by C. J. Anaya
“I didn’t say I wanted to kill her.”
“Then what—”
“I want to take her for myself. How can she heal the veil if she is never bound to Katsu?”
Amatsu raised his head, and for the first time showed some real interest in what Musubi had to say.
“An interesting proposition, but tell me how you plan to woo The Healer away from the one she is destined to love and belong to. She will be created specifically for Katsu. Denying one’s soul mate in favor of someone else? You and I know that this is as impossible as killing the child and being done with it.”
“I agree with you, which is why I need your help. I need something that will sever her connection to Katsu and make her fall in love with me.”
Amatsu looked triumphant, though nothing had been decided or resolved.
“Something that can sever the link between soul mates? Now that is an idea, and quite a nasty one if you don’t mind my saying so. Not like you at all, really.”
“And yet, here I am.”
“Indeed.” Amatsu gave Musubi an appreciative look. “I may have something capable of accomplishing exactly what you propose, but I warn you, it will come with a price.”
Musubi let out an impatient grunt. “Name your price, and I’ll pay it.”
“Well, obviously money is out of the question. What would I need that for in this place?” The demon god let out a perverse laugh. It was as if its facetiousness was all the more macabre due to its infrequent occurrence. “And having you here serving me prevents us both from getting what we want. So here is what I propose. Once the deed is done, the girl has fallen for you and her connection to Katsu has been irrevocably severed, you will deliver her to me and walk away without a backward glance.”
“Fine,” was all Musubi had to say.
“Yes, you say that now, but I’m afraid I will need to ensure that if I grant you this favor, you don’t suddenly become consumed with a guilt-ridden conscience and go back on our deal.” “What more can I do to prove I will uphold my end of this transaction?” Amatsu merely smiled, a smile that sent rippling chills up and down Musubi’s spine. He held his hand open, palm up, and then flipped it with a flourish. When his hand came to rest palm up again, there stood, levitating above it, the blackest flower Musubi had ever seen. It pulsated with darkness. “What is that?” “This is a black cherry blossom, the solution to both our unfortunate situations.”
Musubi shook his head. “I don’t understand. How does this—”
“The black cherry blossom is an interesting piece of magic, very old magic, mind you, something I’m sure not even our First Parents are aware exists.”
“How could they not know about this?”
“Why, because I created it. This cherry blossom has the power to sever the connection between two soul mates by literally changing the destiny of the one who holds it. Come forward, please.”
Musubi walked to Amatsu slowly, never taking his eyes off the black, floating flower.
“Hold out your hand.”
He did as he was told. Amatsu moved his hand away from the blossom, but it still remained suspended in mid-air. Then it began to move toward Musubi’s outstretched hand. The blackened stem grew longer as it descended, and then wrapped itself around his wrist. He looked on in fascination as the stem continued to creep its way up his arm, under his clothing and toward his chest.
And then it struck.
The stem embedded itself within his heart, and the pain was like nothing the god had ever before felt. He let out a strangled cry and nearly staggered to the floor, but just as quickly as the pain took hold of him it let go. He closed his eyes and opened them slowly, seeing his surroundings in a new light.
He felt…different; things were different. It was as if his heart and mind had been violently disconnected. He looked at his outstretched arm and watched the cherry blossom continue to hover above his hand.
“What have you done to me?” His question came out hollow.
“Oh, that? I merely blackened your heart a little, enough to taint it. Subduing your conscience is necessary, really. You do-gooders always manage to ruin the most wonderfully laid out plans, and we can’t have that now, can we?” Amatsu gave him an evil grin. “This cherry blossom serves another purpose, however. Now that it is a part of you, it will also connect you to whomever you wish. In other words, once you give it to the young girl of prophecy and she accepts it, her connection to Katsu will be cut, and she will be bound to you forever, doing anything and everything you wish, including aligning herself with me.” Amatsu clapped his hands in utter delight.
“You just happened to have something like this on hand?”
“You’re not the only one to have had an epiphany, realizing the only way to destroy the girl of prophecy was to alter her destiny. I’ve had quite a bit of time to troubleshoot such an annoying issue. I just never realized I’d have my very own minion working out the kinks for me. It is so delightful, the kind of actions revenge and hate can produce, and to have the god of love and marriage possessing an item capable of ripping soul mates from one another?” Amatsu rubbed his hands together gleefully and let out a slow, deliberate chuckle. “Well, let’s just say the irony isn’t lost on me.”
Part of Musubi’s mind, the part holding a small remnant of the kami he used to be, wondered if maybe he’d taken things too far. The errant thought flickered like a small candle in the wind and was extinguished by another thought much more insistent and pervasive.
Revenge.
About the Author
I began writing short stories for family and friends when I was thirteen years old. My vivid imagination and love of mysteries and romances eventually led me to following my own dreams of becoming a published author. I also do some book review work for Skin Deep Exposure Magazine on the side.
I’m a huge fan of The Mindy Project, Hugh Jackman, and binge eating any and all things chocolate.
Who isn’t?
As a mother of four awesome kids I’m usually playing beauty salon with my daughters—my four-year-old shaved my arm one time while I was helping another daughter with her homework. Yep. That happened—getting my fanny kicked in Mario Kart by my snarky little son, and making out with my deliciously handsome Latin lover, aka, my hubby.
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