Midoriko kept muttering profanities under her breath, the stress forcing her to her old ways. She paced the waiting area repeating the steps in her head and cursing out loud when she got it wrong.
"You know." Akane said, smirking at Midoriko. "The kagura is the easiest of all dance forms. You're lucky!"
Midoriko shot an angry look at Akane and cursed again.
"Don't distract me." Midoriko hissed, as she swayed on the spot.
Midoriko had spent the last week dancing. She cleaned dancing. She cooked dancing. She prayed dancing. She managed to get an entirity of 14 hrs of sleep that week.
Akane tried to coach Midoriko. But her two left feet had Akane on her wit's end. To Midoriko's surprise, the other girls took turn coaching Midoriko too. They helped her late into the night, trying their best to break the steps down as much as they could. Other than Akane, Midoriko wasn't especially close to any of the girls there.
"We're sisters!" Kaya had explained when Midoriko suspected a catch to the niceness. "We're in this together."
Midoriko didn't know how to respond to kindness of the other miko apprentice. But she had made up her mind that once it was all over, she would make an effort to bond with the others too.
"Fuck!" She cursed as she tripped.
She threw the fan across the room.
"Dance is all about giving in to the moment." Akane said, as she walked across the room and picked up Midoriko's fan.
She twirled it in her hand and covered the side of her face.
"It's about letting the Gods take over and move you into dance." Akane said, as she twirled slowly on one leg.
"Let's not get started about the Gods." Midoriko said, sourly as she dusted her costume.
The kagura dance costume was a simple one. The regular miko clothes had a long overcoat with bird patterns on them. Midoriko looked at the elaborate headset which she was supposed to balance on her head.
"That's where your problem lies." Akane said, handing Midoriko her fan. "You're too into your head. And you can't dance in your head."
Midoriko squinted her eyes in anger.
"This isn't going to work out, is it?" Midoriko said.
Akane slowly nodded.
"It's not the technique." Akane said, kindly. "It's your heart. It just won't give in to the moment."
Midoriko nodded knowledgeably.
"Yes." Midoriko said. "I see your point."
She then turned heel and marched across the room. She took out a cloth bag from a hidden hole under the ground.
"When did you dig that?" Akane said, surprised.
"My unyielding heart always thinks of a escape route!" Midoriko said, putting the bag over her shoulder.
She then pulled Akane into a tight hug.
"I am really going to miss you." Midoriko said, her voice choking a little. "Tell the others that I'm really grateful for their help."
Midoriko pulled away but Akane held her hand.
"Don't be silly." Akane said, rolling her eyes. "You can't run away!"
"What other option do I have?!" Midoriko said, incredulously. "I just cannot dance. Bijinko-san is going to have me kicked out anyway. I might as well leave with some dignity and spare myself the humiliation."
Akane rubbed her temples. It was tiresome to Akane that even though Midoriko was 2 years older than her, Akane was still the adult in the relationship.
"If you abdicate..." Akane said, trying to keep her voice calm. "You have no means of a livelihood. Nobody to support you. Your sister will be kicked out by Lord Hajime. You need to think things through."
Midoriko smiled cockily.
"I'm going to bust my sister out." Midoriko said, her eyes shining. "And then I'm going to become a demon slayer."
"A demon slayer?" Akane said, shocked. "Since when have you been thinking about that! You have spiritual powers. The strongest in all the lands. A demon slayer is beneath us. You cannot be serious about this!"
Midoriko held her tongue. She didn't want to discuss the nature of her powers with Akane.
"What choice do I have?" Midoriko shot back, taking the alternate route. "Is it fair that I get kicked out because I can't dance?"
"Yamato-san would never let that happen." Akane said, biting her lip.
"That is a possibility in the future." Midoriko said, stamping her foot. "I'm going to make a complete fool of myself in a couple of hours."
Midoriko put her bag down and marched up to the head-dress. She put it on her head, the bead laces covering her face.
"I can't dance, even without this." Midoriko said, moving unsteadily. "I'm expected to pull out a stunning performance. My powers are for killing demons. Not for dancing!"
Midoriko swirled on the spot and fell out of the makeshift changing area, the curtain door swaying open. Midoriko looked at Akane, through the beads. She didn't like the way Akane was looking at her. It made her stomach churn.
"Miko-san?" Midoriko heard a voice say politely from nearby.
Midoriko immediately got to her feet. Looking at the company of the voice who called out to her, she held the head-dress firmly in place.
"Masayoshi-sama?" Akane said, bowing as she hid Midoriko from view. "This is the changing area. The main event is at the shrine square."
The youngest son of the feudal lord, So Masayoshi, nodded, his violet eyes glistening in the sunlight.
"Our guest wanted to see the sacred garden." Masayoshi said, gesturing towards the boy next to him. "Since today is the only day the barrier is let down, I wanted to accompany him. I beg your forgiveness. We were unaware that this shortcut was being used as a changing area."
Midoriko tried to shrink away from view behind Akane.
"That's quite alright." Akane said, bowing in humility. "Please. Proceed this way. Inu no Taisho would find the hydrangea exquisite this time of year."
Inu no Taisho averted his gaze from Midoriko and nodded at Akane.
"Thank..." Inu no Taisho started but was interrupted by Midoriko slapping her own neck.
"A flea?" Midoriko murmured looking at her hand.
Inu no Taisho squeeled in surprise.
"You have my deepest apologies, Miko-sama." Inu no Taisho said, getting on his knees. "That is Myoga. His clan is an ally of ours. However, they are not the most refined. I beg your forgiveness for his disrespect."
Myoga popped back to size and jumped on Inu no Taisho's shoulder.
"My humblest apologies, Miko-chan." Myoda said, scratching his brown hair. "I couldn't resist myself. The rumors of your power pale to your true strength. Your bl..."
Inu no Taisho squished Myoga flat with his thumb. He bowed his head, still waiting for Midoriko's forgiveness. Masayoshi got to his knees as well.
"Miko-san." Masayoshi said, his dark hair falling carelessly over his handsome features. "I request you to forgive this insolence and close the chapter. The defiling of a maiden by a demons hand is cause for war, from my father's point of view. And it would be most prudent to close the matter now."
"We wouldn't want war now, would we?" Akane said, a few moments later, looking pointedly at Midoriko.
"Oh.." Midoriko said, catching the flow of the conversation. "Right. I forgive you."
Midoriko's heart was racing. If Inu no Taisho got even the slightest hint that Midoriko was the one tormenting him for a month, a war between the humans and the yokai would ensue. Midoriko didn't even know how she let it get that far.
At first, she would stand by the main castle door. The demons would go in a frenzy sensing her presence. Midoriko reckoned that if she were ever to be successful, she needed to find a way to cloak her powers. It took almost an year for her to cloak herself to lower demons. She progressively snuck into the castle, the demons reliant on their extra sense perception of smell and hearing. The only way for them to detect Midoriko would be if she danced inadeptly in front of their eyes. Midoriko started working her way up to more powerful demons.
The first time Midoriko sneaked around on Inu no Taisho was when his red haired tutor and he were dueling. Midoriko almost revealed herself as she stood there mesmerized by Inu no Taisho's skill. The sword was a blur in his hand and he was almost at par with his more experienced and stronger tutor.
Something in Midoriko clicked that day.
Until then, she wasn't afraid of demons. She knew she was stronger and could turn them to dust. But her hands shook as she gazed upon Inu no Taisho's raw power. And it wasn't just his overwhelming demonic presence. It was his ability at an art that was majorly human.
Survival instinct kicked in and she burned Inu no Taisho's shoulder. She knew that she didn't want a demon to get that powerful. Inu no Taisho dropped his sword and looked around wildly. But Midoriko was already high tailing it back to the shrine. She was terrified of being discovered and being the reason for a war. And ever since that day, Midoriko swore not to allow Inu no Taisho, the youngest son of the Inu Daiyokai, to get stronger.
"Thank you, kind Miko-san." Inu no Taisho said, rising to his feet and bowing in humility. "I'm in your debt."
Midoriko slowly nodded.
Masayoshi bowed too and the two left.
"That was close!" Akane said, once she was sure that they were out of earshot.
But Midoriko was shivering.
"He knows." Midoriko murmured. "He remembers my scent now. I was so engrossed in this stupid dance that I didn't cloak myself. All the Inu yokai know."
Akane clutched Midoriko's shoulder.
"I know you don't trust them." Akane said, in a soft voice. "But they are our allies. It's OK. They won't hurt us."
Midoriko reserved her comments.
"You can't run away." Akane said, a few moments later. "We all worked really hard."
Midoriko nodded. She felt foolish. Why was she worried about tripping in a stupid dance? She had to become a miko to make sure no innocent people ever died again. If there was even a slight chance that Yamato could make sure she doesn't get expelled, she had to take it.
-X-X-
Midoriko took a deep breath as she faced the main shrine. She rang the bells in her hand and started the dance. She had to dance solo for around ten minutes and then the rest of the girls would join in. She could easily melt into the crowd then and mess up to her hearts content.
The Inu yokai watched the performance with genuine interest, their culture having no similar practise. Their eyes bore into Midoriko uncomfortably, their demonic gaze making her heart beat violently.
A couple of minutes in, Midoriko took a deep breath and felt the stress melt away. The yokai collectively shivered. She could tell that they had got a full blow of her powers. She controlled her smile.
It gave her solace that the demons were afraid of her. She bowed again to the altar of the shrine and got to one foot. She was almost done. The other girls would join her when she set her foot back on the ground. But as though fate had another plan, a strong gust of wind destabilized Midoriko.
Fuck. She thought, as she slipped sideways.
The crowed collectively gasped. Bijinko closed her eyes, her nostrils flared.
But the worst part was yet to come.
The head-dress rolled of Midoriko's head and she lay on her side facing Lord So and his guests, which included Inu no Taisho. Realization flashed across Inu no Taisho's face.
"You!" He jumped to his feet, pointing at Midoriko.
Few of the gazes averted to Inu no Taisho. Midoriko clenched her fists, ready to fight of all the demons present at her home.
"You..." Inu no Taisho repeated, as the other miko apprentice got on stage, continuing the performance.
Akane positioned herself next to Midoriko.
"Get up." She mumbled under her breath. "Get up and dance."
Midoriko nodded and got to her feet, moving to the last file of the dancing mikos. Inu no Taisho watched the performance quietly, following Midoriko with his golden eyes. Midoriko could feel his demonic intent overpower every other demon present, including his own parents. But he was quiet. He hadn't outed Midoriko yet.
Maybe he is waiting for the performance to end. Midoriko thought, thinking of way to get the barrier up again and expelling the demons.
The performance met thunderous applause, human and demon alike. The mikos bowed to the altar for whom they had performed and hurried off stage.
"You were amazing, Mido-can!" Kaya said, enthusiastically.
Midoriko frowned at the lot.
"I tripped." Midoriko said, confused. "Did that not happen?"
"That was a difficult portion." Kaya said, changing into her regular clothes.
"For a person who couldn't dance for two minutes at a stretch, you did remarkably well under pressure." Midoriko heard Bijinko-san's voice.
Bijinko was smiling at her students.
"The Lord and Daiyokai alike loved the performance." Bijinko said. "And I must say, all the sneaking around and practising did you a lot of good. All of you. It was heart warming to see your resolve to help your sister."
The others laughed, looking forward to spending the rest of the festival with the regular population, lighting fireworks and eating at the stalls.
Akane stood by the door, her expression reflective. She signalled Midoriko to follow her. After walking a couple of paces, Akane turned around, her hand on her hip.
"You were supposed to hold on to that head dress, no matter what." Akane said, her face screwed in anger. "He wasn't supposed to see you. We're lucky he kept quiet. You're going to apologize to him right now!"
Midoriko rubbed he elbow.
"No." She muttered.
"No?!" Akane exclaimed, her eyes twitching. "That wasn't a request, Mido. Do as I say or..."
"No." Midoriko said, now looking at Akane stubbornly. "I didn't do anything wrong. I was preventing him from getting stronger."
"Is that what you were doing?" Inu no Taisho's voice rang from nearby.
He was accompanied by a surly Masayoshi, who was looking at Midoriko angrily.
"You have no power here." Midoriko said, hovering protectively in front of Akane.
Inu no Taisho grinned, his fangs boring into his lips. His eyes changed colour and the blue streaks on his cheek crackled. Midoriko marked characters in the air. Inu no Taisho swiped his hand and Midoriko fell back. Akane looked at the demon horrified.
"Relax." Inu no Taisho said, smiling, the air around him claming down. "I just wanted to show you how much power I have."
"You dumb mutt." Midoriko said, angrily. "Are you mocking..."
"Enough." Masayoshi intervened, his voice powerful. "Miko. You have to apologize to Inu no Taisho right now. He has agreed to keep this information from his father under that condition."
"No." Midoriko said, stubbornly getting to her feet.
Power radiated from her, the leaves of trees rustling. Midoriko flexed her fingers, ready to purify the demon in front of her.
But any such thought was driven from her mind by a resounding slap across the cheek from Akane.
"Hey!" Inu no Taisho said, rushing towards the two.
"I know this is hard for you." Akane said, tears streaming down her cheeks. "But you have no idea just how serious this can get. I get why you don't trust demons. But this is bigger than that. If a war breaks out, we will lose. No matter how strong you are, we will lose. Innocent people will die because you couldn't mutter a simple apology. You maybe a lot of things but you're not heartless, Midoriko."
Midoriko flinched at the use of her full name.
"I..." Inu no Taisho started.
"I'm sorry." Midoriko said, her hands shaking. "I'm sorry that I was trying to stop you from getting stronger. That stems from my own issues and if you must, I should be the one punished. Nobody else is responsible."
A few moments passed when nobody spoke.
"Well." Masayoshi said, scratching his chin. "That escalated quickly."
Midoriko looked up to Masayoshi grinning sheepishly at the two. Inu no Taisho looked at the scene uncomfortably.
"He only wanted to pull your leg." Masayoshi explained, his hands raised as he started backing up. "He was rather impressed by your cloaking ability."
"Not impressed." Inu no Taisho said, mirroring Masayoshi. "Mildly surprised, to be accurate."
Masayoshi let out a chuckled. Akane glared at him.
"It's all water under the bridge, Miko-san." Masayoshi said, almost out of earshot. "We..."
Masayoshi was interrupted by a loud blast that shook the earth. The four looked in the general direction and watched a portion of the snow white castle missing, dark smoke reaching for the sky.
AN:
Whew! You made it! Hope you guys like the story so far. Let me know what you think through reviews/PM.
As always, keep reading!