BAM
I slowly looked up to the shoji of my room that had been forcefully kicked down. I smiled, slowly sitting upright and leaned my arms over the table before me. The rude intruder who stood at my doorway was none other than the famous 3rd Supreme Commander of the Nura Clan, Nura Rikuo.
"You of all people should know better to knock, Rikuo-sama." I commented casually as Rikuo walked towards me. My eyes slowly scanned over the colour of crimson that stained his kimono before to the eagle dangling in his hand.
"Nobuyuki." Rikuo greeted, though he didn't sound pleased spilling my name from his lips.
"You're here to ask me about Miu-sama, right?"
I asked, knowing I hit the bull's-eye as I glanced up to see Rikuo narrowing his eyes down at me. "You knew?" He spoke, his tone darkened considerably. "News travels fast." I replied and in an instant, I found him standing before me. He grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and forcefully lifted me to my feet.
"Then why didn't you do anything?" He demanded in such anger that I didn't think someone as calm as him was capable of. But, that didn't mean I was intimidated.
"The only reason you can speak now is because you have no idea what you're dealing with." With a flap of my wings, I flew back and pulled myself out of Rikuo's grip. "Nobuyuki, who is Mouyou?" Rikuo suddenly asked as I froze.
I stared at him, my mind racing to figure out how he found out about this name. I obviously never told him and judging from Miu's stubborn personality, she wouldn't have either.
"…I don't know where you heard that name, but what would you do if you find out?" I asked.
"I'm going to take her back." Rikuo replied without any even sparing a second of thought.
A stupid reply.
"How much do you know about Mouyou?" I flew over his head and landed over my broken shoji.
"You should forget it. It's already too late." I told him as I lifted a foot to proceed out of my room, not wanting to stay and continue this meaningless conversation.
That's right…it's already too late already.
She's back in Mouyou's hand now…
It's already too late.
"To have companions like you…I can see where Miu's distant personality came from." Rikuo suddenly said and at that, I pulled myself to a stop.
"Miu was my girlfriend, Rikuo-sama. I've loved her for twenty years. You, who only met her once or twice every other year, think you have the right to lecture me?"
I snapped, shifting my gaze to Rikuo who didn't react much to my words. "You were Miu's boyfriend?" He asked plainly as I scowled at him. "Yeah. What of it?" I asked back before noticing the glare Rikuo directed to me.
He walked up to me and grabbed me by the collar of my kimono. With a tug, he pulled me close to him.
"If you've loved her for twenty years, why did you turn your back to her knowing that she was suffering?" Rikuo demanded as my eyes narrowed. "Turn my back to her?" I muttered as I remembered Miu's back that faced me when she left that day.
"What do you think you know?" I mumbled, roughly slapping Rikuo's hand off me as I glared back into his crimson eyes.
"You don't know anything. About us, about Miu or even Mouyou."
"If I had to leave her just because of knowing these facts, then I rather not know anything at all." Rikuo snapped back as his glare darkened.
"My feelings aren't so half-hearted like yours." The second he spoke those words, my fist flew up and punched him across his face. I knew he could have dodged it, but he didn't. Rikuo did nothing but stood there, not even fazed by the power I putted into that punch.
"Just because I acknowledged Miu's feelings for you didn't mean I acknowledge yours." I growled; my fists clenched tightly. "Do you love her that much?" I mumbled as Rikuo's eyes shifted back to me. 'What is that gaze?' I snapped within my mind, feeling my heart pounding faster when I met his eyes.
I quickly tore my eyes away from him and stomped back into my room. I slammed my foot against the edge of my table. With a simple kick, the table flew across the room and broke through the delicate closet. I folded my wings and sat down in the corner. Rikuo stood with his back leaned against the doorway. The two of us remained like that for nearly an hour.
Neither of us exchanged words.
As time passed, I felt the heat within my chest evaporated. Though it was only slightly, I felt myself regaining rational reason.
"Have you calmed down?" Rikuo asked softly, though neither his look nor his tone seemed as though he cared. "Ah…" I mumbled softly. Indeed, I felt the fog in my head clearing up a bit.
"It seems I've said too much. Sorry." Rikuo suddenly apologized as I slowly looked down at my hands…the hands that weren't able to grasp the one I love. "No…you were right." I mumbled softly. The vivid image of Miu reappeared in my mind…of how happy she was that night with Rikuo. How pure her smile was…something that I had never seen in all my life of knowing her.
Despite claiming to know her for twenty years, I knew that I actually didn't know anything about her at all.
"Are you interested in listening to a 20 years old story?" I asked Rikuo who shifted at my words.
"It's a story back in our village, the village of Doji, also known as the Moving Isle. It's an island that never stays in the same place with mist shrouding it 24/7, making it almost impossible to find." I began as I smiled at the memories of my village.
"Miu was the daughter of a beautiful mistress of the chief that governs our race."
How Miu would kill me if she hears.
"Miu's mother died giving birth to her; and her father who held too much pride, refused to acknowledge her or having affair with Miu's deceased mother. My mother was a servant working in the chief's manor. When she discovered that, she took Miu under her wings and we were raised together."
"Please reconsider, chief!" I shouted from my post.
"I already have!" The chief bellowed in anger, annoyed by my nonstop pestering. "Come on now little solider. What is there so disagreeable on? For once that girl will be useful. If you really care about her, shouldn't you rejoice? Isn't that right, dear?" That annoying squawky voice spoke as my eyes narrowed at the chief's wife who came up to us.
"Mouyou's fame travels far and wide. If we present her to him, I'm sure we'll be able to establish an alliance between us." The hag continued as I gritted my teeth. Shut up already. No one wants to listen to that ear piercing squawk of yours – I wanted to say. Miraculously, I was able to keep those words within the back of my mind.
And even to my own surprise, I was someway or another able to force out a smile.
"But what if Miu-sama isn't to Mouyou-sama's liking?" I asked, trying to find a way to convince the chief out of this ridiculous idea. "Ara~ That child is extraordinarily beautiful. That slut is an expert at charming men isn't she? With that slutty behavior of hers, I'm sure she can even charm the great Mouyou-sama."
'The only slut around here is you.' I cursed in my mind, trying to surpass a glare as I listened to this old hag's rambling. It didn't take an idiot to know that she was just jealous and found Miu an eyesore.
"But chief, she's your daughter-!"
"I don't have any daughter! This decision is final!" The chief suddenly bellowed in anger. Knowing that I couldn't say any further, I bowed. Without giving them another glance, I quickly took off into the air.
"Damn them!" I cursed loudly once I was sure they wouldn't be able to hear.
I flew through the thick afternoon mist, easily dodging the branches of trees. "That bitch. Who was she to call someone else slut?" I growled, bursting through the mist as I came before the pillars of mountain where our houses were built upon.
"Ah! Hey! Watch it!" A lady shouted just as I flew by, intercepting her path and nearly causing her to drop the basket of eggs she was carrying. "Sorry, I quickly apologized as I flew around to avoid the other Dojis. My eyes scanned across the mountains and houses.
After a long while of search, I finally spotted the one I was looking for. I flew to the northern mountain and landed inside a cavern that was formed by a large crack in the rocky wall.
"Miu-sama." I called softly as I stared at the girl that was sitting on the cool, moist ground. "…Oh, it's you, Nobuyuki." She mumbled softly, her voice without much interest as usual. "This is no time to sit around. Did you hear the news?" I asked as Miu slowly climbed onto her feet.
"What do you think?" Miu said, slowly stepping out from the shadow as my eye widened. I stared at the left side of her cheek that was completely swollen.
"Your face…"
"That lecherous old man needed a bed warmer, and I refused." Miu replied as though it wasn't a big deal.
"Lecherous–…was it the chief?"
Miu didn't reply.
"The chief tried to force himself on you?" I asked again. When I received another silent treatment from her, I became sure. I quickly turned ready to take off into the sky again when I felt a harsh blow across my head.
"…!" I gasped, my head smashing against the rock wall of the cavern. "What are you doing?" Miu said coldly as she stepped up to me. "That's my line…" I muttered, my head pounding in pain as I rubbed both sides of my head. "Are you going to let that geezer get away with this?" I snapped at her, but only to earn her deepest glare.
"That doesn't concern you. Who gave you the right to meddle with my business?"
"I'm your boyfriend! I think I have the right!" I snapped as Miu slowly walked around me.
"Really now?" She huffed, her eyes trailed over me before to the outside world. "I like men who mind their own business and give a girl her privacy." As she finished those words, she flew away and disappeared into the mist beyond.
I sat and waited for the pain to subside.
When the pain ceased, I pulled myself onto my feet and stared back at this depressing dark cave…the cave that had become her favor place. No matter how many times I viewed whether from inside or out, it always felt like a prison to me.
A prison Miu made for herself in order to protect her from reality.
"That's why…when I met Miu again, I was shocked. Even if it was a pet, she let that Nekotama accompany her. Judging from how that runt was so loyal and free of injuries, I take it that she's been taking good care of him." I said at the remembrance of that kid Miu called Tama.
"Her expression had softened considerably. I was envious when I saw how she opened up to you that night." I finished with a soft sigh, feeling the weight in my chest lightening.
"She was sold out, by her only family–…no. That would be a flattery to that old geezer." I spat as I gritted my teeth. I could still remember it clearly…that lonesome figure of hers sitting within the shadow, with that purplish cheek.
"Even with that attitude of hers, many people in the village still liked her. Men loved her beauty, while woman attracted to that strong personality of hers. But when the day Mouyou came to pick her up, none of us stepped up for her." I mumbled, remembering that very day…
The day where shadow covered the land, the clear sky filled with youkai and ayakashi, turning the day into night. And at the border of our isle, that 2 meter monster stood with inhuman golden eyes illuminating within the darkness.
And Miu, who was walking towards him, was like a prey attracted to that light produced by an anglerfish.
She never once looked back at us.
She never called for help, not because of her pride. She probably knew…that even if she cried and begged, none of us would step up for her.
"I cowered out on her at the most critical moment where she needed someone by her side." I smirked at how ironic things turned out to be.
"Although I don't have the right to ask this, please save her. Both from herself and from Mouyou."
"Miu is part of my Hyakki Yakou. I will take her back to the Nura Clan where she belongs." Rikuo merely stated and at his words, I couldn't help but to laugh.
He said it…and in such simple way.
"She belongs in the Nura Clan heh?" I said, somehow able to imagine the scene better than with her returning to our village.
Maybe…it was because of this man…
"Speaking of which, how long are you gonna hold that poor thing captive?" I asked, my eyes resting on the hawk. And seeming to remember its presence, Rikuo came to me and held the hawk in my face. "I want you to examine this." Rikuo said as I stare at the bird dangling in my face.
It was then when I realized that the hawk…though it's weak, it's still alive.
"I ain't a vet." I told him plainly. "That hawk was there when Miu began to act weirdly." "What do you mean?" I asked without much interest as I raised a hand and brushed the hawk away. But just when the hawk turned, my eyes widened upon its colourless iris over its right eye.
Before Rikuo could say anymore, I snatched the hawk from his hand and examined its eyes.
To my unsurprising discovery, I've confirmed that this hawk's right eye to be permanently blind.
"So that's…how it is…" I growled as my gaze hardened. The muscles at my quills tightened. I spread my wings, about to skewer this piece of filth when Rikuo interfered. All I saw was a hand grabbing the hawk from me. By the time I looked up, he was already at the opposite side of the room.
"What are you doing?" I snapped as Rikuo gazed down at me.
"That should be my line." Rikuo replied as he ignored my glare. "That thing you're holding there is that Mouyou's eye." "Eye?" Rikuo mumbled. It was natural that he couldn't understand.
"Mouyou is a parasitic, corpse-eating youkai that can split a fraction of his soul and embed it into a life form. He can control them accordingly to his will and sees through one of the eye of the body that he attached himself onto." I said as I lifted a finger and points at the hawk in his hand.
"That blinded eye on that bird is the proof of it once being controlled."
"…So are you saying this hawk's still being controlled?" Rikuo questioned. "No. The eye will be useless once Mouyou's finished with it." I replied and watched as Rikuo walked to the doorway. He gently released the hawk's talon and held it upright. With a gentle throw, he released the hawk into the air. No wasting its time, the hawk spread its brownish feathers and flew off into the night.
"…Kind, aren't you?"
"I have no interest in meaningless killing." Rikuo said flatly before looking back down to me.
"Tell me about Mouyou, Nobuyuki."
I glanced up to him, then to my broken closet since I didn't know where else to place my eyes. He knew too much now, so I didn't see the harm in telling him. Beside, even if he didn't notice, he already has been sent an invitation.
"Mouyou…the only way to describe him is that he's like a brat." I said as my eyes narrowed at the name. I could even feel virus invading my tongue when I had to force that hideous name.
"He loves beautiful women. The more they resist him, the more he'd want to make them his. Once he got bored, he'd devour the woman and goes looking for a new one." I slowly tilted my head and met his eyes.
"Miu should be his 79th wife if I remember correctly. Then again, I don't know much detail, or how she managed to run away in the first place." I then snorted out a laugh and said, "he must've been looking forward for this day. Sucks to be him."
"What do you mean?" Rikuo asked, keeping his usual composure.
"What do I mean?" I mumbled as I remembered the hawk, then to the blood that stained Rikuo's current kimono.
"Mouyou likes it when his toy is at top condition. He could have taken Miu the minute he caught her…" I lifted a finger and pointed at him, "but you were there."
A moment of silence followed.
"When his toy runs from his hand, he'd have the twisted enjoyment to hunt them down. That's the kind of sick hobby he has, however…" I waved my finger. A gentle breeze was created from my fingertip and gently brushed by Rikuo.
"Miu met you. And you stole her away."
"Then you mean what happened this morning…" Rikuo mumbled; his crimson eyes hardened in disgust. "He tore her apart…for that reason?"
"To Mouyou, that's enough reason to break the woman he's been chasing for 20 years." I replied. I slowly pulled myself onto my feet and stretched my limps.
"You've already been invited, Rikuo-sama." I walked up to him and pointed a finger at the dry blood that was staining his kimono.
"The way he tore her up in your arms. It's his way of saying come and find me if you want her. You have a minimal of five days."
Rikuo's crimson eyes shifted. "Five days?" He muttered, clearly wanting more explanation.
"I told you," I slowly made my way to the hall outside my room, "that Mouyou likes his toy in top condition. From that damage, it should take Miu a minimal of five days to recover. Meaning you'll have five days before Miu - whether physically or mentally - is broken beyond repair."
"Where are you going?" Rikuo called from behind, but I kept my pace.
"Though I said I was Miu's boyfriend, it was only a one-sided love. She didn't know that kind of emotion. The word love never existed in her vocabulary, until you came along." I said as I waved my hand without ever glancing back to him.
"Miu's waiting for you–"
"So you're going to let her go again?"
I froze.
"What did you say?" I mumbled.
I slowly turned to Rikuo who stood a couple feet behind me. "Is that the kind of word you should use to your rival?" I asked, looking at him from the corner of my eyes as Rikuo leaped onto the head of a snake youkai that had descended from the sky. I took a small step and fully turn myself to him. My half open wings folded restlessly at my back.
"I won't acknowledge a coward like you as my rival. I also have no intention of handing Miu to anyone else." He said calmly before a smirk slipped over his lips.
"You have a pair of wings. Wouldn't it be boring to sit here with your feet intact to the ground waiting for news?"
I stare at him, wide-eyed.
Once his words began to sink in, I snorted out a laugh. "Heh…really…" I muttered, my eyes trailing after Rikuo as he flew off on the snake youkai.
"This really sucks." I cursed beneath my breath as I slowly spread my wings. Though despite what I was saying, I couldn't help but found a smile glued to my face.
When was the last time I've smiled like this?
"This is the worst…"