Sun and Katsu; My Jewel

Sun's POV

Once when I was quite young, I asked my mother why she named me Sun and she told me it was because I brought he warmth, I made her day brighter and finally because the yellow of my locks.

I had been raised in a wealthy home amongst my demon kind, I was known as the child of sunlight, a rumour spread that I was the daughter of the sun and my true mother was the yellow part of a rainbow. All nonsense of course, though I did find it most flattering.

I radiated optimism, I was innocent and so very naïve, my innocence was to be my downfall

I was sixteen when it happened….my parents were hosting a lavish party, inviting many lords from the far corners of the land. The panther demons were truly magnificent to behold, there was something incredibly beautiful about their feline eyes.

There was this one in particular, Lord Kiiechi. He was at least eight years my senior, by appearance any way, for all I knew he could be hundreds of years old. He sat with me though dinner and I blushed deeply the entire time.

I suppose what attracted me to Kiiechi was how deep and brooding he was, he seemed stern and strong. For some reason my youthful heart fluttered at the years in his eyes. He did not say much to me, but he allowed me to talk as much as I wanted to and seemed to listen intently. All the while he continued to fill my cup with sake almost after every sip I took.

Eventually the room started to tilt and my limbs were feeling loose. I found everything funny and I burst into hysterics. My face flushed I found I was leaning drowsily upon Kiiechi's shoulder.

He offered in what I thought was a gentlemanly fashion to escort me to my room, I allowed him to carry me.

When we got there…he began kissing my neck and shoulders, he began to untie my obi. In my drunken state, I didn't have the will to stop. He whispered in my ear that he would marry me, that he had fallen deeply in love with me.

That night he took me, it was the first time I had allowed a man so close….but I remembered nothing but a few glimpses of the night, the rest was black.

I awoke the next morning to find him gone, a bite mark on my thigh and a note on my other pillow. It was left by Kiiechi…he had returned home to his wife.

A deep despair crippled me, I felt so used and disgusted….I was tarnished and covered in a filth I could never wash away! Happy, innocent Sun was gone, the one who laughed at everything…a dark cloud now cast over her.

I wanted to be pure and good again, the arrow maids came to me…they heard my calling and I left with them. I would never marry or love any man…I would not allow them to touch me and I would travel with the arrow maids, saving other girls from this fate. I was trusted the most, my disdain for men was blatant.

It was during my travels as an arrow maid, that I met the love of my life, Katsu.

He was the person I used to be, the person I lost to darkness and the person I wanted to be again. However he was a wiser version of my former self, still he never took anything too seriously. I learnt a lot from him, one lesson being that I didn't hate all men, I hated one and he was no longer of any importance.

Katsu saved me and made me again the daughter of the Sun and yellow, he cast away the cloud of darkness that never dared to cast over me again. He was the earth to me and kept me grounded.

That is why I gave my life to bring back his brother, Kenta. I wanted to be a part of his family; I wanted him to love me always. With his earth powers, Kenta bound me to a tree to save my life, I may emerge from my resting place on the tenth day of every month, when my love was at his weakest and spend it with, by night protecting him.

Fourteen years had passed since that day, my twin boys, Haru and Daiki…they had grown so strong and handsome. I was proud of them, however, I had missed so much of their lives and it hurt so much. My only comfort was that they understood why and that my husband waited faithfully for me.

From my dark encasement were I lingered, I heard the clocks striking twelve, midnight, the tenth day began and a light opened before me. I floated to it, I closed my eyes and moments later felt arms around me.

It was Katsu, he always was there at midnight on the dot, waiting for me. Our children were asleep in bed, Katsu should have been sleeping too, but he was always too eager and insisted on watching the sun rise with me.

"I missed you!" I cheered, I leapt in to his arms and swung my legs around his waist so that he now held me up. My lips crushed his.

Katsu grinned up at me, "I see that, almost as much as I missed you."

He was still in demon form; we had till the night of the tenth till he turned human so he still had that silver hair I loved so much.

I married him because I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him, but I was restricted to one day a month. Still it was worth it when I saw the nieces and nephew Kenta and Yuna gave us, it was worth the sacrifice to give my niece Summer, (who was named in honour of me) playing with her father and being given a brother and a sister.

I knew in my heart what I did for his family was never forgotten, I was so welcomed by them, they were more of a family to me than my previous or the arrow maids.

Katsu carried me to our high heel where he had set up a picnic breakfast for us. We snuggled up close together and with his power he made flowers bloom around us.

"Tell, how have you all been since I left?" I asked.

My husband took my hand, "well, Haru swears he is on love with a servant girl in Katashi's kingdom and Daiki has made the decisions that he wants to join my father's army one day."

I frowned, "I will speak with them" I told him, "Haru is still a boy and should not be concerned with love and Daiki, he should think more clearly about such a decision."

Katsu laughed and moved the hair from my brow, "listen, boys will be boys…and our boys though they live a humble life they are still of royal blood. Daiki is skilled with a sword already and if wants to one day defend his grandfather then so be it. As for Haru, he may move on and forget this girl or he will love till he is old enough to take a wife, we won't know till the time comes, they're almost full grown now and need to start thinking of such things."

Tears pricked my eyes, "I know" I whimpered "they're growing up so quick…I hardly got to see them as children…can't they hold off on growing up just a little longer?" My tears fell freely.

Katsu tightened his grip around me, "you can't hold off such things, my Sun, the boys have held you in their hearts for every moment you were absent. Sun…I would give anything to give you the moments you have lost with them…"

I wiped my face, "I know…please don't look so guilty, I didn't mean to make you feel bad. It was my decision and one I do not regret in the slightest…..It's just…"

"I know, I know" he soothed and kissed my head, "this is the first time I have ever heard you complain about it. Sun, what do you think I have been doing in your absences in the fourteen years of our marriage?"

I shrugged and he continued, "The boys have assisted also, so has Kenta and Yuna…Yoshi and Sora have made appearances as well. With their help I have searched for a way to break this curse. Well Takara has had her memory returned; she was the one who told me to bind you to the tree to save you. She came to me the moment she recalled something of this ruby amulet that could break this curse and keep you with me forever….I know where to find it Sun."

My heart skipped a beat, "You mean…You mean…" I couldn't get my words out.

Katsu took my face in his hands, "Yes my wife, next time you're you'll remain here…you'll never leave us again. That ruby will not only look lovely around that neck of yours, it'll also keep you with us" I threw myself at him.

My kissing grew more passionate, "we have a few hours till the boys awake, let's make it count"

His eyes glittered with excitement, "jewellery!" He declared happily, "always does the trick, let no male say I don't know what a woman wants!"

I shut him up with another kiss.

Katsu's POV

Something occurred that was not as expected; wearing the necklace alone would not keep her. it had to be melted into liquid and drunk. If the drinker's heart was true then it would work, if not she would die.

I had no doubt that it would work, no heart was truer than my Sun's I had full faith in this.

She was true…we were true! This was a woman who dedicated her life to honour when hers had been taken from her. She willingly gave her life to bring my beloved brother back to me. There was no heart truer than hers and she gave it to me willingly, in exchange for mine…and I reluctantly admit that mine hadn't half the strength as hers.

My sons and I were confident in this. We had Katashi melt the jewel into a liquid and kept it into a container to keep it warm.

"Father" Haru called, "Is it wrong that I fear this may not work…is it wrong to have doubts?"

I shook my head "No son, you fear for your mother's life."

Daiki didn't say anything, but he too was nervous, it was obvious.

The light appeared and Sun fell into my embrace. This time our sons where with us, they greeted their mother eagerly. She was a beautiful as always; her long yellow hair gave a glow. I had heard that when the sun vanished for the moon it took the form of a being to walk the earth, had I not known her, I would have sworn she was that exact being, come to grace me with her presence.

Sun kissed me, "it's good to see you…were you successful?"

My beautiful Sun, my bringer of warmth and light, I took her hands, "Yes…though there were some complications."

Panic flicked across her face "complications? Are you okay? Did you get hurt" she then addressed our sons, "boys, are you okay?"

"The boys and I are fine" I assured, she was instantly at ease. "The jewel was not to be worn, it must be drunk."

She frowned at me, "there is more that you're not telling me, it can't be that simple…what might happen if I drink this?"

I shifted on my feet, "it's nothing you should be concerned with" I insisted, "but the legend states that if the drinker is not true and pure of heart…they will die."

Sun looked like she was about to weep, "But….what if I'm not true of heart? I'm certainly not pure"

This angered me, "you are true and pure!" I looked at my sons and gestured for them to go into the hut and they did so, reluctantly.

When they were out of ear shot I took Sun by the shoulders. "Don't let your past get to you! Kiiechi…he did not ruin you, you are not damaged…you're perfect….perfect. Purity does not always come with innocence, it sewn through kindness and self-sacrifice." I paused and poured the ruby contents into the cup. "I have faith in you….I know you'll be okay."

Even as I said it, the very thought of possibly losing her hurt me, but I knew her heart better than anyone…she would survive.

Sun brought the drink to her mouth and let it pour down her precious throat.

After a moment of silence, she collapsed, shaking violently. "Sun!" I yelled racing to her side, afraid to touch her.

The shaking stopped and she stood as still as a corpse. "Sun? SUN! Please wake up Sun….don't leave me again!"

I thought of binding her to the tree again, but that would not work again.

"Father?" Daiki called, the boys were coming.

When they saw her lying there, I saw part them die also. They stood with jaws ajar, like two silent screaming phantoms, tortured and pale.

I held Sun in my arms, this makes no sense…she was true, she was pure…why didn't this work?

"Father…Look" Haru uttered.

I looked down at Sun; her lips turned a dark shade of red…ruby red like the liquid she had consumed. Her eye lashes darkened, thickened and lengthened. When to my relief they fluttered open I noticed her bottle green eyes had brightened. The Jewel was meant to bring back those who had died…Sun was only half dead as she was bound the tree, it had to kill her completely first.

She touched my face, and smiled. "Katsu….I'm back…I'll never need to leave again!"

The curse was broken, my Sun…once and arrow maid, then the soul of a tree, now she was Lady of jewel, whose blood would now harden and turn to rubies. I would need to protect, me and my sons will…many may come to spill her blood and lead a rich life.

I needed no jewels; I had her heart, which was worth more to me than anything.

The boys embraced her and cheered happily. Then they left us for a moment to get some privacy.

Sun grinned up at me and placed my hand upon her stomach, "Katsu…I'm with child…a girl. I saw her in a vision, her hair, eyes and lips and red as rubies!"

Another child? A girl? I had always wanted a girl, it was the reason I doted on all the women in my family, a little girl would suit me just right! I picked my wife up and twirled.

"Yes!" I cheered, "Sun I love you so much!"

She giggled, knowing how protective the men in my family were…this little girl of mine was about to be blessed beyond belief.

Sun, my life, my love….my jewel.

Next Takara and Katashi.