by Max Jager
Tensing, Senri gave her and odd look. "What do you need to know all that?"
Handing him some food and then the girl Sada got her some out and settled back down. "Just curious. Purification is something that is passed down. Many mikos are known far and wide for the work they do. Some for being traveling mikos, others because of how powerful they are even though they stay in a single village their whole life. I am just curious."
Relaxed fully now, Senri smiled as he looked at his sister and then back to Sada, sticking his chest out. "We are the children of Kaien and Yuki. Grandchildren of Tomoya and Honaka and Souzou and Chizuru."
Gasping as her eyes went back to the girl then she smiled. Now she understood why the little girl looked so much like Yuki! It was the same Yuki! This was her child, Chizuru's granddaughter! Laughing she shook her head and sat her bowl to the side. "Well now."
"Why is that so funny?"
Looking up into the two sets of confused eyes, Sada smiled as she took a few deep breaths. Landing in Senri's eyes she could see some of Yuki in him now that she looked too. "You see children, I knew your grandmother Chizuru. She and Souzou and I were old friends. The last time I saw her though she came to visit me with a small little girl with them. Yuki." Turning to the little girl she smiled a bigger smile. "The second I saw you I thought you were your mother. If you had her bright blue eyes you would have been her twin."
Her eyes extra wide, Yokiyo looked up at Senri who was still shocked and then back to the old lady. Finally saying her first word since getting there. "You knew my Mama when she was my age? Really? And her Mama?"
Poking her fire, Sada laughed as she nodded her head. "I guess you could say it that way. Though I only met your Mama the one time. You see, your Mama's parents, Souzou and Chizuru. I trained to be a miko with Chizuru and Souzou was just always there. Chizuru was the strongest and most talented miko and person I ever knew." Seeing they were done eating as well, she stood and gathered the bowls. "I was going to train you either way. But is an even bigger honor and pleasure to help the grandchildren of my old friend. You are both welcome to live here for as long as you would like."
Smiling up at her brother, finally feeling like they weren't alone anymore, and knowing this woman knew their Mama and her parents, Yokiyo jumped to her feet and shocked both her brother and Sada as she ran to her and hugged her legs. "Oh thank you Miss Sada! Thank you very much!"
Patting the girl on the head Sada laughed as she looked up at her. She was the cutest thing and had no doubt been through a lot the last few weeks. "Oh no. I will have none of that. Your grandmother and I were close friends. Just simply call me Sada or Auntie Sada alright dear?"
"Right! Auntie Sada!"
X
Late that night, Senri sat outside of the house looking up at the half moon. A small smile on his face. he was happy that he finally found a house that was safe for his sister. Now he could focus on getting stronger to protect her. At least while he was there. Now that she had a home, one she already seemed to like, he knew what he was going to have to do. He was going to have to leave her all alone with no real family for a while. But he had to get revenge for the death of his parents. He couldn't let that go unpunished and he knew that Kiyoshi wouldn't do anything about it.
"What has you thinking so hard son?"
Hearing Sada's voice, Senri sighed as he dropped his head and closed his eyes. "I was just thinking about my parents. And what I need to do next."
Sensing what he was talking about, getting that vibe that someone who is planning revenge from him, Sada sat down next to him with a sigh. "I may not have known your mother and father personally. I never saw your father, and your mother I only saw you once. But I knew your grandmother well. And I am betting that knowing how she was raising her daughter, none of them expect revenge out of you. Or would want you to focus your life on it."
"How did you know I was thinking about that?"
Laughing at his shocked eyes, Sada herself looked up at the moon. "When you live as long as I have, you meet lots of people. Those that feel the need to avenge someone for whatever the reason is. They have a vibe to them and I got that from you."
With a sigh, Senri turned away from her as he looked at the ground. "I know that too. I know that Mama and Father wouldn't want me to do this. But this is something that I have to do. I have to. Father wanted me to go and tell Kiyoshi so that he could do something about Shinra. She was the one who killed them. But he hates humans. He flew over our destroyed village and didn't even so much as look down."
Smiling down at him, Sada understood where he came from. Kiyoshi was a jerk. There was no doubt about that one. He really hated every human that he could see or smell. But not all demons were like him. And not all demons were like the one who killed his parents. She was going to make sure she taught that to Yokiyo. It was the first lesson that she and Chizuru learned growing up.
Looking back down at him she had serious eyes. "One of the very first things that the miko that taught your grandmother and I was one that was even more important than how to do a barrier for us. Even if you can't accept it I hope you let Yokiyo learn it from me. Not all demons are monsters. Not all demons will kill humans and destroy villages. And not all are like Kiyoshi. There are demons that exist that want to live peaceful lives with humans or away from them."
A small laugh, Senri cracked a half-smile. "Mama and Father used to say that all the time. I don't see it that way though. Only good demon is a dead one."
A small sigh, Sada then stood up and looked down at him. "What if Yokiyo wants to think that way?"
His eyes half closing, and taking on a look of empathy, Senri looked through the cracked door to see his little sister sleeping with a smile on her face. "I doubt her idea on demons will be much different than mine. But just cause that is how I see it doesn't mean that I am going to make her see it that way. She will make up her own mind on that."
Nodding as she went inside, Sada smiled softly. "That is good. I think it might surprise you though. I see much of her grandmother in her. Even in the power I sense is coming from her." Another laugh and she walked in the house. "I see the two of you making a huge impact in the world. For both humans and demons. I can just feel it. And I doubt that it is in the way you are thinking either Senri."
Waiting for her to shut the door Senri then sighed as he leaned his head back on the wall. Looking back up at the moon. Taking a deep breath he let his eyes close. "Unless you mean that I get to take out as many demons as I can and make it safer for my sister and other humans, you would be right. The impact I plan on having on the demon and human worlds is much different than what you are thinking. Much different."
Making of a Lady Chapter 53
Looking up when he heard the door, Senri watched as his sister came out of the house and headed for the village. "Where are you going Yokiyo?"
With her bright smile, Yokiyo looked back at her brother as she giggled. "We have been living here for two weeks already. We haven't seen any more of the village than what we see standing at the door. I am going to go and walk around the village."
Rolling his eyes, Senri turned back to where he was cleaning his spear. "I don't think that is a good idea Yokiyo. I keep seeing those two guys that greeted us when we first got here watching us. I think it is best if you just stay here."
Crossing her arms as she turned a glare on her brother, Yokiyo was determined. She was going to go walk around. "I am going for a walk. I am going to stay in the village. You can go with me or stay here and keep cleaning that spear."
"I am not going. You don't need to go either Yokiyo. Just relax and…." Looking up to see his sister gone he dropped his head as he growled. "I swear she was never this hard headed before."
"Your sister isn't going to blindly follow you forever Senri." Smiling as his dark blue eyes looked up to meet hers Sada laughed. "Two weeks here and just a few days less in training and she can already charge sacred arrows stronger than I can. She will be able to sta
nd on her own before you know it." Headed for the door of the hut she laughed as he half glared up at her. "This is the only day of the week I don't train and go to pick my herbs. So long as she doesn't leave the village she will be just fine Senri. Will you bring in some of the fire wood for me?"
"Yeah." Senri stood up and looked into the village and then sighed. He hoped she was right about Yokiyo being alright.
X
With a bright smile, Yokiyo walked through the village to see all she could see. She stopped at several different markets to see what they had and said hello to anyone who would look at her. Most of them smiled back at her and were very friendly. It made her glad to know that the village was excepting of both her and Senri and were so nice to her. So she always tried to show respect and be nice to everyone.
Just as she thought about turning around to go home, she got a sudden sense of pure fear that rushed down her spine. Someone was watching her that was full of rage and hate. She felt it a few times today. But the last time she felt it this bad, was when a small demon thought that they were going to eat her and Senri before they found this village. Turning to look behind her she blinked as she took a deep breath. "Who is it? Who is there? Why are you watching me like that?"
Stepping out of the shadows of the buildings, five boys that were all about he same age as Senri rushed her and had her surrounded. All with glares. One stepped closer to her and pulled her eyes to him as he crossed his arms. "You and your brother got our dads in trouble when you first got here. All he had to do was give him that spear and it would have been settled."
Her eyes flashing, Yokiyo put her hands on her hips as she glared up at him. "That was given to him by our father right before he died. It is special to him and he would never part with it for any reason."
A gleam shinning in his eyes as he smiled an evil smile, the boy looked more like a vicious demon that was closing in on its pray than a little boy. "Well you are the only one to get too far away from Sada's place alone. We wanted your brother. But you will do. Time for a beating. Payback for getting our dads in trouble!" He then lifted his hand to slap her.
"Don't you even dare touch her!"
Jerking her head around as the boy seemed to freeze, Yokiyo saw a girl and boy jumping down from the rooftops close to them to land one in front of her and one behind her. She looked more her age, and he was more Senri's age. Blinking she landed on the girl. "Thank you. But who are you two?"
Turning and winking at her with a smile, Izumi laughed. "My name is Izumi. I am the daughter of the Village Headmaster of this village. He is my best friend Itachi. Don't worry about a thing. We are here to help." She then turned a glare for one of the boys that was before her. "I don't like none of them anyway."
Nodding Itachi glared around him, eye to eye with the ring leader. "That's right just leave these guys to us." He then hardened his eyes into the other kids. "Your father and his brother were in trouble for what they were doing to him. Not because he wouldn't give him his spear. No one demands payment from anyone for coming here. It isn't the way things are done in this village. You think you are strong. But anyone as big as you are that could pick on a girl smaller than you. You are just weak."
Rage filling his eyes the kid took a step closer to Itachi. Their noses nearly touching. "You want to say that again Itachi? You are no better than that little brat behind you and her brother are. You weren't born here in this village. Your parents found you abandoned in the woods. They aren't even your real parents."
Smiling as he closed his eyes and crossed his arms, Itachi gave him a nod. "I know that. And that is an act that I think them for every day. Now what do you think you are going to do here? Start a fight? You know very well that my father and the Headmaster have made sure that Izumi and I can fight with the best of them. Do you really think that you and all your goons can win? Really?"
After they glared for a long moment, they all turned and walked away. Izumi crossed her arms as she huffed. "I am so telling Mama about this."
"Why doesn't he seem to like you either?"
Turning to look down at Yokiyo, Itachi smiled with a laugh. "That is a long story. To sum it up, before Izumi's father was Headmaster, the Headmaster before him, he and his wife never had kids. Instead of naming one of his nephews Headmaster, who would have been one of the two men that greeted you as you came here. He named Izumi's father instead. They are all jealous of it."
Turning to look where the boys went Yokiyo had wide blinking eyes. "So they don't like you Izumi because of that? But why don't they like you Itachi?"
Laughing as he crossed his arms again with a smile, Itachi pulled her eyes back to his. "They don't like me because my adopted parents are good friends with Izumi's. That is it."
Rubbing the back of her neck with a big smile, Yokiyo let her head fall to the side as she closed her eyes. "I see. Thank you very much. I just got tired of staying home all the time. I wanted to explore."
Laughing as she winked at her and grabbed her hand, Izumi pulled her eyes to her. "You know my house isn't far from where Sada lives. Next time you want to just get out for a while come and get me and we will hang out with each other. No one will mess with you then."
Another bright giggle, Yokiyo nodded. "I can do that. But do you think you could some now? Today is the only day of the week that Sada doesn't train us and works with her herbs. She said I have a few years before I need to learn about them yet."
Laughing as she pulled Yokiyo with her Izumi smiled. "Of course! Come on Itachi lets show her around."
X
Pacing just inside the door with his spear in hand, Senri stopped and looked out the door every other pass in front of it. Yokiyo has been gone most of the day and he was starting to get worried about her. He figured she would have been back way before now. "Yokiyo. Where is she? She should have been back by now."
Smiling as she worked in her herbs, Sada laughed. "Or she could have just made a friend and has lost track of time."
"No. I am telling you that something has happened to her. Sada, I am going to go….." But then he stopped and his eyes went wide when he heard footsteps and looked up to see Yokiyo standing just outside the door waving to a girl and a boy as she yelled goodbye. As she walked in he blinked at her. "Yokiyo?"
Stopping next to him, Yokiyo looked up with a bright smile and a laugh. "They are my friends. They showed me all over the village."
"They did?"
"That is very good Yokiyo." Looking up at the children Sada gave a nod as she met Yokiyo's eyes. "Who did you make friends with?"
Turning to look at Sada with a bright smile, Yokiyo giggled. "Izumi and Itachi."
Nodding as she turned back to her work, Sada laughed. "I see. The Headmaster's daughter and her best friend. You couldn't have picked better friends to make dear."
With a sigh as he dropped his head, Senri was at a loss of what to do here. He understood that Yokiyo needed someone more than just himself and Sada right now. She was the forever social one. But at the same time, once they could fend for themselves they were going to be moving on. They didn't need to make friends with anyone just to have to leave them. "Yokiyo you remember I told you that….."
Turning a glare to her brother, Yokiyo crossed her arms. She knew what he told her about not getting close to someone. But she wanted friends of her own! "I want to make friends Senri. I love you brother but I want to talk to other kids too. And they did save me so it isn't like they aren't good kids."
Gasping as he turned wide eyes to her, Senri tensed. What did they have to save her from? "Wait Yokiyo. What do you mean they saved you? From what?"
With a sigh as she dropped her head, Yokiyo started to wring her fingers together. "Do you remember the men that wanted your spear when we first got here?"
"Of course I do I warned you about…" Senri then glared as his rage flew through the roof. "What did they do?"
Flinching then dropping her head even further, Yokiyo let out a sigh. "They have sons that are all a
bout your age give or take. They said they were going to beat me up because you wouldn't give them Papa's spear. But Izumi and Itachi stopped them so it was alright."
Crossing his arms, Senri closed his eyes as he glared hard behind them. "You see Yokiyo. I told you that it wasn't a good idea for you to go out like that today Yokiyo. What would have happened if they hadn't been there huh? I would have went off and really hurt someone is what would have happened if they had touched a hair on your head. That wouldn't be good now would it?"
"But Senri…."
"I am not talking about it anymore Yokiyo. You are staying home."
Turning glaring eyes at him, Yokiyo glared hard through tears. "If it is going to be that way Senri then I want to go home right now! I didn't want to leave the place where we laid Mama and Papa to rest anyway! I did it because you wanted to go! I want to make friends! I did what you wanted to do now let me do something I want to do!" She then turned and ran over and behind the small wall that Sada had built to give them a room to share. Her small sobs the only sound in the hut right then, besides the crackling of the fire.