went to Zumo. She hugged Zumo for the last time, and said goodbye. She left with this other woman who was named Ms. Charmen.
Oddly, Shonaku a boarded something called train, which Shonaku had never seen or heard before. She looked at the fields and hills for the very last time. The train took them away. Shonaku hugged Bubba and a box of her belongings tightly. When she left off the train, it was a whole new environment. There were people, crowded, walking everywhere, in and out of every train. When the two walked out the station, they were introduced to big building and more people, roads with streetlights, and a kind of smoggy sky. Some people passed by and bumped into Shonaku without an apology. She held onto Ms. Charmen's hand as she rushed Shonaku to walk faster. there were traffic cars and stores everywhere. Everything was so loud. This was Tokyo. When Shonaku arrived to her new home, it was a bricked house, two stories high. It looked dull and plain. Inside it was just the same. Shonaku soon found to hate this place and Ms. Charmen also. Ms. Charm ordered Shonaku around, forcing her to stand up straight and not giggle or laugh. Shonaku found it hard to obey rules like these and called them stupid ones at that. Although, Shonaku saw that she was forced to obey these rules. If Shonaku didn't listen to Ms. Charmen, Ms. Charmen would pull Shonaku's great length of hair, spank her, or lock her in a dark room for a very long time. Even if it meant skipping a meal. Shonaku at one point was forced to get her hair cut to the length of her shoulders. Shonaku found to hate this new life, and tried to rebel anyways. She stayed with Ms. Charm until she was 10. It was one day when Shonaku was practicing a spell and Ms. Charmen saw this as witchcraft. She was frightened and no longer wanted Shonaku in her house. She sent out papers saying she was giving her away, not bothering to put her in an adoption center. She would say that no adoption center would accept a witch. Shonaku didn't say anything to her.
Then a couple that lived in a mobile took Shonaku. Shonaku thought these two weren't any better. She called them a bunch of drunken douches. These two would sit and watch TV all day, drinking beer. They wouldn't clean. They stunk of alcohol. They used foul language. They didn't treat Shonaku like their child, more like a maid. Shonaku was forced to clean the mobile everyday and sleep outside the mobile. Even on rainy days. If Shonaku didn't do something right, they'd throw a bottle of beer on her, one of them landing on her head at one point. These two argued day and night. Shonaku hated these two even more. Then she began to argue back with these two, cussing, stomping her foot, giving an attitude. She'd say that she had enough. Then she really did get sick of it. Living somewhere new then to another place. Being abused in such ways. Being kept on a leash. So she decided that she'd live on her own. Out on the streets. She thought it was risky, but it was better than the life she was living now. She ran away from this "home" with the box of belongings and Bubba. Every thing she believed in and thought of had changed. She hated every human alive, the world, society, and the only friend she'd ever have was Bubba. Bubba was still by her side, never leaving it. Shonaku could never find to trust anyone ever again, as seeing that it would end up to her being abandoned. She was never going to say she was a wizard. Instead, of someone found out, she'd say that she was a witch. She knew no one would believe her if she said she was a wizard.
She was going to do everything on her own.
Shonaku moved from place to place, out of Tokyo as well. She went from town to town, village to village. She didn't have money, so she had no choice but to steal food. And with the Speed of Light spell, she used that to sneak away with the food. People called her a thief for it, but Shonaku didn't care anymore. All she did care was about her own survival. After so long, Shonaku didn't care about many things, friends, a new family, a permanent home, just survival. And Bubba. She never wanted to let him go, he was her only friend. Her only thing left that lived of her family. Then she came across a very odd looking city. She later saw that it was called Death City. She went there next for a while. She always saw that building with the huge skulls and Candles at the top of the entire city. She was intrigued by the city, so she made her own little shack. She wanted to stay there a little longer. One day, Shonaku went to go hunt for food at a local market. She told Bubba she'd be back soon.
Shonaku knew that Bubba couldn't talk, and she was trying to find a spell that could give him the ability to talk, but no spell was found yet. So over the years, she found to communicate with him in another way. This communication was similar to sign language, but different. That was because Bubba had no hands, which meant no fingers. They were paws. Bubba was old looking at this point, he had patches that Shonaku tried her best to stitch up, with stuffing sticking out at some sides. His left eye fell off, so Shonaku stitched a smaller sized red one to replace the blue one. His left ear was torn off, due to a fence incident when it got stuck onto the fence. It looked as if it was bitten off or something.
Shonaku was too tired to use her speed ability and decided to just sneak quietly and steal some food. Although that did not end up as well. The owner of the mini market caught her and yelled for help. Shonaku ran out in an effort of escape and used her speed ability afterwards so she wouldn't get caught. She then sensed some people running after her and ran to corners, making twists and turns. But, she wasn't lucky enough to escape from them. Shonaku and this group fought in a small battle, and ended up with Shonaku being sent to a small cell. Then something happened. There was a girl, who offered Shonaku to enroll to her academy. Shonaku didn't want this, but saw it. A miracle. Could it be? She would think. After so many years, Shonaku decided to give this girl a chance and put her trust into hers.
Then Shonaku found to love this place and call it home.