Yoriko on the Beach
April 20th, 2007
“Yoriko?” I whispered her name in the darkness of her room. She didn’t answer, but I was greeted with the soft even breaths she took obviously in slumber. “Sweetness?” I was careful not to say it above a whisper as I didn’t want to wake her up. She needed her sleep, she had to get up early but she stayed up late anyway to spend time with me. It made me smile as I lay on the floor staring at the ceiling. She murmured softly and turned onto her side. I could hear her blanket rustling as she moved. Still smiling, I slide my arms beneath my head and closed my eyes, letting my mind wander back to that walk on the beach we shared.
The moon full and bright sat amongst the stars in the otherwise black sky gleaming pale light down to illuminate our way along the fine loose sand. She paused for a moment and looked down at her feet, I had taken a few steps further before turning at the waist to peer at her. She looked through long lashes to catch my eyes and her lips spread into a wide smile that coaxed me to move toward her.
“Don’t you love the feel of sand between your toes?” she asked me above the lapping of small waves upon wet packed sand. I looked from her to the water which ebbed and flowed against the beach and back again. The gentle wind that passed across from the water caught strands of her hair and prompted me to extend a hand, my fingertips brushing the strands out of her face.
“Well, I guess so. Want to sit?” She nodded quickly and was quick to plant herself upon the sand just out of reach of the salty water. I sat down as well, knees bent and my arms wrapped about my legs.
“What are you thinking?” I looked at her and smiled.
She answered quickly, her eyes darting from me to the dark horizon of water, “I don’t know. Nothing. You.” She stretched out her legs and rested her arms slightly behind her. Her toes wiped sand from one another nervously.
“Well.” I paused as I leaned to the side and without warning set my head in her lap. “I’m thinking of you too.” There was her smile again, bright as the moon high above. She stifled a giggle and I felt her hand touch my hair.
“Good.” she didn’t say anything else. Instead, we listened to the water and night birds sing for a while. As the wind grew cooler, we simply smiled at one another.
Yoriko in Bed
April 20th, 2007
She was half sleeping just barely conscious as she turned over to her side and heard the crunching of paper being creased beneath the weight of her head meeting the pillow once again. It startled her making her support her weight upon one arm and pick up the paper clumsily before she collapsed to the bed again in her weariness. She had stayed awake most of the night watching him, but he was gone now. She frowned realizing that the warmth of his body wasn’t there anymore. The bent square of folded paper mystified her fingers for a moment as she attempted to open it in her uncoordinated state her hands just wouldn’t cooperate. Yawning, her eyes threatened to remain closed, but the sound of yielding paper brought her around once again. It was too dim in the room to read the small letters upon the paper, but with a little bit of angling she managed to catch some of the pale moonlight in her window. She wondered what time it was in a half formed thought.
His words were tiny perfectly formed letters neatly placed upon the pale blue lines. I wanted to wake you up before I left, but you seemed so peaceful there sleeping. When I licked my lips to kiss your forehead I could still taste you there. It reminded me of last night, and I wanted to make you feel that way all over again. I decided to let you sleep though.
Her mind went back to that evening, the laughing and talking. The way she sat in his lap and how she let him caress her arms even though she wasn’t cold. It was when he kissed the back of her neck that she turned around and actually kissed him. It was a blur of exploration, her hands were unsure but she’d wrapped her arms around his neck and let his lips walk their way down her throat. Her fingers found a playground within his hair. It seemed like only a few minutes, but his lips had been on her for the better part of an hour before his touch found the bare skin of her abdomen. Her thoughts continued on, experiencing the thrill of his hands on her all over again. Finally, she blinked away the memory and continued to read.
Before you start to worry again. It was like he was reading her mind while writing it. I loved it. Yes, I loved it. The way you taste, the way you feel, the way you pressed your legs together. I loved it. Loved the breaths you took and the way you held my head. I loved it and I wanted to make you feel that way again this morning. But I thought I should let you sleep.
She almost felt guilty as she smiled and read his words over again. It made her curl up beneath the blanket, and it reminded her she needed to dress again in case someone came to the door. She couldn’t help but to think of it though, how is lips kissed a path up and then down her spine. It was like little droplets of fire touched her skin as he made sure to become intimately aware of each centimeter of her skin. He had said he wanted to know her body the way he knew his own. Just as they shared each other’s feelings and thoughts, he wanted to know her physically. She had laughed at him before, but it was then that she knew what he meant. She knew it in how his tongue traced the curve inside her leg. Despite the nervousness, his hands had been reassuring and comforting in how he splayed her legs. Her nervousness melted away into something different when she felt his tongue for the first time, it had made her draw breath sharply and exhale into shallow rhythmic respiration. She’d held him there as her heart beat rapidly, her hips raised to meet every little movement of his tongue. Without realizing it she’d told him she loved him over and over, she didn’t stop until his lips were on hers and his arms cradled her next to him.
I just wanted to tell you that I loved sleeping next to you, and I didn’t want you to think that I’d forgotten how lovely it is to be near and close to you. I love you. She yanked the pillow he’d laid his head on the entire night and placed it over her face. She yelled ‘I love you’ into it feeling both silly for doing it and so much better for having done it. She didn’t get up to get dressed, instead she curled around the pillow and drifted back to sleep.
Spring 1980: Sakura’s New Home
December 21st, 2006
Konae woke to the rising of the moon and sound of Hope cooing in the amber candle light of her room. Hope had a habit of napping early in the day and waking in the night, which necessitated a servant to care for her. It was that servant Konae heard in the distance of her apartment, Niijima Masumi cleaning dishes. Konae had brought her in to care for the baby. Her father had no choice in the matter, but responded well to the request. She had been living in the apartment and caring for Hope, since the bitter cold of winter several months ago. It was now late spring, the Lunar New Year not far off.
Konae rose from her futon, slipping out of the spaghetti strapped eggshell white satin gown that sheathed her figure. She paused near her closet where she traded the gown for the hanging robe that she would wear until after her shower. Securing the terry cloth sky blue belt of her robe, she walked across the room to where Hope was laying, and lifted her into protective arms, the baby silenced as she moved across the short distance to settle within . “Hello there, how are you?” Konae’s voice rose in pitch slightly. “You look happy!” Hope wriggled against her mother’s bossom and cooed again. She worked her mouth forming all manner of expressions, one even looked to be a smile in Konae’s mind.
The couple left Konae’s room, moving into the brighter and whiter fluorescent lights of the apartment. As she continued talking to Hope, the water abruptly silenced and Hope’s head tilted to and fro as if trying to find out where the sound escaped too.
“Konae-sama.” Niijima crossed from the kitchen quickly and offered to take Hope with open arms. “Is she hungry?”
“She should eat. Then back to bed.” Konae handed the girl off to her temporary care taker. “Thank you.”
“I mixed her formula already. I will warm it for her.” Niijima was turning away to do exactly that when a knock came upon the apartment door.
“I’ll get it.” Konae made her way to the door, the knock had been soft, very polite. She looked down at her bare legs, the robe came just above the knee and decided that she was presentable. Maybe an older person would find her attire impolite, but she didn’t bother to worry over it.
The man that stood before her was dressed like a lawyer, dark brown suit with matching shoes. His tie was a paisley print that was brighter in tone. He looked to be in his mid forties. “Konae Kinuyo.” it was a statement more than a question. His eyes sparkled in the light spilling into the hallway of the apartment building. He held a brief case in his left hand.
“Yes?” she turned on her charm, leaning against the door slightly and letting her head tip aside. “May I help you?”
“No. It’s how I may help you.” The man stepped forward and whispered delicately before she could pull away. “They are going to kill you. They will probably kill me for warning you, but you helped me once. You should leave tonight.”
“Who?” her voice was a harsh whisper, the man was backing away and stepping quickly down the hall toward the steps leading out before she managed to finish her question. Konae followed him, reaching out as she neared him to grasp his elbow. Her fingers clamped about the join and jerked him with a grunt backward.
“Look!” he raised his voice slightly, but lowered it immediately. “Four years ago I saw you. You.” he stepped closer, he looked directly into her eyes. “You killed my daughter’s husband, you saved her from the horrible things he did to her. You did what I couldn’t do. Now I’m helping you. The police have been watching your house for days. I think someone is trying to get revenge. Maybe he was a gangster, I don’t know. Just. Please, get away.”
Konae looked at the man, there was honesty in his eyes. She released him. “Thank you.”
With a nod he took to the stairs, he managed to retain his composure it seemed. Konae returned to her apartment wondering who could possibly be interested in her. She quickly thought over potential enemies. He said police. It could be hunters. They had access to official looking equipment. She shut the door to the apartment calmly and called for Niijima Masumi.
“Who was it Konae sama?” she began to look concerned when Konae didn’t answer, she watched the woman head straight for the phone upon the counter just outside of the kitchen. Konae was rapidly pressing numbers. She dialed with both thumbs, the phone cradled within her palms.
“Put clothes on her.” she looked down at the floor as whoever picked up the phone caught her attention. Niijima stood looking at her with a puzzled look, she’d just told her to feed the baby after all.
“Is something wrong?”
“Dress her. Now!” Konae raised her voice a bit before lowering it to speak to her conversationalist on the phone. Niijima scurried off with the startled Hope, hearing Konae’s very concerned tone. “I need your help. Meet me at school, near the pool.”
The phone was set upon the receiver and picked up again, Niijima heard Konae speaking after a moment of quiet as she went on to dress Hope. She felt dread starting to creep into her mind as she faked a smile at the baby and leaned close to her. “Don’t worry, everything is fine. Right?” the baby cooed gently.
* * *
Inoue Kimiko climbed the stairs slowly, she looked up as she heard hushed whispers and the foot falls of someone come toward her from above. Tipping her head aside she ran her hands over the dark blue denim that covered her legs and zipped up the navy blue turtle necked wind breaker. She continued on her way placing ear buds into her ears as she took the linoleum covered stairs one at a time. She smiled as the man rounded the narrow stairwell.
“Excuse me.” he was soft spoken, turning slightly to let her by. Foot catching on the last step, she reached for him.
“Oh!” she caught herself on his shoulder and giggled as he helped her right herself. “Have we met before?”
“No. No I don’t think so.” he offered his hand, which she took. “Nishi Ichiyo, and you are?”
Inoue smiled sweetly, she shook his hand as she spoke. “Inoue Kimiko. I’m sorry this happened.” her grip grew tighter and twisted her body in a whipping motion that pulled Nishi toward her. With her left foot raised and balancing upon her right, she kicked his ankle from beneath him. Before he could shout, her left hand jabbed him visciously in the throat she felt a soft grunt escape from her lips as she silenced him.
Nishi mouthed something, fear emblazoned in his eyes as he tumbled onto the landing. He would have rolled down the stairs, but that would have created too much noise she gripped his hand ever more tightly. She fetched the folded knife from the left pocket of her wind breaker the weapon producing an audible click as metal sprang into place. He was trying to get to his feet when she shoved the blade into the back of his neck, perfectly placed, Inoue, twisted the five and a half inch double edged blade within his flesh and released his hand. Immediately she placed the heel of her right hand upon the crown of his head and forced it down onto the linoleum. Tilting the knife she slide it forward into his skull. He twitched slightly before going limp, blood beginning to well from the wound.
Looking around, Inoue was careful to keep from trailing blood behind. She shook the knife dry where she stood before heading up the stairs once again. She shivered on the way, unsure she was comfortable with what was taking place. She silenced the voice in her head, her conscience. “I am a servant.” she murmured.
* * *
“Is she dressed?” Konae came into the room in a hurry, stripping her robe and letting it fall carelessly to the floor. She opened her closet and yanked items down with little more than a cursory glance over what she was going to wear. She pulled the pink t-shirt over her head and shoved it down her torso. She followed the shirt with a black pair of stretch pants that some women used to run in, made of lycra and stopping mid calf.
“Almost.” Niijima was growing more and more concerned as she pulled Hope’s small hat over her head. She heard Konae rummaging through something.
“Here. Take this.” the heavy metal object struck Niijima’s arm, it was a small pistol; Niijima didn’t know anything about guns she couldn’t tell if it was a 9mm or a .380. She went wide eyed.
“I don’t know how to–”
“Take it and learn. If something happens, use it. Defend her with your dying breath.” Konae took Niijima’s hand and pressed the semi-automatic pistol into the girl’s palm. “Your dying breath.”
Niijima didn’t need to think about it, she nodded and scooped Hope from her small table. “With my life Konae sama.”
A whisper crossed the room, it was ice cold. “That won’t be necessary. You’re already dead.” Niijima gasped, she nearly fell over the table trying to step back. Right before Konae the figure of a women was seemingly appearing from thin air. Pale white face, perfect rose red lips. The figure was slightly taller than Konae, but very thin. A stiff breeze could have blown her over.
“Take her and run!” Konae’s voice pierced the air a split second before Niijima had managed to get her wits about her. The woman, or ghost, or whatever she was moved to stop her. Konae sprang forward with blinding speed, shoving the unknown woman into the narrow section of wall just beside the closet. Niijima heard the splintering of wood as she grasped Hope more tightly and began to run for the door.
“Konae chan. How impolite of you. Of course.” she paused for a mere moment as she began to draw strength into her body. She was forcibly pulling Konae’s hands from around her shoulders, Konae issued a hiss that resembled a cat. “You only know to be impolite. You whore.”
Niijima didn’t stay to find out what else was happening, with Hope in her arms she moved down the hallway barefoot. Reaching the door, she threw the door open and began running for the stairs. Her mind racing, she didn’t see the woman trotting toward her at all.
“Are you okay?” Inoue slid to a stop and turned her body slightly, putting her off line from Niijima.
“No, nothing is wrong. I have to go. Excuse me.” As she pressed forward Inoue lashed out with her knife. Niijima, bewildered just barely backed away from it, stumbling to the floor and landing flat on her rump.
“Put the baby down, and I won’t hurt you.” Niijima was hearing none of it. With all the courage she could muster, she raised the gun that Konae gave her. She’d forgotten that she had been clutching it in her hand desperately.
“No. Get away from me!” She shrieked in the hallway and closed her eyes as she pulled the trigger. The gun was deafening to her ears, she’s never heard the sound of a gun up close before. The bullet went wide and embedded itself in the wall, sending a puff of plaster dust into the air.
With lightning reflexes, Inoue crossed the distance and moved to the side. With her eyes closed, Niijima didn’t see that she’d missed. Panicking, she opened her eyes only to see Inoue’s face blank with concentration as she pulled the gun away. Niijima felt her wrist turn uncomfortably just before sharp pain alerted her to the fact that it was broken. It was then she saw the barrel of the gun staring her in the face.
“We are all just servants.” Inoue turned her head slightly. Just before she squeezed the trigger twice blowing two holes in the head of Niijima, she saw the girl take a breath and hunker over the baby. The blood splattered the wall and floor. The baby began to wail as her body came to rest atop the dead body of her caretaker. “Just servants.”
Inoue picked up the crying child and looked about, realizing that the police would likely have been called. Considering her options, she headed for the stairs again, leaving her Mistress to her own devices. The baby continued to wail.
* * *
Konae wasted no time, she snapped her head forward and buried her forehead against her attacker’s face. She felt the breaking of bone, before she drew her head back and felt the woman release her arms. With unearthly strength Konae gripped the woman’s shoulders again and lifted her from the ground, the world around her seemed to shiver sligthly as she drew on the energy the flowed about. With a twist of her body, she hurled the woman through the air where she slammed against the far wall.
Konae saw her chance and with little more than a bending of her knees, she turned her body completely. The circular motion allowed her to leap across the distance with her right leg snapping outward. The inside of her foot connected with her attacker’s face, the power of it forcing the woman to the ground. Konae’s speed was incredible, augmented by the flowing power of Yang she righted herself and collapsed to one knee before the woman.
“I thought you would be more of a challenge, Utada.” as she spoke those words her left hand grasped the woman by the throat and immediately collapsed her trachea. The crushing sound of tissue collapsing was audible even as Konae began to slam her right fist into the wincing woman’s face. “Utada Hikaru.” She rained punches down into the woman’s mouth, trying to break her jaw. “Demon of Osaka hmm?” blood began to coat Konae’s knuckles as he snarled at the woman. “Coming to kill me?” She felt bone break under the repeated blows, a smile began to creep across her face. Each strike had her true power behind it. She’d tapped into the flows of Yang that permeated the world as soon as the woman appeared in her room.
As quickly as the punches came down, there was a sudden halt to them. Utada’s fingers had grasped the fist just at the wrist. Konae hadn’t even seen her move. It was then she realized the power of the woman, her wrist echoed with pain as the bones were shattered under the strain of Utada’s grip. Konae attempted to rabbit punch her in the face to get way, but Utada’s legs had snaked around her head and slammed it onto the floor.
“I am a soldier, whore.” she began to rise, spitting blood atop the fallen Konae. She was already trying to get up, but Utada was powerful and had disoriented Konae badly. She was a strong creature worthy of every bit of fear that had been afforded her. “I will turn you to rot.”
Managing to get to her feet, Konae backed away slowly her right hand unusable. Utada moved with the speed of thought, crossing the distance between the two vampires before Konae could react. She shoved her hand with straightened fingers into Konae’s chest ribcage giving way by turning into small fragments that pierced Konae’s lungs and heart. Utada watched the woman’s face go from shock to fear as her hand broke through the flesh and entered the woman’s body. Blood began to trickle every so slightly along her hand. It tickled her wrist and fell in droplets to the floor. It was a beautiful expression, her eyes widened as if looking with awe at the rising sun. Her mouth was captured into an ‘O’, silenced air escaping her lips. She looked incapable of such strength, but Utada lifted her with little effort from her feet. There was a moment of concentration, power rippling the world about her, and finally Konae spoke as her body began to rot from the power of her dead body turned against her.
“If he loved you.” Utada pulled her hand away, blood rushed onto the floor splattering as if someone had suddenly turned over a paint can. Konae’s feet met the floor and she stumbled backward, colliding with the wall. “Why didn’t you have his child?” Konae smirked, despite the pain of her body rotting from within. She slid down the wall, but caught herself. “Hope.” she began to stagger from the room, gasping through the hallway. As her body failed, she came to her knees. A black sludge began to leak from the gaping wound in her chest.
“But.” Utada glided into the bedroom doorway, watching the dying woman crawl along. “I do.”
Konae looked over her shoulder, she was trying to reach the front door. It was still open and again she called out, her voice sounding dry as the rot within her accelerated. “Hope.” Finally her body gave in, the husk of flesh crumpling to the floor. “Hooooooooope.” Hundreds of years died in that apartment with the destruction of Konae Kinuyo.
Utada heard the sirens as they neared the building and left the apartment the same way she came, her physicality vanishing into the spirit world with a simple step sideways. In her place, a small figurine of green jade was left behind.
Winter 1979: Sakura’s Birth
December 21st, 2006
Snow fell outside in slow lazy flakes that rocked their way through the still wind of the night. Konae, had taken to watching the snow as it covered the cityscape. She timed the pain with the silent landing snow flakes that touched the window and began to melt away. Unlike the snow outside in the cold air of Tokyo, Konae’s pain was taking more shape. It began as a pulsing ache several hours before, and now had escalated into a timed tidal wave of agony. She reveled in it though, feeling so gloriously alive. So far from being dead.
“I’m ready.” her words alerted the silent nurse who had been waiting patiently with her across the labor room. Her voice was sultry. She tasted sweat on her lips as her body worked itself further into its self contained frenzy. She’d meditated on the experience, she felt prepared. Her heart best, a steady rhythm; however weak. She knew it was time.
The nurse rose immediately as if she’d been startled from slumber and spoke quickly, “Yes. Right away.” The young girl looked almost too young to be serving in a labor ward, but Konae had entrusted her care to Dr. Niijima, he had never failed her before. The nurse would perform flawlessly. Konae waited patiently despite the excitement which ran through her body like liquid fire in her veins. She couldn’t help but to smile. She’d let her mind wander to imagine what great things the baby would accomplish. What wounds would flow in the wake of this child? She could only imagine great things, because it was Konae’s redemption. That’s exactly how she looked at it, as redemption. She’d taken so much from the world, she would not be able to give something back. A life.
She was dragged away from her thoughts by the re-opening of her door, the nurse, a girl she’s not even bothered to obtain the name of wheeling in a large cart with a small open incubator and on the second tier the tools of her doctor’s trade. Sterile metal and plastic instruments with which to assist in the birthing process. Behind the girl entered Dr. Niijima Kozoe, an older man more than a decade the nurse’s senior. He bore deep lines at the corners of his eyes like crow’s feet. His shoulders sloped forward slightly, but he was a proud man you could see it in his dark eyes a twinkle of alertness. All this despite his looking to be someone that spent much of his time smiling or frowning in concentration. Konae knew everything about him, his entire family line was a string of men and women in his mind. His family had once existed in a small village as a medicinal healers for the Shibata family before being absorbed into service by Shibata Ise, Konae’s sister in blood. Shibata Ise had been the first and only vampire in the Shibata line, her family tree stopped with her after the village was burned to the ground by imperial troops because of disease. The Niijima family had since then never strayed from the medical field, serving their purpose with great efficiency for the wounded servants and disposing of irregularities should a cover up become necessary. He looked tired as he came to set before Konae. She picked her legs up and buried her heels against the leather edge of the bed, she’d insisted there was no need for stirrups.
He dispensed with the pleasantries, they were beyond all of that these days. “You are fully dilated. On the next contraction, I’m going to need you to push. Nurse.” he paused but not long enough to allow the girl to speak. “She’s moving along quickly.” Yes doctor.” the girl seemed nervous, but she performed her duties unerringly. She placed a tray near him with instruments that he may need.
I’m ready.” she exhaled the words as the pronounced pain of her body trying to expel the child began in full force. Konae bit her lip in concentration. Niijima coached her through it, telling her to breathe and to relax as the contractions came and went. In the back of her mind, she found humor in it. She giggled as she felt her body expelling the baby within, despite the pain. She wondered for a moment if maybe it was trying to escape in fear. Dr. Niijima had been right, things were going quickly.
You are doing very well Miss.” the nurse spoke up suddenly. Konae looked at her and saw for the first time an innocent girl trying her best to make good of a situation she didn’t fully understand.
She is your daughter?” Konae had noticed the nurse’s similar eyes and nose while resting for a moment.
“Yes. She knows everything, There is no reason for alarm.” He did not introduce the girl, instead Konae read her name from the tag upon her uniform.
She looks so young.” she addressed the girl off handedly. “How old are you Masumi?” Looking startled, the girl answered, “Twenty three.”
“We’re almost done Konae. Just one more push.” Dr. Niijima interrupted the two, putting Masumi back on track of wiping Konae’s forehead from what little sweat had gathered there and watching the baby being born in the mostly quiet room. He had mastered sounding encouraging in his years of practice. Konae actually felt as if one more good push would put an end to the entire process. When the pain struck, she felt suddenly empty. The room was almost instantly filled with the scream of Sakura, squirming in teh sure hands of Dr. Niijima.
Konae leaned back into he bed, exhaling a cheful of air. “Is she okay?” there was a touch of concern in her voice as well as mounting exhaustion.
“We will run some tests.” he spoke over the baby’s insistent cries. “She appears fine. Let Masumi clean her.” he paused while handing the baby over to the girl and cut away the umbilical cord. After a moment, Masumi began to wipe and wash away the visceral trappings of birth from the baby.
“It will be light soon.” she said it deadpan while turning to Konae, offering the baby wrapped tightly and still wailing.
“I know. Oh look at her!” Konae’s excitement bled through her words and raised her pitch an octave. The baby continued to wail, wriggling within the blanket. She was like a small partially cocooned caterpillar, her skin wrinkled and she had a head full of hair. It was course black which swirled about her head. “She looks like her father.” Konae’s voice was whimsical, moving to a lower pitch that seems airy.
As if sensing Konae’s exhaustion setting in, Masumi stepped closer and dipped her head before beginning to take the baby away. “I will place her in the nursery, Miss. Have you decided a name?” she was rocking the unhappy child, trying to calm her. It was obviously a slow process.
“Sayou.” there was a pause, as if she wasn’t sure. “Sayou Hope.”
“Hope?” Masumi looked from Konae to her father and back again. “That’s English.” she said it in a matter of fact way, but Konae was nodding her head.
“Hope. And you will watch her until I wake.” Konae’s hand had taken hold of Masumi’s arm, gripping it with unabated strength. “Watch her.”
Masumi nodded swiftly in response to the sharp pain of having fingers gather about the bone of her upper arm. “I will, Miss.”
Konae released her, already drifting off into slumber. The sun was not far from the horizon, and having spent much of her energy giving birth, Konae passed over to sleep even before the sky brightened.
Masumi looked at her father as she placed the baby into the small plastic cotton lined bed. “The sun affects her as well. She is sleeping.”
Dr. Niijima shook his head as he began to prepare Konae for the day. He gathered the towels and used items for disposal. The blood that had been present had already coagulated into a black viscous material. “We will move her to a room without windows. To avoid accidents.”
“Yes.” Masumi took the baby, Hope from the room for her stay in the nursery.
Winter 2010: Sakura Begins
December 21st, 2006
I am not like those that came before me. I am something else. I am not a slave to the will of Ancestors or Lieutenants of the Old World. I am different from them. I am something worse.
There was little wind on the roof that Sakura stood upon, the air had died down not long after the sun began to sink below the line of buildings in the western sky. Without Heaven looking down upon her unceasingly, she felt much more at ease. Her hands rested upon the sandstone wall that prevented people from accidentally walking or falling off of the hotel roof, her fingertips brushing away small granules of rock. She chastised herself silently for the nervous habit, but continued to let her eyes roam about the slowly thinning crowds of people below. As it grew darker and harder to distinguish the people, she pushed aside the mental anxiety and silenced the slow moving taint of Hell that goaded her constantly. Sakura closed her eyes and with a whisper, the voice fell silent.
“Without me you are only half a person.”
Stillness consumed her for the briefest of moments and as if someone had tuned a radio slightly, the world became just that much more clear. She heard the granules of rock that her fingers drag across the sandstone as if she were leaning down to listen closely. The people’s figures below sharpened and details that were once a blur became easy to pick out. Floating her gaze about the people, her visioned tunneled onto a singular man. He carried an oblong case upon his shoulders and was looking back at her. They shared the gaze for what seemed like several minutes before he offered a wry smile and stepped away from a throng of people waiting to enter a restaurant. She noted the slightest of oddities in his motion, a well hidden limp.
“There is our prey.” the demon whispered in the back of her mind once again, creating a ripple of discomfort that crept along Sakura’s spine. It was the demon’s exhilaration. She shifted her weight from left to right and back again, feeling her palms begin to sweat. She murmured aloud for the creature to stay silent and heard nothing else.
Despite the uneasiness in her stomach Sakura stayed in her place and waited, figuring the assassin would not be in a hurry. She had nearly been killed merely two weeks ago. It had taken him months to catch up to her, she had fended him off and thought she may have wounded him in the process; however, she now new for certain that he had not escaped their encounter unharmed. Things were so different now. She let a smile pass her lips just as the roof access door groaned and squealed open. The hinges protested noisily, metal scraping against metal with a jagged sounding grunt. The sound was replaced with a high pitched whine before the metallic door thudded home within the threshold.
“I thought you would have found me much sooner, assassin.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. Purposely, she spoke as if he were beneath her. She heard his approaching foot falls halt and the thud of his case as he set it down and opened the latches. She counted what sounded like three small metal flip latches open and then nothing for a moment. She barely moved, her body turning ever so slightly as she peered over her right shoulder at the kneeling man. She noticed his hair was slightly wavy, but low cut. His skin was not especially dark, but gave the impression he hailed from somewhere in Asia Minor; although, she wasn’t sure what country.
His voice was a rough tenor as he began to stand, freeing from the case a polished gladius. The short, but obviously well sharpened blade glinted in the partially obscured moon. “I thought you would have remained in hiding like that coward you call a father.”
Sakura sighed, turning upon the balls of her feet. As she moved her right hand slipped an iron tessen from the obi of her kimono and with a flick of her wrist the iron fan snapped open, across the metal ribbing was the rising sun of Japan. She moved forward unblinkingly across the distance and raised the weapon as if to strike, the assassin crossing the distance as to meet her. Fabric followed immediately by flesh and muscle parted against metal and blood pattered at Sakura’s feet. The assassin’s eyes looked down and then back up, capturing Sakura’s gaze. He was still wearing that same wry grin upon his lips. The clatter of metal drew his attention for a moment as the tessen fell to the rooftop, he did not stop smiling as the girl’s blood began to form a growing pool of crimson near the fallen weapon.
“I have nothing.” her voice was just barely above a whisper, blood trickling between her off white teeth. She tipped her head aside, and reached out to her killer. Her gentle touch brushed against his face, leaving a trail of darkening blood along his cheek. He retreated suddenly twisting and pulling the blade out of the half vampire girl. Her touch slipped away as her body was flung to the side and toppled to the tarred rooftop. “Nothing. But vengeance”
I can not die this way. I will not die this way!
The fits of the demon burned through her brain like a searing fire. Like magnesium igniting in her head the demon acted with a strength she’d never felt before. She felt the demon act without her consent, driving her body to knit broken flesh together once again. It was trying to make her whole. The rush made her nauseous.
“Do not worry, in a few moments it won’t matter what you have. Not even you can withstand that kind of blood loss. I’ll just-” his sentence was cut short as the gift Sakura left for him began to take hold. He hadn’t realized how grave the situation was when she touched him.
“I may die.” her vision threatened to leave her, she was suddenly unable to keep her head off of the ground. “But you will never call my father a coward again. He was the greatest warrior to ever live.” Her voice trailed off, the blood loss was too much. Overtaken by darkness, Sakura began to dream, the sound of her heart slowing with each labored breath.
“Sakura. That is what your name is.” Inoue’s voice was but a whisper, words forgotten with time.
“Your enemies will cower before you.” Her mother’s voice echoed in her mind.
“Sakura!” She saw Isamu in her mind, “Sakura!” Isamu called to her, the distant voice ever fading. “You can’t die, I will protect you!” He had never been in her dreams before.
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