THANK YOU REVIEWERS! It seems being spoiled worked, I actually got to hear what you people think! YAY! I want to thank all of you, for reading this far. I also want to apologize for the last cliff hanger, I know it hurt some of you.
Hiraru held her head level, so that the veil Taki had added to her ceremonial costume would continue to remain in place. She smiled gently as she noticed the fourteen year old girl walking next to her. She tried to hold the heavy Banner and brass pole straight up. The poor girl was trying so hard she was shaking. Softly, so that Hiraru's painted lips barely moved she spoke, "Hold your shoulders a bit more back and walk further back on your heels."
The poor girl jumped, making a small squeaking noise.
Hiraru turned her head a little towards her, giving her a small smile, "I had to hold something that heavy when I was younger. It wasn't until I was your age that someone told me to try holding the object with my shoulders back , and not to look down, then I learned how to hold it for hours without ever having problems."
The girl gave her a worried look.
Hiraru just faced forward again, taking the next slow step forward, "Just try it, if it doesn't help, you don't have to continue to do as I've suggested."
The girl shifted, not quiet getting the stance perfect but she seemed more comfortable. The other fourteen year old, on Hiraru's other side shifted too, taking the same stance Hiraru had suggested. The two girls looked like moon princesses in the perfect silver kimonos with little blue flowers decorating the sleeves and edges of the skirts. Hiraru was the goddess they had to stand next to. She had her kimono on perfectly, the first four layers tied with a beautifully decorated obi and the next four left to sit on her shoulders like a high class lady's wedding kimono. Her wig had been let loose from the tail it had been in the day before. It had been washed, combed and carefully placed on her head so the locks framed her face and fell over her shoulders.
Hiraru had always felt a sense of calm when she put on her fine kimono and attended some ceremony, but now she just felt tired. She'd not slept the night before, though she knew Zaki and the other priest had fallen asleep sometime after midnight. She also felt drained. Akira had told her he wished for her to be happy, and if she wished she could slip out the back and never return to the temple. He'd told her, her friends were waiting to take her way. Hiraru had thought about this for a moment then stood, smiling she'd announced to the village that the next day she would become the Hiraru. Shiro had never looked happier, but Hiraru couldn't help but notice how Tatsou had glared at his older brother before storming out. She'd left shortly after to tell, Sano and the others that she was going to stay. She'd heard Sano, and Yahiko's words. She'd spent the night thinking about them. They made her want to cry.
Zaki and Uki paused before beginning the next set of chants, They'd been confused as to why Hiraru had not asked anyone to join her as her guardian, but after the first mention, they'd not brought it up again. Zaki and Uki led the slow precision down the stairs from the Hiraru house hold, to the temple. The walk was slow because they'd all take a step down then pause as a verse was chanted. Hiraru knew this prayer so well, but she was not allowed to join the chant, from the beginning of her meditations until the ceremony she was not allowed to speak any holy words. She felt like a bird that had just been told it was not allowed to fly.
Four other monks surrounded Hiraru one at each corner of her being. Behind her Shiro, Tatsou, and Sozo all followed her grandfather, who carried the sword of the last Hiraru. The blade, made for her granduncle would be broken during the ceremony and then buried with Her grandmother. One of the monks carried her grandfather's swords, She'd not allowed anyone to see her father's swords placed carefully in her obi, under the top four of her kimono.
Only the pressure of the blade at her hip and the weight of her fighting poles felt natural. Everything else felt odd, wrong, out of place. The fear and awe of the girls on either side was not right, she'd never had anyone be afraid of her and at the same time admire her. The priest chanting around her, and at the same time her not joining them was difficult. And the silence of her brothers, they weren't joking, or fighting. They were just following as silent as her. It was out of place, they'd never been this quiet. She could hear Sozo trying to start happy conversation, and failing.
She smiled, thinking of her little brother's smiling face, the happy and worried look of her grandfather. The angry looks Shiro always held, and the way Tatsou had stormed out of the temple turned her smile sad. If this is what she wanted to do, why didn't it feel right?
Finally the procession reached the temple, Hiraru saw Kaoru standing next to Kenshin both of them in another set of fine kimono and for Kenshin a pair of un-patched Hakama. Megumi stood on the other side of Kenshin, and a little behind him, Yahiko in the very front, they were both also dressed nicely. Sano was the one out of place, he was wearing his normal white clothes, the symbol for bad on the back of that coat. Somehow that symbol didn't fit him right now. He didn't look bad, he looked like Sano; good, surprisingly kind, amazingly gentle, and always out of place Sano. She forced a smile onto her lips, making it look as convincing as she could. Kaoru, Megumi and Yahiko smiled in return, Kenshin tilted his head to one side, before giving one of his goofy smiles. Sano just narrowed his eyes, his expression not changing.
She turned her attention back to the ceremony. The two girls had hurried forward, placing both of their poles and banners in stands set up for them. They then bowed and backed away to their families. Hiraru glided forward, until she was ten feet from a raised platform where Zaki and Uki now stood, in front of the Shinto icons. She went to her knees gracefully, and bowed to them. Her brothers each did the same behind her as her grandfather joined Zaki on the platform. "Head Priest Zaki, Priest Uki, Allow me Guardian Akira Tatsou, to present my granddaughter, Kojima Hiraru. I present her as the possible next Hiraru."
Zaki nodded, "You carry the blade of honor, used by the last Hiraru and given to her by her brother?"
"I do, Head priest," Akira-san presented the blade to Zaki.
Zaki took it examining the blade, and sheath, "I recognize it for the blade it is, and see that it has not drawn blood since the day Akira Hiraru became the Hiraru, naming you her husband and guardian."
Zaki turned, giving the blade to Uki, and then he looked to Hiraru, "Kojima Hiraru do you have a blade held by a member of your blood family, your brothers, father or grandfather?"
Hiraru bowed lower to him, "Akira Tatsou has given me his blade to use as my honor blade. He is my grandfather, the man who sired my mother, he is my blood family."
The monk holding the sword shuffled forward and showed it to Zaki. Zaki took the blade slowly, drawing it from the sheath. "This sword has seen much bloodshed," Zaki said, "You still hold it as your blade for honor?"
"My grandfather fought proudly with this blade in two wars," Hiraru said, looking up at him, "I am unworthy of the pride, love and greatness in this blade. The fact that my grandfather wishes me to use it honors me. Should the honor that brings not be the honor thought of?"
Zaki smiled, "Well said, Kojima Hiraru." He looked around, "This woman wishes to be accepted as the Hiraru of our shrine, are there three men who know her? Three men who can say she is worthy of this honor?"
Sozo stood stepping forward, "I, Kojima Sozo, her younger brother, know that my sister is kind and a good teacher. I believe she is worthy of the title Hiraru, guide of the people."
Shiro stood and joined him, "I, Kojima Shiro, her older brother, know she is wise and gentle and proud. I believe her worthy of the title Hiraru, hope of the people."
Tatsou was the last to stand, Hiraru could not see him, but he did not step forward. Rather he bowed to them, "I am Kojima Tatsou, the twin brother of Kojima Hiraru. I know my sister. She is everything my brothers have said. She is kind and a good teacher, she is wise, gentle, proud. She is also strong and brave. She fights for what she believes in. I would think her worthy of the title Hiraru light of the people, except the blade of honor she deserves is not the one you hold, Head priest."
Oh… Sibling rivalry… what could this mean for Hiraru's future? Review and You'll find out.