by Max Jager
"Brother! Wait for me!"
With a smile, Senri turned and waited for his little sister to catch up to him. Holding his hand out for her. "Come on Yokiyo. You gotta get faster hurry up."
Groaning the other kids all stopped and turned with crossed arms to Senri. They liked to play with him, but they were really getting tired of having to stop and wait for his kid sister all the time. She was so slow and it was really starting to get on their nerves. One of them glared at Senri as he stepped closer to him. "You know Senri you don't have to bring your sister along for everything you do. We can't do anything with a kid that little tagging along all the time. Just send her home."
Watching as Yokiyo stopped just short of grabbing his hand and dropped with a sad look in her eyes. Turning a glare on the one who hurt his sister's fieling he crossed his arms. "You know just because you chose to leave your little brother out of everything you do, that doesn't mean that I have to leave my sister out."
Groaning as he rolled his eyes and rubbed the back of his neck, the kid shook his head. "I get that. You want to do stuff with her that is great. Just sometimes you need to leave her at home. You can't have your sister tagging along after you the rest of your life. I mean come on."
Closing his eyes Senri took a deep breath then walked back in the direction that they came from. Taking his sister's hand and pulling her along with him as he walked. "So you say. I promised her I would never leave her out and always be there for her. So that is what I am going to do even if it is thirty years from now. See ya around."
With wide eyes, five year old Yokiyo looked up at her brother as he lead her through the village home. "Brother it is alright. I can stay home and you can go play without me."
Stopping with a bright smile for his sister, Senri shook his head as he looked down into her eyes. "Nope. Don't worry about it Yokiyo. I promised you the night you were born that I wasn't going to ever leave your side and protect you. That started that day. Not just when I felt like it. Come on. I am sure that Father and Mama have something to put me to work doing and we can just hang around the house today."
"But are you sure big brother?"
Laughing as he stooped down and she giggled jumping on his back he walked on toward their house. "Of course I am. They were big jerks anyway."
X
Looking up to see her children coming back, Yuki gave Honaka an odd look. "Didn't they say not that long ago that they were going to go play with some of the other kids?"
"I believe they did."
Hearing his wife and mother behind him, Kaien turned to see his children as well with an arched eyebrow. "I know they did. Just before I got back from getting the things I need to fix the roof I watched them running with the kids for the rice fields."
Close enough to hear what his father said, Senri let Yokiyo dropped to the ground and looked up at him as Yokiyo ran to their mother and grandmother. "Yeah and we were for a while, but they don't like Yokiyo coming with me. So we came home."
Looking up at her son from where her daughter was on her lap Yuki sighed with a smile. "I know you told us you promised her the night she was born Senri, but you really don't have to keep Yokiyo with you every single day. There is going to come a time when she will be married and will have a husband to protect her and children for her to look after. She won't be with you every day then."
Showing just how grown up he was, far beyond his years, Senri turned to his mother with a sigh. "But at least then I know that she will be take care of and protected and it won't matter so much. I know you and father will take care of her too, but I promised her. I refuse to break it."
Pulling everyone's attention to her, Yokiyo let out a loud giggle as she jumped from her mother's lap and ran jumping into the arms of her big brother. "That is why I love you big brother!" Pulling laughs from everyone there.
But the serenity of the moment was not to last long. No sooner did she stop laughing when Yuki gasped and jumped to her feet. Her eyes wide then glaring. Demons. And they were strong. "Demons are coming. And they are stronger than the others that have come."
Not being able to sense the demons like his wife, Kaien fell from the roof next to his wife with a glare. "How strong?"
"Demon Lord strong." Looking up into her husband's face, Yuki had worried eyes. "Nearly as strong as Lord Kiyoshi." Her eyes darted down to the two wide eyed kids looking up at her. Turning back to Kaien she grabbed his hand. "Kaien…."
"I got this." He then turned and went in the house. "Senri come with me." Once he and his son were in his house, he pulled his spear down and handed it to his son. Then fitting his vogue to his back he turned and knelt before his son. Eye level with him he put his hands on his shoulders. "You know what we were talking about. These aren't your normal demons where you can hide here in the house and be fine. Take your sister, on the underground path. The one that comes out not far from the shack I showed you. Once the fight is over we will come get you. Senri this is important. I am counting on you to really keep that promise you made to your little sister right now. Alright son?"
A sharp nod was all the answer Senri gave his father. Clutching his father's spear in his hand he raced out the door and toward his sister. Stopping long enough to scoop his sister up into his arms. "Come on Yokiyo!" Then he ran for the woods and the underground path.
The sounds of screaming pulled Yuki's worried eyes from her children to the other side of the village. "They are here."
Breathing hard, Honaka turned and raced for her grandchildren. "I am going with the kids. Stop them!"
Turning to her husband as he handed her, her sword and bow and arrows she glared. "So are you ready to do this?"
"Let's go kick ass and then go get our kids."
"Right."
X
Looking back toward the village as Senri raced through the woods Yokiyo was terrified right now. She could hear the fighting. Looking up at her brother she held onto him. "Senri what are we doing?! What about Mama and Papa!"
Sliding to a stop Senri reached the hollowed out tree that lead underground and then to the shack at the other end. Sitting her down he worked to get the wood moved so they could get in the tree. "Really strong demons are coming and we need to go to a safe place Father showed me. We are going to hide and they will come get us when the fight is done."
"But demons attacked before and we never ran like this?"
"I know but these aren't normal demons Yokiyo." Once he got the wood moved he turned back to his sister to see the fear in her eyes. Fear he shared right now. "They are going to be fine Yokiyo. Come on we have to move!"
Turning her head to look as Senri lifted her up she gasped and held her hand out. "Grandma!"
Turning his eyes to find his grandmother sliding to a stop then looking behind her. "Grandma….."
Turning back to the kids, Honaka gave her grandson a look as she shook her head then turned and raced away from them. She wanted to reach them and be in the tree with them before she was noticed but she didn't get too. 'I am sorry Tomoya. I am coming to see you now. I promised I would live a longer life. But I have to save them.'
Taking a few deep breaths Senri then put Yokiyo in the tree and climbed in himself, took just a second to light the oil lamp and then reached out slamming the door shut on the tree. "Damnit!"
"Senri?"
Fixing the spear on his back, Senri took his sister's hand. "Come on Yokiyo we have to get to the shack. That is where Father and Mama are going to come looking for us when it is over.
As they walked through the tunnel, they could both hear the screams. The roars of the demons. They ground shook all around them as dirt fell on their heads. The battle was so far away but it sounded like it was right on top of them!
Her eyes shut tight, Yokiyo held onto her brother's arm with all she had. "Mama and Papa are going to be alright aren't they Senri?"
"Of course. It is Mama and Father. They will drive them away and then come looking for us. When they get to the shack, we will
all go home as a family and help rebuild the village."
"Okay brother."
X
As the sun rose, Senri found himself still awake looking toward the village from the roof of the shack. Waiting to see his parents come toward them. Through the breaks in the trees he could see all the billows of black smoke that rose into the air. It wasn't even the middle of the day when the attack happened the day before. By the time that it started to get dark, Yokiyo had fallen asleep and yet he could hear that the sounds of the battle had stopped. Overnight now, their parents had not come for them!
Hearing a yawn from inside the shack he sighed as he closed his eyes and dropped his head. He couldn't tell his sister, but he had a bad feeling about what happened. And that the two of them were going to find that their parents were gone. 'Because at least father should have come for us by now. They haven't. I doubt that anyone is still alive.'
"Big brother. Are we going to go and find Mama and Papa now?"
Wanting to say no, yet knowing that he had to at some point, Senri looked down into her pleading eyes that were already filling with tears. He was starting to come to terms with it, and she was going to have to anyway. Though he wanted to cry just as hard as his sister looked like she was, he willed himself not too.
Dropping from the roof as she walked out the door, he held his hand out for her. "Alright. Let's go. But stay close to me."
"Right brother." Holding his hand, Yokiyo walked alongside him as silent tears fell. She had never been so scared of anything in her entire life. Right now all she wanted was her mother and father. The attack this time made her and Senri leave the village with her Papa's spear. She was worried about them because they never came to get them like Senri said that they would.
Not going back through the underground cave, Senri and Yokiyo finally reached the break in the trees to see what was left of their village. But there was nothing left standing at all! Looking around with pale and horrified faces at what they saw, they both slowly started to make their way through what was left. Stepping over bodies and pieces of them.
Keeping his hand tight on his sister's, Senri glared through his tears. He had never seen anything like this! "This is awful."
Stopping, Yokiyo jerked her head up to him as even more tears rushed from her wide eyes. "But where are Mama and Papa!?"
"Senri…Yokiyo…."
Hearing the pain filled gurgled of their father's voice both Senri and Yokiyo froze then slowly turned to see their parents. They were sitting on the ground with their backs against each other, a long sword running through them both! For a moment Senri could only look in horror at the scene before him, while his now wailing sister an right for them.
Seconds later he did the same thing and slid to a stop falling to his knees before his father. "Father what….."
Nodding as Senri looked down at the sword as Senri started to reach out. "Do….it…." Then both he and his wife let out a groan as he pulled it from their bodies. Yuki falling to the side with her head in Yokiyo's lap, and he was caught around the shoulders by Senri. "I am….sorry…..Senri. That you…..had….to be the one…..to do that."
Opening her eyes Yuki smiled up at her daughter. "Don't cry….Yokiyo. It will….all…be just fine."
Though she was only five years old, Yokiyo knew that it wasn't ever going to be just fine again! Not anymore! Shaking her head as she clung to her mother Yokiyo sobbed. "It won't be Mama! Why did this happen?"
Forcing his emotions to stay in check, Senri turned first his mother so she was on her back with her head back in Yokiyo's. Then his father. Resting his father's head in his lap also. Watching as his parents held each other's hands, he let the tears flow. Though they were silent. Looking down at his father he was breathing heavy. "Were they really this strong Father?"
His hand that held his wife's tightened as his black eyes focused on his son, Kaien gave a small nod. "Indeed they were. Now son. As soon as you can, take your sister and go to the demon Lord Kiyoshi. All you need to do is tell anyone there that the dragon Shinra attacked a village and he will see you. Tell him that she lead the charge here."
Shaking his head as confusion shined in his eyes, Senri didn't understand that order. "But why do I need to tell him anything? He hates all humans and would rather kill us than do anything to protect us from stuff like this."
"Because I said so that's why damnit!" Kaien gave his son a cross look for a moment then sighed as he used his free hand and grabbed his son by the neck and pulled his head down so their foreheads were touching. "Senri. I know you don't get it but Kiyoshi isn't as bad as he seems I promise. Just do this. You are the man of the family now son. It is up to you and you alone to protect your sister. Protect her with your life and make sure that she gets trained as well. I am proud of your son. I know you will never let me down. I love you Senri, and I love you Yokiyo more than I could ever say or show. Remember that son."
"Yes Father. I love you too. And Mama." Though there was no sound, Senri let the tears fall from his eyes into his father's hair as his entire body shook with silent sobs.
Clinging to her mother, all Yokiyo could do was cry. With all she had. "Please Mama don't go. Don't leave me and Senri all alone! Please!"
With a shaky hand, Yuki reached up as she pushed in on her daughter's nose, then pulled her head down to do the same thing with her, that Kaien had done with Senri. Resting her daughter's forehead on her own. Though she smiled, she let her own tears fall from the corner of her eyes. "I wish I could stay with you forever my daughter. You make sure to be a good girl for your brother and listen to him. He will protect you. I wish I could have watched you both grow up. To watch you both grow strong and beautiful. My angel. My prince. I love you with everything that I have and I always will. I am proud of you both."
Using a shaky hand, Yuki reached out and pushed in on her daughter's nose then did the same thing with her that her husband did with their son, bringing her down so her forehead rested on her head. "I wish I could. Be a good girl for your brother and listen to him. He will protect you. I wish I could have watched you grow up my Yokiyo. Into a strong and beautiful miko. I will see it, but I wish I could be with you. I love you my angel. With everything that I have and I always will."
While they held their children with one hand, and each other with the other, Kaien and Yuki cracked a single eye open and looked at each other with smiles through the corner of their eyes. If nothing else, they lived and loved in life without regret. And even when it came down to it, though they didn't have long with their children, they set them on the path that would one day change history and be a right and just life. They had each other to look after and that would keep them on the path. As for the two of them, they fell in love, and they would die together. Protecting the two people in the entire world that were most precious to them. Their children.
Flinching as they gasped with wide eyes, both Senri and Yokiyo felt their parent's hands slip off their necks to fall to the ground. Their bodies going limp. They were gone. Fisting his hands on his father's clothes, Senri nearly became lost in his own sorrow over it. But the increase in wailing from his sister drew him out of it, Moving and gently laying his father's head on the ground, then the same with their mother, Senri held his sister as she clung to him sobbing uncontrollable.
In just one day they went from a happy and loving family, to being just the two of them all alone with no parents and no one to take them in. In less than a day they lost their mother. Their father. Their grandmother. Everyone that they had ever known. In all the world now they only had each other to depend on.
Tightening his hold on his sister, Senri looked down through his own tears first at his mother then to his father. 'I can't say I will go to Kiyoshi. I don't think I will. But I can promise you this father. Mother. I will make Yokiyo strong. She will know how to fight and hold her own against anyone. Demon lord or not. And I will never stop at anything. Never stop! Until Shinra pays for what she has done to our family. I won't rest
until she is dead.'
Making of a Lady Chapter 51
It has been five days since the demons attacked and destroyed the village, killing everyone but Senri and his sister. Now standing over the very last grave of the last body that could be found, he let out a sigh. He was done. Had his parents lived they would have done the same thing for those that they knew and cared about, not left them for demons and wild animals to feast on.
The thought of his parents drew his attention to the top of a hill. You used to have to stand in their backyard to see the tree, but now with no village he could clearly see where his parents were buried. They never found what happened to their grandmother though they did look. So there was a grave marker for her next to where their grandfather was. And next to him was their parents. A single tear from each eye traveled half way down his face before he whipped them away as he thought about them. It seemed only fitting that they be all together in death as they were in life.