Hi
This is my first posting to this group and my first attempt at fanfiction so let me quickly introduce myself.
My name is Mike Ironoak and I am interested in most anime, but especially Miyu and Silent Mobius.
This fanfic is the first in a five part series based on the TV series of Miyu which showed in Japan a couple of years ago.
Any CC + flames that people wish to throw at me for this
attempt will be thankfully taken.
Thanks
Mike.
_______________________________________________________________________
FSmail - Get your free web-based email from Freeserve: www.fsmail.net
-- Attached file included as plaintext by Listar --
-- File: shima.txt
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Kyuuketsuki Miyu (c) 1992 Narumi Kakinouchi
TV series characters (c) AIC
The characters and concepts of Narumi Kakinouchi/AIC are used without
permission. Other original characters are copyright of no one and
nothing.
This story maybe freely distributed as long as this section is also
referenced and the author is quoted.
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Deceptions
----------
A five part story by IronOak.
With grateful thanks to contributions by Alex Gray and Sharon Wall.
Pre-readers - Alex Gray and Sharon Wall.
<-- -- -- -- -->
<-- -- -- -- -->
Episode One - Friends
The rush of flames lit the darkness of the small alleyway as the
enraged scream of the banished Daemon filled the stillness of the
night air. A few meters away, three figures stood dispassionately
watching as the flames slowly died and then flickered away. One of
these figures slowly dropped her hand and turned to look at the corpse
of the Shinma's host that was already growing cold on the ground.
"It is over," the girl said quietly as she turned and began to
walk away.
"Over?" the second figure queried in an amused voice as the young
high school girl walked past her. "It is never over Guardian - you of
all people should know that."
The figure's statement caused the girl to break her step and she
turned to cast an annoyed look at the ashen doll like face of the
individual who had spoken. "Why are you here Reiha? This business had
nothing at all to do with you so why the sudden interest?"
"Interest?" the oriental snow demon laughed softly to herself.
"And how would you know what is of interest to me Miyu? I come and go
as I please, not at your behest."
"Is that so?" Miyu replied in a bored tone as she shifted her
position slightly.
"Is that a threat I hear Miyu?" a second and deeper voice issued
from the object held tightly in the demon's arms. "Well, well, that
would be amusing..."
"I do not threaten," Miyu said coldly as she turned and resumed
her walk down the alley. "I only do. Come Larva - our task here is
finished."
Reiha smiled faintly to herself as she watched the Vampire and her
servant return from whence they had come. The Guardian was becoming
even easier to bait and the calm detachment that the girl liked to use
as a mask was slowly beginning to erode away. Miyu had almost been
ready to offer violence and that made Reiha pleased. The more
flustered the Vampire became the more careless she was and that suited
Reiha's purpose perfectly.
"It will soon be time you know," the deeper voice commented from
the wooden figure she clutched to her breast. "Already the flaws in
her character have begun to reveal themselves to me. We should have no
difficulties in exploiting them."
"Perhaps," Reiha commented as she looked down at the foul smelling
corpse on the ground. "But I prefer to wait and see until we know for
sure. The Master has no great tolerance for failure as you well know.
We have the time, let us be sure we use it properly."
The figure sighed and said nothing more. Reiha took this lack of
comment for an agreement. They both knew what failure meant.
<-- -- -- -- -->
"Hey Miyu!" Chisato waved as she saw her friend standing on the
small terrace just outside their homeroom. "Didn't you get my message
yesterday about meeting me outside the library? I waited for you for
over an hour."
"Sorry," the girl said as she stood and stared out over the school
grounds below. "Something came up at the last moment."
"Well, you could have rung me," Chisato complained as she crossed
over to stand by her friend. "I was worried about you."
Miyu smiled and brushing her hair from her face looked over at the
girl who had been the first to befriend her. "Forgive me..." she
started to say when Chisato surged forward and grabbed her arm.
"Are you hungry?" the lively girl brushed Miyu's attempted apology
aside as if it did not exist. "Here, I have something for you,"
Chisato said as she grabbed a small box from her desk and presented it
to the bewildered Miyu. "You never seem to bring any lunch along to
school so I made some for you." She gave a small smile and then
putting her hands behind her back looked anxiously at her confused
friend. "Go on, open it and tell me what you think."
Miyu looked down at the box and then up at the grinning form of
her friend. "Thank you Chisato," she said genuinely touched by the
concern the teenager had shown for her.
"Well, don't just look at it," Chisato urged her shy companion.
"Open it, I want to know what you think of my masterful culinary
talents."
"I wouldn't touch that if I were you Miyu," a soft voice advised
as another girl came over to join them. "Chisato's cooking is rather,
um, unique in its flavour. The last time I..."
"Yukari!" Chisato exclaimed angrily turning to face the older girl
as she came over to join them. "Stop picking on me! You only tried my
lunch that one time..."
"...and I have been haunted by it every since," the taller girl
said with a laugh as she sat down next to the other two.
"Bleee!" Chisato stuck out her tongue and glared at the amused
Yukari.
"I think it tastes wonderful," Miyu's soft voice interrupted the
two as she daintily chewed on the small white sandwiches that her
friend had made for her.
"Really?" Chisato's face burst into a wide smile and she leaned
forward with her eyes shining. "Do you mean that? Really?"
"Of course I do," Miyu nodded as she looked into those wide brown
eyes staring down at her. "I never lie."
"Haha!" Chisato clapped her hands together and glared back at
Yukari. "You see? I told you!"
Yukari shrugged, "Miyu's too polite to tell you the truth."
"Humph!" Chisato said as she sat down and looked back at her pale
skinned companion. "Miyu is a lady," she declared. "Not at all like
you."
"Oh, will you two give it a rest," Hisaye growled as she walked up
to the three girls. "I'd like a peaceful lunch just for once."
Yukari nodded in welcome at her late arriving friend. "So," she
said. "Are the two of us still on for the study class tonight? The
mid-term exams are only three weeks away now and I still haven't got
any clue about those algebra problems that came up in the pop quiz we
sat on Monday."
Hisaye rolled her eyes and nodded, "yes," was her only comment but
her expression said it all.
Miyu smiled as the interplay between the three old friends washed
over her. It was strange being part of a group of friends again. She
was so used to being on the outside looking in that she was slightly
uncertain how to act. It felt good to know that there were people who
worried about her, who looked forward to meeting her first thing in
the morning. It was so different from her usual life that...
"Hey Miyu, wake up," Chisato said tapping the vacant faced girl on
her arm. "What do you think?"
Miyu swallowed, "it's delicious," she said.
"Not the food!" Chisato shook her head. "What about my suggestion?
Would it be okay?"
"Suggestion?" Miyu queried slightly confused.
"About tonight," Chisato replied. "How about it?"
"Of course," Miyu said without thinking. "I'd love to."
"Excellent!" Chisato exclaimed excitedly. "My mother has been
looking forward to meeting you so much!"
"Oh," Miyu said wondering what it was she had just agreed to.
"And we can talk all night," the girl bubbled on happily. "I
really do want to get to know all about you Miyu and a sleep over
would be great!"
Sleep over?
Yukari looked at Hisaye and Hisaye looked at Yukari. Miyu had
walked right into that one. Yamano might be bright but sometimes she
was too naive for her own good. Chisato was an only child, so when she
managed to get a friend over to stay the night the girl was usually
talking excitedly the whole time. The poor reserved girl that Miyu was
would be kept awake all night by Chisato interrogating into every
aspect of her life. Yukari hoped that Miyu had the stamina for it -
the poor thing would need it.
<-- -- -- -- -->
The young girl looked nervously down at her watch and wondered for
the umpteenth time where the bus had got to. It was already beginning
to get dark overhead and if she had to wait much longer then she would
miss her piano lessons altogether. Her mother would have already been
waiting for her at the conservatory for well over 20 minutes now and
the girl shuddered slightly at the thought of how angry the woman
would be when her daughter finally turned up.
"Just my day," the girl commented as she looked around. As per
usual her eyes were drawn to the old shrine that stood half derelict
across the street, and as per usual something about it made her
shudder. She drew a sharp breath and forced herself to look down at
her watch. She had always hated having to wait for the bus here.
Usually, it was just for five or so minutes but today she had been
standing here for well over 35 minutes and it was now fast approaching
8pm.
She did not exactly know what it was about this street that made
her feel so scared but in the two months since she had started this
routine the feeling had been steadily getting worst. It was almost as
if she was being, well, watched. Perhaps it had something to do with
the gaping empty windows of the shrine opposite or perhaps it was just
the general ominous feeling that seemed to prevail the whole
atmosphere of this street. The girl did not know, all she knew was
that something about this place made her feel scared.
"Come on," she repeated as she began to move nervously about.
Somehow the feeling today was even worst than it was usually. In the
gathering gloom of twilight the shadowed darkness that filled the
shrine almost seemed to be reaching out across the street towards her.
And although the girl continuously reassured herself that she was just
being silly the impression of the shrine reaching out for her stuck in
her mind. She just wanted to get home, to be out of this horrible
place before the fast approaching dark of night consumed her and the
street completely.
"...in the cherry tree..."
The girl stopped dead as the first strains of the faint voices
reached her.
"...by the blossom so white..."
The girl looked up startled.
"...creeping up to the top of the tree the cat tried to surprise
it..."
The girl's head spun around as she tried desperately to identify
the direction from which the children's singing was coming. What was
going on here?
"...Wise little bird sings a fresh new song..."
Her head was slowly drawn around to stare once more at the old
gaping shrine and a feeling of unnatural dread filled her.
"...who is standing there behind me..."
The girl shuddered as the faint singing voices abruptly stopped.
What was happening? Why did she suddenly feel so afraid?
"...Wise little bird sings a fresh new song,
Who is standing there behind me..."
With a scream the girl spun around as the voices of the children
were now singing right next to her. Her eyes widened impossibly with
terror at what she saw standing behind her. She opened her mouth to
scream, to release the impossible horror that was now bubbling up
inside her throat, but the scream did not even have a chance to be
born as it, like the girl, were torn to shreds.
Silence filled the street.
It was getting dark when the bus finally pulled up and the doors
hissed open. The bus driver looked at the two teenagers waiting to get
off and coughed. "Pardon me Miss..."
"Yes?" one of the two girls adjusted her glasses and turned to
look at the man. "Can I do something for you?"
"Are you really sure the two of you want to get off here Miss?"
the man said as he looked over at the two smartly dressed girls. "This
place, well, is not..."
"Hmm?" the second girl flashed him the kind of smile that made him
wish he was 40 years younger. "And just what might be so - 'well is
not' - about this place?"
"This street has an evil reputation," the man smiled pleased at
the attention the attractive girl was giving him. "There have been
disappearances here, among other..."
"Yeah, right," the first girl said with a dismissive gesture as
she grabbed her gaijin companion's arm and dragged her towards the
door. "Come on Loren, stop mucking about and let's get going. We're
already over an hour late thanks to that crash. My parents are going
to kill me."
"Wait up Mayumi," the gaijin said as she fought to recover her
balance. "You don't need to pull my arm out of its socket."
"My parents have been looking forward to meeting you for over
seven months now Loren," the girl who was called Mayumi snapped as she
pulled the gaijin onto the street. "I do not intend to let them down
now, not when I have finally been able to get you out here."
"Alright, alright, I..."
The rest of the burgeoning argument was lost to the driver as the
two girls walked off down the darkened street. He sighed and shook his
head. "Girls these days," he muttered as he closed the door and
looking in his mirror turned on the right flicker. He was just turning
back to the road when a flash of sickly yellow light in the rear view
mirror caught his eye. He frowned and looked back - there was nothing
there, just an old derelict building.
He shuddered slightly as he remembered the rumors he had been
trying to warn the two college students about. This was no place to be
hanging about any longer than he needed too. He looked at the mirror
once more and put his foot down on the accelerator - those girls could
look out for themselves.
Loren pulled her hand free of Mayumi and watched as the bus pulled
hurriedly away. She sighed, it was a shame that she did not get the
chance for the driver to tell her that ghost story he had seemed to be
hinting at. She always liked a good scare and this street certainly
had the right atmosphere for it.
"Will you please hurry up Loren?" Mayumi complained as her friend
once more began to pull back. "We still have a good twenty minute walk
ahead of us you know."
Loren rolled her eyes. Mayumi could be impossible at times.
"Coming," she said as she quickened her pace to catch up with her
friend.
"...in the cherry tree..."
Loren stopped and frowned slightly as the strange refrain of
children's voices sounded faintly on the wind. Her eyes narrowed and
she turned to look at the old deserted building across the street.
"...by the blossoms so white..."
"Oh wonderful," she hissed in annoyance. "Why do I always run into
these twits?" She flashed a quick look back over her shoulder and saw
that Mayumi had halted yet again and was not looking very amused. "Oh,
this is just perfect."
"...creeping up to the top..."
"Go play with someone else," Loren whispered harshly to the
shifting darkness that inhabited the cursed building opposite. "I am
not in the mood."
"Loren..." Mayumi's voice growled warningly.
Loren's eyes narrowed and she spoke a very soft alien word under
her breath. The street suddenly went silent and Loren's mouth twitched
in a faintly malicious grin. "Scared are..."
"Loren!" Mayumi's voice snapped loudly just next to her nearly
causing the girl to have a heart attack.
"Ya!" she yipped as she spun around to face the angry woman. "My
God Mayumi!" she said as she clutched at her chest. "Don't do that!
Are you trying to..."
"Come!" Mayumi commanded as she grabbed her friend's arm and
dragged her off balance. "I've had enough of your nonsense. You are
going to meet my parents even if I have to drag you there personally.
Now, move it!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Loren cried out as Mayumi manhandled her
down the street like a sack of potatoes. "Ouch! Hey! Stop that!" The
two girls vanished around the corner and the street went silent again.
The wind began to pick up and the broken shutters banged against
the windows of the ruined shrine. The dust and fallen leaves picked up
by the wind were thrown through the gaping wounds of the building's
outside structure but still the street remained silent. It had felt
the power of the being who had threatened it and knew that in this
case discretion was the better part of valor. It liked its pseudo half
life and challenging THAT one would have been tantamount to committing
suicide. It only hoped that the being who had disguised itself in that
mortal shell had not taken any offence to the street's activities. The
Old Ones like her could be viscous with those that annoyed them. And
that, was not something the street wished to experience - ever.
<-- -- -- -- -->
Miyu nodded her head politely to Chisato's mother as the older
woman welcomed her in. "Thank you for inviting me," she said as she
took off her shoes.
The woman smiled, "I'm so glad to be able to finally met you
Yamano-san," she said as she gestured Miyu into the living room. "My
daughter has mentioned you quite a number of times and I understand
she is very fond of you."
"Mother, please, you're embarrassing me," Chisato flushed as she
walked into the living room from the kitchen with two large glasses of
lemonade. She handed one to Miyu and then with a loud slurp sat down
heavily onto the sofa.
The woman shook her head and gave a barely audible sigh as once
more she despaired at her daughter's complete lack of manners. She
slowly sat down and took a moment to quickly measure up the girl that
Chisato had taken such a shine to.
Yamano-san sat quietly on the sofa sipping from her glass as her
eyes seemed to be looking everywhere at once. The woman noticed with
interest that the girl had unconsciously adopted the same sort of
formal posture that her own mother had instructed her in when she
herself was a child. That, and the way the girl held herself spoke of
breeding. This girl, unlike her own daughter, knew what it was to be a
lady. The woman smiled slightly at the thought. Perhaps, something of
those good manners would rub off on her own uncouth daughter - Chisato
could certainly use some.
Miyu was well aware of the older woman's attention and found the
thoughts about Chisato quite amusing. She had not thought of herself
as an etiquette teacher before and the very idea of her trying to
teach Chisato the same sort of manners that she had been taught almost
bought a smile to her face. However, it also reminded her just how out
of touch she really was with the modern day world. The rules of polite
society that she had been bought up on were no longer valid and the
fact that Chisato's mother had picked up on it meant that Miyu really
needed to bring herself up to date with the social conventions of
"her" generation.
"So Miyu," Chisato began. "Did your parents give you any grief
about staying the night, or is everything alright?"
Miyu was silent for a moment and then said quietly, "my parents
are not at home."
"Oh," Chisato said surprised. "Where are they then?"
<Locked out of time> Miyu replied quietly to herself. "I really
don't know at the moment. They are both in China working for the next
week or so."
"You mean you have your whole house to yourself?" Chisato's mother
asked in surprise and then frowned as Miyu nodded in response to her
question. "That's not right. A girl like you should not be left alone
for days on end. Pardon the words Yamano-san, but what do your parents
think they are doing? Anything could happen to you."
Miyu made no comment but simply continued to sip at her lemonade.
She supposed it was only natural that the woman would react like that.
These humans always seemed to think that anyone in a small body was
totally unable to take care of themselves. While at times such
emotions were useful, there were periods, such as now, that her
ageless physical form was definitely an inconvenience.
"I know!" Chisato suddenly exclaimed in a way that made her mother
groan. "Miyu could stay with us for a few days until her parents are
back!" She flashed a wide smile at her mother as she congratulated
herself on her brilliant solution.
Miyu drew breath to object but then thought better of it. She
liked Chisato and it had been a long time since she had been
surrounded by the warmth of a family environment - too long. She knew
that Larva had warned her about becoming too attached to these humans
but... she was lonely. The long years of wandering the twilight realms
had grown heavy on her soul and the chance to live a "normal" life
even for just a few days lit a strange desire in her heart. Perhaps,
this was why Larva had warned her about becoming involved. She liked
Chisato, liked Yukari and Hisaye, and yet no matter how she might try
to pretend otherwise these girls were still human. Miyu knew that
while they might be able to share a brief time together as friends
these girls, like her own magical flames, would burn brightly but then
ultimately fade away. The closer that Miyu came to them the greater
her pain would become. Her fate was always a double edged sword -
immortality had its price.
Chisato's mother saw the bright hopeful look on her daughter's
face and chewed her lip. She was not sure what she should do. The
thought of a girl Miyu's age left alone galled her, but still it was
not her place to order the girl to stay. She looked over at Miyu and
tried to determine what her reaction to Chisato's statement had been.
The long haired girl was still sipping her lemonade as if Chisato had
not even spoken but there was the faint trace of a smile on her face
and as the woman looked at her the girl seemed to nod almost
imperceptibly.
"Very well," the woman said as she stood up. "If Yamano-san has no
objections then she is of course more than welcome to stay until..."
"Yaahoo!" Chisato's voice drowned out the rest of her mother's
statement as the girl leapt to her feet and rushed over to grab Miyu
and pull her to her feet. "Come on! Let me show you my bedroom!"
Miyu just about managed to save her glass of lemonade from
spilling all over the floor as Chisato dragged her towards the stairs.
She smiled as the girl started to talk excitedly about all the things
that they would do together while Miyu was staying over. About how
Chisato would personally give Miyu a "make over" that would bring her
up to date with...
<You are unwise in doing this Miyu> Larva's gravelly voice ran
through her mind. <You could bring danger to both her and yourself>
<It will only be for a few days> Miyu sent back. <And I doubt any
Shinma are going to be springing out at me>
<Are you that hungry?> Larva's worried voice queried. <I know you
like girls of her kind but...>
<It's not like that!> Miyu sent back angrily. However, the mention
of her hunger made her eyes move almost unconsciously to stare at the
throat of the bubbly girl standing just in front of her. Her tongue
scrapped over her sharp teeth as she could hear the faint thump thump
of the girl's heart beat as the blood pulsed in time just beneath the
translucent white skin.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Miyu could almost imagine the taste of the hot sweet blood that
was pumping so vigorously through Chisato's youthful body. The hand of
the human on hers was so warm and filled with such vital energy that
Miyu felt her hunger begin to stir against the restraints that had
served so long to hold it at bay. She smiled as the sweet scent of
Chisato filled her senses and she...
"Well," Chisato said pulling Miyu into her rather messy room.
"Here we are, what do you think?" She looked back at Miyu and noticed
that the shy girl was staring intensely at her and that Miyu's
normally pallid complexion was now almost unnaturally white.
"Miyu?" Chisato took a step forward towards her friend and put her
own hand up against the girl's ashen forehead. "Are you alright? You
look a bit flushed."
Miyu smiled and gently pushed Chisato's hand away. "I'm fine,
really. Just a little hungry. I haven't eaten as well as I should have
in the last few weeks that's all." She looked at the worried
expression on the young girl's face and took a step back. "I'll be
fine - really."
"Hungry?" Chisato clapped her hands together. "Well, why didn't
you just say so? I can feed you no problem!"
Miyu blinked.
"Here, sit down and I'll go and rustle you up something right
now," Chisato flashed a smile at her friend and then rushed out just
pausing at the door long enough to put her head back in and say. "I'm
really glad your staying here Miyu. I, well, get lonely sometimes..."
She looked down at the floor and then slightly embarrassed looked back
at her friend's pale face. "Thanks for being there Miyu, thanks for
being my friend," and before Miyu could answer the girl hurried away.
Miyu stopped still for a moment as she felt the surge of joy that
Chisato's simple statement had bought her. She closed her eyes and
fought to hold back the single tear that she could feel threatening to
leak from her right eye. It had been a long time since someone had
said such honest words to her - a long time indeed.
<-- -- -- -- -->
Loren was struggling to keep up with the many greetings and
welcomes that Mayumi's rather, ah, large family was heaping on her.
She bowed her head in thanks yet again as Mayumi's mother passed her a
another cup of hot sake. She saw Mayumi struggling to keep a straight
face as Loren was getting buried by the attentions of her four younger
sisters and two elder brothers, not to mention her parents and
grandparents, who had all turned out to greet Mayumi's best friend.
"Domo, domo," Loren said as Mayumi's mother piled yet more rice
onto her plate. To say that she was startled at the hospitality she
had been shown was something of an understatement. She felt like she
was some kind of divine honored guest at a banquet and that was
something she had not experienced since the eighteenth century. She
wondered what it was that Mayumi had told her family that made them
act like this. She flashed her friend a _look_ and then turned her
attention back to one of Mayumi's younger sisters who was wanting to
know what life was like in Loren's own country.
"So, this is the infamous Lorennia," Toru whispered to his sister
as the two of them sat and watched the flustered gaijin trying to cope
with the enthusiasm of their family's attention.
Mayumi shot him an angry glance. "Don't say that!" she hissed back
under her breath. "It's solely thanks to her help that I have been
able to get to the second year at all. I would have failed the first
year exams completely if she had not taken all that time to help me."
"I didn't mean it quite like that," Toru whispered back. "I just
meant that after all the letters you have written us about her I
expected some sort of godlike woman with lightning dancing around
her..."
"Stop it!" Mayumi suddenly exclaimed loudly in a voice that made
everyone stare at her. "Leave her alone!"
"Mayumi?" Loren got up and walked over to stand by her friend.
"What's the matter?"
Mayumi stared angrily at her eldest brother and then turning
smiled in apology at Loren. "I'm sorry everyone," she said. "Something
just went down my throat the wrong way that's all."
"Oh," Loren said as she knelt down to pat her friend on the back.
"You'd better have something to drink then."
"Yeah," Mayumi grinned. "Suppose so."
"Yungsia-san," Mayumi's mother got to her feet and went over to
Loren.
"Yes? Yukata-san?"
"The journey from Kyoto must have been long and tiring. I am sure
that my daughter has told you of the hot springs that are near by.
Perhaps you and Mayumi would like to go down there and relax for an
hour or so."
Mayumi nodded, "that's not such a bad idea. I must admit that I
feel more than a little stiff after sitting on that train for over 4
hours, not to mention the extra 2 hours on the bus to get here. How
about it Loren, shall we indulge?"
Loren tilted her head. "If that's what you want Mayumi then I
will more than happily go with you."
"Good idea Mayumi," Toru said standing up. "And if you don't mind
I would like to join you. I need a wash anyway."
"May I come as well?" the girl who had asked Loren so many
questions about her home in Canada queried.
Mayumi gave her brother a glare but simply shrugged. "I can't stop
you."
"Well, I for one will need to get changed first," Loren said. "But
other than that it sounds like a great idea. How about we go in 20
minutes?"
"Sounds fine to me," Toru said walking towards the door.
"It will take you about 10 minutes to get there," Mayumi's father
commented. "Would you like me to drive you?"
Mayumi shook her head. "No thanks, it will give me the opportunity
to show Loren something of the place where I grew up. But would you be
able to come and pick us up? I for one do not feel like walking back
in the dark."
"The baths close at 11pm," the man said. "I'll come and get you
all at about 10:45 - that okay?"
"Thanks," Mayumi said flashing her father a smile. She knew that
he was being extra nice due to Loren and was grateful to him for
making the effort. "Come on Loren," she said taking her friend's hand.
"I'll show you where we can change."
After the two young women had left the room the grandfather raised
his bowl of sake and drained it. "Mayumi has selected well," he said
in passing.
"Yes, she has," the father replied. "This Loren is quite a catch,
but somehow I doubt that Mayumi has told her the truth yet."
"No, you're probably right," the old man sighed. "And that was one
reason why I suggested you invite the two of them. Hopefully here
Mayumi will find the courage to tell the girl the truth."
"How do you think Loren will react?" the man asked. "I wouldn't
like to see Mayumi lose her now. The girl seems so perfect."
The old man shrugged. "I am not a seer," he said. "The gaijin
appears to be strong and if Mayumi is patient I think it may well
work. Mayumi has done the best that she can, the rest will be up to
Loren."
"I like her," one of the younger girls spoke up. "When I grow up I
hope I am as lucky as Mayumi."
"Perhaps you will be cabbit," the old man said with a smile before
commenting on one final issue - "Toru."
The man grimaced and nodded. "I noticed that as well and it gives
me cause for concern. Toru was an idiot in the one he selected and the
fact that he ended up killing her was only a testament to that fact.
He seems to be trying for Loren now as well."
"It is his right," the wife suddenly commented. "Mayumi will just
have to defend the girl."
"I know the Law," the man said. "I just don't like it."
"It is the Law," the woman replied simply. "Mayumi has no choice."
Loren opened up her small case and scrambled around for her
swimming costume. One thing she had learnt as a result of her long
life was that one should never make yourself too vulnerable. Bathing
naked, even in the safe confines of a sheltered room, was something
that went just too much against her instincts. And instinct was
something that had helped her survive to the age that she currently
was - it was not something she intended to ignore.
"Ah ha!" she said as she pulled the navy blue, and yes,
unfashionable swimsuit out of her bag. Laying it out on the bed she
began to slowly undress. She mulled over her impressions so far of
Mayumi's family. They seemed to be nice enough people, but the way
they were treating her made her slightly worried. It had been almost,
well, too friendly. Like she was some long lost daughter or something.
She was used to the social rules of Japanese families with sotto and
naka, but this behavior was just plain weird.
She finished folding up her clothes and reaching down to the bed
picked up her swimsuit.
"Loren?" Mayumi's voice called out as her friend knocked at the
door. "Can I come in?"
"Yeah sure," Loren replied as she started to pull on her swimsuit.
"It's not locked or anything."
"Oh, sorry," Mayumi said in a terse voice as she walked in and saw
that Loren was half naked. "I didn't know you were still in the middle
of changing."
"No big deal," Loren said pulling the swimsuit up over her
smallish breasts. "We're both roommates remember so it's not like I
have anything to worry about is it?"
"No," Mayumi replied with a nervous smile watching as Loren
dressed. "Suppose not."
Loren smiled with amusement at Mayumi's odd ways and finished
putting on the rest of her clothes over her swimsuit. "So, what did
you want anyway?"
"Oh right, I just wanted to see if you were ready yet, and check
if the room was alright."
"The room's fine thanks," Loren replied as she picked up her brush
and gave her short black hair a quick once over. "Alright," she
finally announced giving a small twirl to Mayumi. "I'm ready - shall
we go?"
Mayumi nodded and opened the door. "After you," she said with a
half smile as her friend walked passed her. Mayumi took a moment to
watch the graceful way that Loren walked and the way her shapely
bottom moved in time under the tight fabric of the girl's jeans. She
sighed, she wished she had a figure like Loren's - the girl was
gorgeous.
"Loren?" Mayumi asked as she hurried to catch up with her friend.
"Hmmm..."
"What... what do you really think of me?" Mayumi queried
uncertainly. "Do you like me?"
Loren frowned, "that's a bit of an odd question. You're my friend,
of course I like you."
"Of course, silly question," Mayumi said avoiding Loren's deep
blue eyes.
"Mayumi? What's the matter?" Loren said coming over to stand by
her friend. "You've been acting a bit freaked out ever since we got
here."
"Nothing, nothing," Mayumi shook her head and then held out her
hand. "Come on Lore-chan, let's go swimming."
Loren gave her an odd look and then with a small shrug reached
over and took the offered hand.
"Don't worry Lore-chan," Mayumi reassured her with a smile. "I'll
look after you - always."
Loren did not know quite what to say to that so she just followed
Mayumi out of the house and put the behavior down to the stress of
today's journey.
The sound of the girls crunching footsteps as they crossed the
gravelled yard made Toru and his sister look up. Toru's face twitched
in a mocking half smile as he stared intensely at Loren for far longer
than would be considered polite. Loren shifted uneasily under his
appraising stare. She did not like to be treated like meat and
especially did not like the smile that had now settled on the older
boy's face. Mayumi's eyes narrowed as she felt Loren's hand tighten on
hers and she glared angrily at her brother.
"Toru," she said warningly.
The boy simply smiled in reply and continued to stare at Loren.
"Well Mayumi, are you ready to go?"
"Of course, dearest brother," she replied placing a special
emphasis on the word as tightening her grip protectively on Loren she
pulled her friend along. "Anytime you are ready."
"Ah, Mayumi," Loren asked uncertain what was going on. "Do you
think I can have my hand back now?"
"What?" Mayumi turned on her sharply.
"My hand," Loren said pulling it back back with a sharp jerk.
"I prefer it in one piece if possible."
"Ah, right," Mayumi smiled nervously as she realised what she must
be coming across like. "Sorry 'bout that Lore-chan."
"You're acting weird again Mayumi," Loren said as she rubbed her
sore hand. "Are you really sure you are feeling okay?"
Toru laughed, "Mayumi has always been like this Loren, even since
we were little children so..."
"My name is Yungsia-san," Loren cut in rudely not wanting to get
on familiar terms with this jerk. "Only my close friends can call me
Loren."
At her words the man's smile turned slightly predatory and Loren
felt her own power twitch in response to the perceived threat. She
quashed the reaction without thinking. This man was a human. He was of
no threat to her.
"Pardon me, Yungsia-san," Toru bowed slightly with that same
mocking grin on his face. "I was simply assuming you wished to follow
the customs of your country. Forgive me, I did not mean any offence."
Loren did not even bother answering that. "Are we going to these
bathes then Mayumi?" she asked sticking her hands in her coat pockets.
She was almost regretting that she had come here now.
"Yeah, this way," Mayumi replied adjusting her glasses as she did
when she was nervous. This was not going well. Loren was getting over
defensive and Toru's come ons were just making things worst. Well,
perhaps after a long relaxing bath Loren would feel more at ease and
Mayumi would be able to speak to the girl.
She shot an angry look at her brother and then walked off.
<-- -- -- -- -->
"What do you mean you've never played a console game before Miyu?"
Chisato demanded as if the very idea was even impossible for her to
comprehend. "You must have played before."
"No," Miyu replied simply and calmly rolled onto her back. "I have
never played a game like this before and I have no real desire to
either."
"Oh," Chisato looked slightly lost for a moment and then with a
sigh turned the machine off. "Well, what would you like to do then?"
she queried rolling over so that she faced Miyu. "You're an odd girl
Miyu."
Miyu smiled and took the comment for a complement. "I would just
like to talk," she responded to Chisato's request. "I would like to
learn about you, your life, your hopes and fears. About how you met
Yukari and Hisaye, you know, things like that."
Chisato looked at her for a moment and then blinked. This was the
first time anyone had asked her directly about herself. "You _are_ a
strange girl," she repeated as she complied to Miyu's odd request. The
friendly golden brown eyes of Miyu made her feel almost like she could
trust this strange girl with anything - even with secrets she had
never told her other friends and so she began to talk.
Miyu rolled onto her side and listened with quiet attentiveness as
Chisato slowly began to talk about her life. Miyu did not listen so
much to the actual words but more to the feelings behind the words.
She wanted to gain a connection with her human friend. She wanted
something that she could look back on, something that would shine to
her in the long years ahead. She wanted to know that for a time at
least she had been special to someone and not just the executioner
that she feared she was becoming. Since she had become Guardian she
had seen sights, experienced things that would have sent any normal
human mad by now. And then again, maybe she was mad. To have
experienced what she had and yet to simply treat it as yet another
symptom of the sickness for which she was the cure did not exactly
qualify as sanity according to human standards.
<You are what you are Miyu> Larva whispered quietly in her mind.
<If not for you then the dark chaos that these humans fear so much
would run riot. Do not hate yourself for doing what you must do>
<But I am so tired of it> Miyu sent back. <So tired of the
killing, the pain. Are we really making a difference here Larva? The
numbers of rogue Shinma these humans summon with their heavy hearts
and desires never seems to end. We send one back to the darkness and
yet another one or even more are summoned in their place. It never
ends, never ever ends...?
<I know> Larva replied with tender concern at the distress in his
Mistress's voice. <But if you do not protect them then who will? Would
you like to see girls like this Chisato become little more than
playthings for the darkness when you could help to protect them.>
<No, of course not> Miyu send back. <I know what you are trying to
say but it hurts Larva, it hurts me so much>
<There is a balance that must be maintained Miyu> Larva replied.
<You exist so that girls like Chisato will never have to know the
darkness that you and I know. Remember that fact and let it make you
strong Miyu - let it make you strong> His voice faded out and Miyu was
left with her own troubled thoughts.
Chisato noticed that Miyu had her usual vague look on her face and
that her eyes had closed. She stopped talking and wondered if her
friend had drifted off to sleep. "Miyu?" she said quietly. "Are you
awake?"
"Don't stop Chisato," Miyu said opening one eye. "I'm still
awake."
"Sorry, I thought you had gone to sleep on me," Chisato replied.
"Now why would I do that?" Miyu said with a little grin. "I was
just enjoying listening to the sound of your voice."
Chisato smiled and then sat up. "Well," she began. "My voice has
just about exhausted itself out for now. I've been talking straight
for well over an hour now."
Miyu sat up as well slightly surprised. "Has it been that long?"
Chisato pointed at her bedside clock, "look."
Miyu did so and saw that the time read 9:05pm. "Oh," she said and
then sleepily stretched herself. "Well, it is Sunday tomorrow so it
should not matter the time we go to bed tonight should it?"
Chisato grinned, "not really I suppose. And to be honest, I don't
feel like going to bed now anyway."
A knock came at the door and it was pushed open to reveal the face
of a middle aged man.
"Father," Chisato laughed and got to her feet.
"Ouch," the man complained as his daughter gave him a bruising
hug. "Chisato-chan, I've only been gone for a few days..."
"But I missed you!" the girl stated from within her father's
embrace.
"And me you," the man said returning his daughter's hug and
nodding in welcome at Miyu. "So ChiChi-chan, are you going to
introduce me to your new friend?"
"Don't call me that," Chisato ordered giving her father a look as
she pulled back and turned to Miyu. "Father, let me introduce to you
my very best friend in the whole wide world - Yamano Miyu."
Miyu got gracefully to her feet and briefly straightening herself
out bowed her head in welcome to the man. "Good evening sir."
The man bowed slightly in reply. "I understand that you will be
staying with us for a couple of days Yamano-san," he said as he slowly
measured the girl up.
Miyu did not answer but simply nodded in reply.
"So, what are you two girls doing tonight anyway? The only reason
I ask is that your mother and I are heading down to the bathes for a
hour or so and she wondered if you two would like to come as well."
"You bet!" Chisato exclaimed clapping her hands together. "We
would love to go wouldn't we Miyu?"
Miyu wondered for a moment why Chisato would get so excited at
just a trip to the bathes but she just smiled politely and nodded her
head. "Of course."
"Alright, we'll be leaving in about 10 minutes. Will that be long
enough for you to get ready?"
"Hai!" Chisato stated pushing her father towards the door. "Just
let us get changed and we'll be right down."
The man smiled to himself and left the two of them alone.
<-- -- -- -- -->
"_This_ is the place?" Loren asked with a frown as she gave the
well lit building a good stare. "Looks more like a stupid cross over
between a nightclub and a gym rather than a bathhouse."
"Well, it is in a way," Mayumi stated. "The owner dabbled in
expansion and diversification a while back and this was the result."
Toru moved up behind Loren and said in a throaty whisper, "it's a
mecca for forbidden delights Lori-chan. A place in which to indulge
your darkest fantasies with whomever you desire. A place in which to
let yourself truly go free, to do what you never imagined yourself
capable of." He pressed even closer to her so that his warm breath
caressed her ear. "A place of seduction," he whispered in a tone that
left her with no doubt as to his meaning.
Loren shuddered at the suggestion in his voice and hurriedly
pulled away. She walked over to stand by Mayumi. "Your brother's
creepy," she said in a voice meant for her friend alone. "He makes me
feel really nervous."
"Don't let him get to you Loren," Mayumi hurriedly said. "He's
just envious that's all. He doesn't really mean anything by it."
Loren shook her head. "No, it's more than that. It's..." She
took a deep breath. Her instincts were telling her that there was
something very wrong with this man, and if she stayed here she would
regret it. Loren did not want to leave her friend in the lurch but
when her instincts warned her of danger, she listened. "I'm sorry
Mayumi, but I think I'm going back to Kyoto the day after tomorrow.
This was not a good idea. I just don't..."
"No Loren! You can't!" Mayumi cried out in a way that completely
took Loren by surprise. "You have to stay! You just have to! I can't
lose you now - not after so long! You are mine! MINE!"
"Mayumi..." Loren gasped pulling back as Mayumi grabbed
desperately at her arm. "Let me go!"
"You MUST stay! You MUST!" Mayumi held her arm tightly in an
almost pleading way. "Please Loren! Please!"
"What has gotten into you?" Loren tried to back off, completely
startled by the sudden change in her friend.
"You must stay Loren! You must! Mayumi NEEDS you!" the younger
sister suddenly exclaimed making Loren feel even more confused. What
was this family about? What did they want of her?
"Yes Lori-can," Toru said with a mocking laugh. "You must stay.
Mayumi would be lost without you."
"Shut up!" the younger sister turned angrily on her brother. "Shut
up now! Loren belongs to Mayumi - not you! You had your chance and
destroyed it!"
The humor on Toru's face slowly drained away and was replaced by
anger. "You little..."
"Shut up!" Loren abruptly yelled making everyone look at her.
"Just leave me alone!" she spun around and ran smack straight into
another bunch of people knocking one of them to the ground.
"Ouch!" the girl under her exclaimed as Loren scrambled quickly to
her feet.
"I'm so sorry," she said as she reached down to help the girl up.
"Miyu!" another of the figures, a young girl, exclaimed rushing
forward.
"Are you alright?" Loren asked the girl.
"Miyu?" Chisato queried.
"Loren!" two more figures came rushing over. "Are you alright?"
Miyu slowly looked up and took a moment to straighten herself
out. She smiled, "I'm fine," she replied to the various worried faces
looking down at her.
"I'm really sorry about that," Loren apologized to the small girl
she had mistakenly bowled over. "Are you really alright?"
Miyu was just about to reply when her attention was caught by the
other two figures that were hanging around the college girl who had
knocked her over. Shinma! They were Shinma!
"Loren?" Mayumi pushed forward. "Are you really..."
"Yes, I'm fine," Loren pushed Mayumi's hands away. "I'm fine."
"Thank heavens," Mayumi breathed with a sigh of such relief that
Loren was touched. "Loren," Mayumi continued. "Look, I know that
things, well, may seem a bit odd to you just at the moment, but please
will you stay with me. I swear my brother will not annoy you anymore
and that I will give you space if you need it. Please, I bought you
here to meet my family for us to get closer not to drive us apart. I
like you too much to want to hurt you."
Miyu's eyes narrowed as she tried to gauge just who and what these
Shinma were. They were obviously interested in this student but Miyu
could detect nothing about their intentions towards the human. And
this was the first time she had ever encountered two Shinma working
together like this.
<Larva> she sent. <Are you familiar with these Shinma?>
<No> came the quiet reply. <I have never encountered their like
before. And I have no idea what they are doing here>
Miyu smiled at Chisato. <I don't suppose it really matters> she
sent back. <They are Shinma, they must be banished end of story>
<It would not be wise to fight them here> Larva advised. <Unless
you don't mind the human casualties>
<No!> Miyu exclaimed. <Of course we will not start sometime now!
We will wait. Watch the girl, see why they are so interested in her.
When we have our answers then we will move but not...>
"Miyu!" Chisato shook her friend. "What's the matter with you?"
Miyu let go of her connection to Larva and concentrated back on
the situation around her. "Sorry Chisato," she said. "I was just
checking I was alright."
"You are okay aren't you?" Loren asked her again. "I'm really
sorry for being such a klutz. I don't often do things like this."
"Please don't worry," Miyu smiled back. "I'm fine really."
Loren bowed and then taking a deep breath turned back to Mayumi.
The girl was still looking at her with a concerned expression and
Loren slowly caved in as her resolve melted before Mayumi's brown
eyes. "Okay, okay," she finally said thinking she may have overreacted
before. "I will stay, but just make sure your sick brother stays off
my back."
Mayumi sighed with relief and nodded her head wildly. "Yes, yes,
anything you want. I'm sorry Loren... I just, well, need you as a...
friend."
"Alright, alright," Loren felt slightly embarrassed at the
expression on Mayumi's face. "Just don't start getting all weepy on me
now. Come on, let's go and get that bath together shall we?"
"Hai!" Mayumi laughed and Loren bowed once more in apology to the
family she had run over before she followed Mayumi and her sister
towards the bright lights of the bathes come disco.
"Well, Miyu," Chisato grabbed her friend's hand. "Now that that's
all over shall we go to?"
Miyu watched as the two Shinma and their victim walked off. "Yes,"
she said turning back to smile at Chisato. "Of course, let's go."
<-- -- -- -- -->
"So Reiha," the figure said as the two of them looked down on the
scene that had just played out below. "Now do you see why I asked you
to get involved with her?"
"I do not need a reason Master," the snow demon carefully replied.
"Your command is reason enough."
"Reiha," the figure said in a disapproving tone. "I thought I have
told you before about things like that. I am not like your creator, I
require my servants to think for themselves. If they do not, then they
are of no use to me. Now, do you understand why I asked you to get
involved?"
Reiha nodded, "the girl."
"Correct," the figure said. "The battle between such creatures as
the Vampire and her stupid Shinma mean nothing to me, but that girl
does. The Guardian is a useful tool but that is all. She can work in
the open and not arouse any suspicions - for the moment that serves my
purpose."
"So you wish me to continue to aid her?" Reiha queried.
"For the moment yes," the figure replied. "When the girl is safely
mine you may do as you wish with the Vampire. I have no interest in
her."
Reiha turned back and looked at Miyu. "She is getting to be more
and more amusing. I think I will enjoying playing with her before the
end."
"As you wish," the figure said dismissively. "Now go, your
presence bores me."
Reiha bowed and then vanished leaving the figure standing alone.
The wind swept through the cowl of the protective cloak and it
fluttered back to reveal something of the figure's face sheltered in
its darkness. The rosebud lips smiled and the eyes watched as the life
of the humans carried on below.
"Ahhh, Loren my dear," the figure said with a faint grin. "I have
a very special role for you my child, very special indeed." And with
that comment the figure turned and passed from mortal sight to deal
with other more pressing issues.
<-- -- -- -- -->
<-- -- -- -- -->