Scarlet Justice - ep. 05
"Departures"
My father never actually took care of me. Emi was a terrible mother when I first met her. She was rude, uncaring, and easily annoyed. That was just to start. Never having a child of her own, she saw me as a tool, a means to curry favour. And my father, for his part, always gave her the green light.
From what I have glimpsed of him, my father has remained the same over these past two months. He barely looks at me, doesn't even notice me at times. But Emi has been different. She has been paying attention to me. She has gone from minimal interest to actually caring about me. About not just my progress, but my well-being.
"Lilith."
"Yes, ma'am." We cross paths in the main foyer today. Midori-nee suggested two weeks of rest before my departure to the Leaf; I had done enough work over the past month and a half that I deserved it. No objections came from me.
"..."
"..." We are both silent, and it's quite awkward again.
"I really should apologize. Those dresses look especially horrible on you now. Goodness."
"...I see."
"You look fabulous, physically speaking. I worried with all the training you would become musclebound, or something to that effect...but it's worked out well. Very good."
"Thank you."
"When you do return, I'll be sure to make you look more chic," she says with a smile. Her fingers snap as she walks off, and a maid runs from the other side of the foyer to meet her.
We have had talks like this over the past few days. Short, engaging, and with a compliment or two on her part. She also gives me advice, like the other day.
I should use my lips to smile.
I try it out. It...makes me look subdued, and a bit cuter. I understand why she suggested it, and it's a useful tip for the future. We've somehow become closer, and her eyes have changed. Emi no longer looks down on me...I think she only did it to protect herself. I wondered what kind of threat I could possibly be, but I realize the marriage wasn't all that long ago, even if it feels like it.
She's drinking tea with Luna today. I really do wonder what they could be talking about.
A new day arrives. Luna seems marginally better, though still depressed from what I can tell. She asks me not to worry too much, and I respect her wishes.
Today is a warm and sunny day. I put on something that isn't hideous - a silk shirt and pants will do. Silk always feels nice.
"Luna?"
"Yes, Miss Lilith. How might I help you?" Luna appears in my room a moment later.
"I was going to head up to Midori-nee's mansion. Did you want to come along?"
"I...think I should decline."
"I see." It's disappointing, but the last thing I want to do is pressure her. I give her a hug, and she hugs me back. "Then I will be back in a few hours. Be well."
"Thank you, Miss Lilith. Please take care."
I nod and make my way out. A handsome young butler takes me up the road to Midori's place, and I curtsy before the men in suits. They bow deeply to acknowledge me, and then the large gates slide open to lead me up the path and inside.
We meet one of the regular maids, a woman of average height but with a muscular figure. Her hair sweeps across her eyes.
"Lady Lilith, a pleasure to see you again," she says. I remember her name is Maia, from previous interactions. She sometimes was present in the weight room when Midori-nee and I trained, and helped with spotting.
I curtsy again to acknowledge her and she elegantly returns the gesture. My escort nervously bows deeply, seemingly not to offend her.
"Lady Midoriko is in the yard. She's taken on her natural appearance...did you want me to follow?"
"I will be fine. Thank you very much."
"Understood. If the gentleman would follow me, we have a rest area for him to wait in."
I nod to the butler, who gulps before following her. In the meantime, I head towards the backyard. At first, it seemed like entirely too much space for one woman and her maids. But the words 'natural appearance' made me understand what was going on.
I reach the yard and run into a massive, dark green wall. It has scales on it, big ones, and is moving slightly. Pulsing with what I know is life. The wall of flesh moves until the head of a snake comes into view. It towers high over me, and my height is swallowed up by the single golden eye that stares at me. I can see myself reflected in it, with my awestruck expression.
But I know exactly who this is.
"Midori-nee," I speak into the air.
"Yes, 'tis I. I was taking advantage of the good weather, and its blessed warmth," I hear her say. Her voice is the same as ever, going directly into my head. "Do you dislike this form?"
"Not at all," I reply.
"Really? You're not just saying it?"
"I'm not," I insist. "I like you this way also."
"You really are sweet, Lili. But I'm sure you like the form you first met me in, no? It's very convenient for hugs. I simply have to stretch myself out like this every so often...as much as I love kimonos and racy lingerie, I am a snake through and through."
I nod to that and run a hand across her scaly skin. It's amazing how different it feels. There's a beauty in this form of hers...something that I can't yet describe, but hope to one day soon. "You're really big, Midori-nee. Do all snakes in your world get this size?"
"No, only royalty tends to grow to this size in the first place. There are definitely man-sized snakes to be found amongst the humans, but...mm. I am still growing, even now. One day I should grow big enough to rival him, the Supreme Snake." I hear her sigh. "But I don't want to wait that long. I want to take my rightful place soon."
"Why?" I ask.
"Humanity has already left its disgusting fingerprints on my world. And that foolish...hrm. No, never mind. I will tell you more about that once you are truly ready. I promise."
"Yes. I understand."
"Very good. Now, give me a moment...I think I have absorbed enough sunlight for the day." I step back and Midori's large body begins to glow green before turning into a mass of light. It slowly melts down and shrinks into a humanoid shape...the light melts away, downwards and towards the ground, revealing my elder sister in all her glory. She wears a green kimono for the day and flips her green hair dramatically, giving me a smile.
"You came to see me once more before you left. That makes me so happy, Lili. Did you have anything in mind today?"
"No, nothing. I just wanted to see you."
"Then let's have tea together. Will that suit you?"
"It would."
"Good." She produces a fan from one of her sleeves with a flick of her wrist. "Let us enjoy ourselves."
We sit quietly in the garden, enjoying the scent of the carefully tended-to gardenia flowers nearby. Freshly brewed tea has been brought to us, and we sit beneath the shade of an umbrella at a wooden table. There is a question that has been on my mind for a long while now. I decide that I will ask it, no matter what might happen next.
"Why me?"
"You were the only one to choose," Midori replies, seemingly on reflex. She...has probably been waiting for me to ask that very question.
"This is far bigger than me, isn't it..."
She sips her tea before answering. "Yes. In many ways, it is."
"..."
"Do you resent it, Lili? Knowing this much?"
"No. I love you," I say. It's the only sensible answer. And it's a truthful one.
"I love you, too." She lets out a breath. "No matter what happens...do not be afraid to move forward. I will always be your shield."
As our eyes meet, she smiles warmly at me. And the joy that springs up in my heart makes me smile back at her. It's a new kind of smile, this time.
I want her to treasure this one just like the last.
"Miss Lilith..."
Yes, I know. This is it.
My day of departure.
Luna's voice brings me up and out of bed. "Let's take a bath."
"Yes, Miss Lilith."
Luna washes my hair as she always does, then leaves me to soak in the tub alone. I sit for a while, thinking about what will be coming down the road of life. Cliche, probably...but important all the same.
My equipment and clothing will be procured once I reach the Hidden Leaf Village. Everything important needed has already been packed, including my casual clothing. The hideous dresses will be donated to...I want to say the less fortunate, but I would hesitate to call anyone wearing those things fortunate at any point. Everything else will be bought in the village. Expense is an afterthought. The rich, as Emi tells me constantly, live mysterious lives.
I dress in a light jacket and fuzzy dress, simply to throw something on for the trip down. The slippers I'm wearing can be safely discarded later.
Luna waits for me in the foyer and supervises the loading of the carriage. She nods as I meet up with her.
"Shall we go?" I ask.
"Yes, we shall."
"Has Father already left for the day?"
"He didn't return last night. From what I know, he is completing yet another business deal."
"I see...understood," I say, tonelessly. I have no idea why I keep hoping against hope. Perhaps that bond between father and daughter is more persistent than I realized. "Luna."
"Yes, Miss Lilith?"
"Be honest with me. Tell me what you're feeling."
She pauses for a moment before her face twists up with loathing. "He is a worthless man."
"..."
"I have next to no respect for him. I'm sorry."
I nod. "Don't apologize. It's more than a fair assessment."
She looks at me sadly before composing herself. "Yes. I'll make sure the rest of the bags are downstairs."
A while later, we are outside of the front gates. The carriage that will take us to the Hidden Leaf is ready to depart.
"You know what to do, Luna."
"Yes, Mistress. I will report to you as needed, and inform you of Miss Lilith's graduation date."
"Very good." Emi turns to me, and I can see that she's thinking on what to say.
I wonder. It seems to be more than a generic goodbye, at least this time.
"You are a Kobayashi woman. Remember that, Lilith."
Emotion that I didn't realize I was holding back comes to the surface.
"Thank you," I say with absolute sincerity. I...am there at last. Emi has acknowledged me, openly. She has accepted me.
These past two months have done more than I realized.
"I know that I've looked down on you for the longest time. Lilith, I apologize. The next time we meet...I want to see you as a warrior. As the proud woman that I know you can become."
"I won't fail you," I say with passion. "I promise."
"Hmph." A smug smile shows up on her face. "That much was obvious from the start. You are my stepdaughter, after all. Be on your way, dear. Take care."
"I will. Goodbye." I give her a hug and then move to step into the carriage. Luna starts after me.
"The journey begins in earnest."
There is another person inside with us.
"Lady Midoriko," Luna says quietly.
"'Tis I. I've come to see you both off properly. Lili, do not hesitate to call on me whenever necessary."
"Yes, understood."
"Luna...I have much to say to you. Would you come to me a moment?"
"Yes...of course." Luna leaves her seat beside me to sit next to Midori at the other end of the compartment. The carriage starts to move as the horses pull, and I see Emi waving us off before we leave her sight.
"I have...high standards, Luna. And..."
"..."
"It's a bit insulting on your part to think those things."
"I...don't understand," Luna says, blinking.
"I wouldn't pick someone unworthy of me all of a sudden. It's foolish for you to think that."
"I'm sorry...I didn't mean..."
"If you didn't mean it, then...no, I'm sorry, I might be bad at this myself," Midori says with a soft laugh. She puts her hand on Luna's leg. "I want to hear the words from you, Luna."
"I simply thought that it was too good to be true. Even if it was wrong, I...ran away from you. I thought that it would be better if we just stayed far apart, instead of hurting you and disappointing myself. I misread your feelings, and I judged you. I'm so sorry. I...got scared."
"Why? Did I...?"
"It was nothing you did! Don't misunderstand...I was scared because of how wonderful you are. How perfect you are. You're so beautiful, and intelligent, and kind and warm...and, um." Luna takes Midori's hand in hers. "Incredibly sexy. I thought about you sexually...more than once. You really are a goddess."
"Ah. I'm happy to hear that, you know?"
"You have a sense of humour, too." Luna pauses. "I love you. I really and truly do, Midoriko. Even as I tried to increase the distance between us, I couldn't stop thinking of you. I wanted you so badly, and I was so stupid that I denied myself."
"You know what I am...right?"
"None of that matters. I want to be with you...if you would let me after being so stupid."
"You are not stupid. And neither are you perfect. You're Luna...and you're the person I fell in love with all that time ago. You're exactly my type, you know?"
"A-am I..."
"Smart, and caring...clever...attentive...so many good things. And in the same way you mentioned earlier..."
"Yes...?"
"Being able to make love to you...thinking about it makes my heart beat fast. I've dreamed of you more than once."
"Ah." Luna is blushing. "I...am so flattered to hear that."
"Luna...thank you for accepting my feelings. All of them. I love you."
The kiss they share is filled with passion, and I don't consider pulling my eyes away. It's pure, this expression of love between these two beautiful women. Something that makes indescribable feelings bounce around inside of my head, even as relief and affection courses through me. I watch them get lost in each other for what feels like a long time, before they slowly pull away from each other.
Two pairs of eyes, filled with love and hope for the future. A bond formed over a few weeks and strengthened in a few minutes.
It's more and more beautiful the more I think about it.
At the same time...I wonder if something has blossomed inside of me. I do feel like I could have a case of the vapours if I don't calm down soon.
"I suppose I should go. We will talk soon. Until then...both of you, take care."
Midori gives me a wink before disappearing in small cloud of smoke. Luna takes her place beside me again, face red with heat.
"Window."
"Ah, yes." She opens it, letting fresh air rush into the compartment. I feel better immediately and so does she, though we both still must be blushing a bit.
"Was that better?" I ask.
"Yes. Yes, much better. Thank you, Miss Lilith." She seems to know what I meant by that.
I simply nod and lean back into my seat. The carriage continues to move straight ahead, down the road.
Towards the place where I will make my first mark on this world.