by Max Jager
Seeing movement out the side of his eye, Senri sighed when he saw his sister with a dropped head once again walking toward the graves. Another batch of wild flowers in her hand. It hit him hard about what happened to their parents. But Yokiyo seemed to be taking it ten times harder than he was. It seemed all she did anymore was cry.
Dropping his shovel he walked up the hill to stand behind her. Once again fisting his hands at his side as silent tears streamed from his eyes. Part a mix of pain being only ten years old and looking down at his parent's graves. Being there and watching as they both slipped away from them and helpless to do anything for them at all. But the other part was because of Yokiyo. She took it so much harder than he did. He knew that the only way to hear her heart was to bring them back. But he had to figure out a way to lessen the pain seeing as that was impossible. "Yokiyo….."
With a sniffle, Yokiyo blinked her eyes as even more tears streamed from her eyes. "Why Senri? Why did Mama and Papa have to die?"
"I don't know Yokiyo." Bending down next to his sister, Senri laid a hand on her head as he sighed. "But you know that we can't stay here right?"
Shutting her eyes as hard as she could, Yokiyo hugged herself as she violently shook her head side to side. "I don't want to leave here! This is home and where they are! I won't leave them!"
Whipping his own eyes as he sighed, Senri kept his eyes on the graves as well. "I don't want to leave them either Yokiyo. But we just can't stay here anymore. We can maybe come back when we are bigger. But right now we have to find a village that will let us stay there."
"I said no brother!"
"Yokiyo!" With a sigh as hurt flew through his eyes to see his sister flinch because of the harshness of his voice, Senri dropped his head. "I am sorry little sister but we have to leave here. There is no more village it is gone. And as much as I hate to admit it, I cannot protect you here just the two of us. I'm just not strong enough yet."
Sobbing now, Yokiyo dropped her head low as she shook. She wasn't leaving. Never. "If you want to leave Senri then leave. I am staying here. I won't leave them!" She then laid her hand on first her father's grave then her mothers, then stood up and walked away from her brother. She could not believe that he wanted to leave the place where their parents were buried. The place they were raised! She just couldn't do it. She wouldn't do it.
X
Later that night, Senri watched as his sister ate the dinner that he made for them as they sat in a make shift hut that he was able to put together. Though neither were talking to the other. But Senri knew that it had to be said and he was going to have his first big fight he has ever had with his little sister. But they had to leave. It just wasn't safe there anymore. "Yokiyo I…."
Shaking her head, Yokiyo closed her eyes. "I told you Senri. I am not leaving here. I won't leave them. Even if you make me go with you, I will run back here the first chance I get."
Glaring at her now, Senri crossed his arms. "I swear you can be damned hard headed you know that Yokiyo. What happens if demons come back? You don't know how to shoot sacred arrows yet. I am not physically strong enough to fight a demon right now. We would be a free meal!"
As even more tears fell from her eyes, Yokiyo once again shook her head as hard as she could side to side. "I don't care! I won't leave them! They wouldn't leave us!"
Letting out a long sigh, Senri moved so he was sitting behind his sobbing sister and hugged her around her shoulders. "I know that Yokiyo but they were strong. They could have rebuilt the village. They would be able to protect us. We are not as strong as they are yet. We will come back one day. I promise that. But right now it is just too dangerous to stay and we aren't strong enough to protect ourselves."
Turning and holding onto her brother, Yokiyo sobbed even more. She understood what he was saying and why he was saying it. But still. She knew there was no way that she could leave. She couldn't leave and not be there to give them fresh flowers every day. Not knowing what is going on, what happens to them once they aren't there anymore. She knew that she would just die if something happen to their graves and bodies and they weren't here to at least try and stop it.
X
Three more days have passed, and Senri let out a long sigh as he watched as just like she has done every day since they were buried, Yokiyo walked toward his parents graves with fresh wild flowers in her hand. Every morning she would go to the stream wash her face, get a drink, pick some flowers and go and sit with them until hunger drove her to the berry bushes then right back she would go. She would stay there every day all day long and at night he would have to go and carry her back to the hut when she would finally fall asleep laying between the graves.
Ever since he told her that they needed to leave because it wasn't save anymore, she has done nothing but ignore him. Acting like she was all alone there and no one was with her. And he was at a total loss of what to do to make her see reason. 'Dad. Mama. I could really use some help when it comes to her and make her leave. She won't listen.'
But then just as he started to close his eyes, he got that sudden sense of fear. Glaring as he fell and lifted the spear his father gave him he looked around. There was a demon nearby. He focused as he tried to find it. He wasn't as good as his mother or grandmother were when it came to sensing them, but he could. Just as he was able to find it, he gasped as he took off in a mad run toward his sister. It was headed for Yokiyo! "Yokiyo! Yokiyo run! Run away now!"
Hearing the fear in her brother's voice, Yokiyo turned and went wide eyed as a demon cat of some kind came out of the woods racing across the field toward her. Tears filled her eyes as she froze and began to shake. "Senri….. Brother… Help me!"
As he ran he scooped up a sword and chucked it at the demon, pushing himself faster as it zig zagged he did too and was able to get around it and was able to push his sister down as he stood over her with the spear in the ready. "Back off you bastard."
He then watched as the demon spun around and readied himself to leap at them again. But he hardened his eyes when it flinched, turned to the sky then ran fast they opposite way. Really fast. Looking up at the sky, his breathing heavy as he glared even harder than before. It was Kiyoshi. "He isn't even going to stop and try to see what happened is he? That bastard."
"Brother who is that?"
"The Demon Lord Kiyoshi. That is who Father wanted me to tell that Shinra attacked our village. I can't do that. He didn't even stop. He probably didn't even look down." He then turned his dark blue eyes down to look into his sisters as he whipped tears from her eyes. "Now do you see Yokiyo? We cannot stay here at all. We both could have been killed just now. It isn't safe here."
With a nod, Yokiyo stood up but then fell into her brother's arms as she cried hard and clung to his clothes. "I know brother. I am sorry I fought with you. I just really don't' want to leave them. I am so worried that something is going to happen to them if we leave them."
With a smile as he held onto his sister, Senri knelt down as he eased her out of his arms and made her look up into his eyes. "Do you remember after I had the graves dug, that charm I made and laid on their chests before we buried them?" When she gave him a nod he smiled as he turned and let her get on his back.
Looking back down at the graves as he smiled then turned and headed back to the hut they were using. "Well those are special barrier charms that Grandma taught me how to make. They are special because it keeps a barrier around their bodies while they are in the ground. That way no demons or even other people will be able to get to them. They will be just fine. and when we are older and can build it back up and protect it ourselves, we will come back. And make the village bigger and better than ever. Okay?"
Holding onto her brother she nodded as they entered the hut. Once there he let her down and she packed the few things she could find for her, as he did also. She then got back on his back as they left the hut. Thankful that they headed back up to her parents graves. Once there she got down and bowed her head as she said a silent prayer sa
ying goodbye to them.
Standing over his sister, Senri looked down first at his mother's grave and then to his father's. 'I promise that I will do better in protecting my sister from the demons of this world. I am sorry father I just can't go tell Kiyoshi anything. He flew right over today and didn't even stop. I doubt he even glanced at us. But we will be back. When we are grown and strong enough, we will come back and rebuild just like you would have. I love you Mother. I love you Father. We will see you soon.'
Once they were done saying their goodbyes, Yokiyo was back on her brother's back as they set out. In their packs, a small miko outfit that their mother made for Yokiyo, and one of their mother's miko outfits they were able to find, as well as an extra kimono. Senri an extra outfit and his father's spear that he gave him. They hoped that having something of their parents with them all the time, would help them to strive to become stronger. Strong enough to be able to come back and carry on where they left off. Setting out, they slowly put the only home they ever knew behind them to find another. He hoped to find a village with a miko that would train Yokiyo, but right now any village that would let them stay in it.
Though Senri doubted that he would be there very long. He couldn't quiet nor did he want to, the growing want and need to avenge his parents by killing Shinra. He didn't know when it was going to happen. Or how it was going to happen. But he knew that it was going to happen. One day. He will see her head roll.
Making of a Lady Chapter 52
After walking all day every day for two weeks, Senri stopped and blinked the smiled as he let out a long sigh. Finally he could see a village in the distance. "Look Yokiyo. Finally we found a village!"
With a bright smile Yokiyo looked up to see the smoke also. She has slept on the ground for so long. Her only hope and thought right now is that someone would let them spend the night at the very least. "Brother do you think they will at least let us spend the night somewhere?"
Winking down at his sister as they walked on toward the village. "I hope so at least. If they have a miko I am going to ask to see her to see if she can help train you. Mama was known all over the country, I bet if they find out you are her daughter they will gladly help you with it."
"That would be amazing."
As they broke the trees into a clearing that lead into the village, Senri glared as they got closer when two older men came up to them. One hand pushing his sister behind him, the other gripping his spear. 'This is just great. At least we will find out if they have a miko or not. Though I don't really want to fight them, least I know I can humans right now. "We are here to speak with the village miko if you have one."
Crossing his arms, one of them glared down at the pint sized kid. He didn't care what happened to the kid, but he would like to have that spear. They were new and new comers were always trouble. "You want to see Sada huh? I tell you what. Okay. I will walk you to her house for payment. That spear looks really nice. Nice quality. It would do perfectly."
His eyes hardening as his grip on the spear got tighter, Senri didn't even try to hide the rage that flew through him at the moment. "You can have my spear old man when you pry it from my cold dead fingers."
Taking a step forward as he cracked his knuckles the man laughed. "I think that can be arranged."
"You dare touch him and see what happens to you."
Stopping with a glare over his shoulder. It was Nishiko. She and her husband seemed to think that they should welcome everyone. "They were his terms."
Crossing her arms as she stood there, Nishiko wasn't going to let him do this anymore. No more! Crossing her arms as her glare hardened she didn't budge. "My husband and I have told you many times that you are not to treat people who come to this village that way. And least of all children! You are on a final warning. It happens again and you and your families can leave." She kept her glare on him as he glared back and stormed off into the village.
Senri looked up at her blinking for a moment then gave her a small bow. This wasn't a tiny village and she seemed to be dressed very nice. He figured that the way she talked too she was the Village Headmaster's wife. "Thank you Ma'am."
Turning to the children, Nishiko smiled as she knelt down before them to be on their level as they came to her. "It is no problem at all. I was happy to help. What are the two of you doing here all alone though? Where are your parents?"
At the mention of her parents, Yokiyo dropped her head as she tried to hide the tears that instantly streamed from her eyes. The mere thought of her parents still hurt her to the core. She wondered if she could ever think about her sweet parents and not cry about it.
Looking down at his sister as she shook, Senri sighed then turned his eyes back to meet Nishiko's now worried eyes. "About three weeks ago, they were killed when demons attacked our village. My sister and I were the only ones who survived. My name is Senri and her name is Yokiyo." He then glanced toward where the two men left too and then back to her. "I asked them about a miko and they said Sada. Do you have a miko named Sada?"
Standing up with a smile for the two, Nishiko nodded her head as she waved them on to come with her. "That is right. I will take you to her home." Once they were walking through the village, she looked down at them with a curious look. "May I ask you why you wish to see her?"
Looking up at her as they weaved in and out of people, Senri nodded. "Our mother was a miko as well. I can use some purification, but Yokiyo can do much more than I can. I promised Mama I would try to find a miko that could help train her mostly and me some."
"I see then." Turning to look where she was going Nishiko smiled as she gave a sharp nod. "I am sure that she will be happy to help you and your sister train. She never married and had children so I am sure that she would welcome having some in her home now."
"I hope so."
A few moments later they reached they small home. "This is it. Wait here for just a moment." Nishiko then went to the door and knocked on it. When she heard Sada tell her to come in she opened it with a smile. "Hello Sada. You have some visitors. A couple of children are here that wish to speak with you." She then turned to the children and waved them to come with her as she walked on in. "Come in. This is Sada."
Walking in behind her, Senri and Yokiyo looked up to see Sada, who was an older woman as she walked from behind a wall. She looked to be at least the same age as their grandmother was, maybe older than that. Closing his eyes Senri forced himself not to sigh. 'Well great. This village may not work out the way I had hoped after all with her age.'
Opening her eyes to look at the children, Sada's old black eyes went wide as she fixated on the little girl. She looked exactly like her friends daughter from long ago, but where her friend's daughter had sky blue eyes, this little girl had dark blue. After a moment she turned her eyes back to Nishiko. "Thank you for bringing them to me Nishiko. How are things at your home? Your daughter is well I hope?"
Nodding with a bright smile as she folder her hands before her, Nishiko laughed. "Indeed they are Sada. Izumi is growing like a weed more and more every day. I will come back later to check on them and I will bring her with me." Turning to the children she smiled then left.
Turning to walk toward the fire in the middle of the room Sada smiled. "Come on in children and sit by the fire. The meal will be ready to eat soon and you can have some." Once both of them were seated before her, she let her eyes land on the little girl one more time, her eyes changing the color to sky blue. 'I swear she is a spitting image for young Yuki.'
After stirring the food, she sighed as she turned to the boy. "So now. What is it that you wanted with this old miko?"
Though Yokiyo seemed to be hiding from her, Senri sighed as he met the old woman's eyes. His dark blue eyes stern. "I will be to the point then. My name is Senri and this is my sister Yokiyo. Our mother was the village miko of our village. She and our father, along with everyone else from the village were killed three weeks ago during a demon attack. This is the first village we have come upon since then.
Our request is to allow us to stay with you and train myself and my sister in as much as you can. She has a lot of purification is what our mother told us. I have some. When we are able to care for ourselves we will not burden you anymore and be on our way. I have to make sure that she is trained. I promised my mother and….."
Pulling shock out of his eyes, Sada laughed as she smiled. Holding her hand up she glanced down at the still bashful Yokiyo then settled back on her brother. "How old are the two of you Senri?"
"Yokiyo is five and I am ten."
Another glance at the little girl, Sada then checked the food again. "I can help train you and your sister that is fine. I will get a few other villagers to help with the physical part of it. But the purification I can do."
"That is amazing! Thank you so much!" Senri was so excited that she would he couldn't help but smile. His promise to his father he felt rotten knowing that he wasn't going to keep it. But he would be able to keep the one to his mother!"
Laughing as she began to ladle food out, Sada looked back at Senri. "Tell me son. Tell me about your parents. And what you know of your grandparents."