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Post by wulfbayne on Jan 6, 2009 19:49:20 GMT -5
[continued from ``the apple does not fall far from the tree]
Quelling her tears and getting past those last few sobs, Azusa wiped her eyes and gazed at the ground for a few moments. Inside she was trying desperately to put the shards of her life back together. It had been broken once, and fixed once, now there were so many broken - and missing - pieces that it seemed like that happy little picture of life would never be whole again. Standing, Azusa brushed the dirt from her clothing and crossed her arms tightly across her chest. It felt that, if she didn't hold onto her heart, it would break apart.
When he mentioned something about home, Azusa shifted her eyes towards his. His gaze was cold and seemed so cut off it almost caused her to flinch. "If it's so troublesome," she started carefully in a quiet voice, "then why are you still around?" She shook her head and sighed. If he was going to take her to her demon clan... then it was better than being left out here alone and defenseless. From as far back as Azusa could think, never had she been this rude towards anyone before. It made her feel wrong inside, like she was just a waste of his time. Which, really, she was. Not to mention he had taken a nice clubbing to the head in order to save her life, so, she owed him.
Azusa followed in silence, her frame still trembling from the nights experiences. And her heart ached terribly. Everything has been a lie, she thought. Even my moth-... Aimi's promises that everything would be a fairy tale.
Aimi had always read to Azusa as a child stories of princesses being rescued from the villain's clutches by a handsome prince charming. Yes, the Izumi male was handsome... but he wasn't any where close to being prince charming. He was so cold, it seemed. And, even though he might be a gentleman in the regards of helping her, he was a bit rude. It was almost repulsive to Azusa. She felt sorry for whatever woman married (or marries) him... what a dead end relationship that would be.
As they moved into the Mizuno lands, Azusa was suddenly hit with a strong scent of the ocean. Fresh, cool breeze with a briny flavor to it. She had never actually seen the ocean with her own eyes and was suddenly excited. She couldn't wait to stick her feet in the water, and see the dolphins and other sea life her mother had told her so much about as a child.
Looking towards the man, Azusa observed him and - for the first time, actually - realized he was bleeding. She frowned a bit and felt a stab of guilt. It we her fault he now had a head wound (but seriously, he was already so messed up as it is that a small thing like that would hardly have any kind of impact on his personality). Glancing down at the bottom of her slip Azusa came to a conclusion. She tore some of the white cloth from her clothing and moved a bit closer to the Izumi. Reaching up she carefully wiped the blood from his face and then proceeded to staunch the flow of blood by pressing it to the wound. "It's the least I could do," she said looking at him. "Thank you for bringing me to the Mizuno lands," she said with a slight bow before leaving him to the responsibility of holding the fabric up to the wound and looking away.
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Post by Izumi, Yin on Jan 6, 2009 20:09:43 GMT -5
"I don't know."
That had been his answer as to why he stuck around. He really didn't know why. He knew Yin was going to be displeased about him doing all this. He had also thrown in a mere shrug to add onto his answer. Then he had taken the sobbing demon to her lands. He remained quiet the whole way, staring ahead at the path. His senses remained up as he listened for more trouble. If anymore were to come around he would gladly take care of it quickly and then continue forward. Though he hoped that it wasn't going to happen. He didn't want to deal with it right now. He had a hard enough time dealing with the demon behind him. The two didn't seem like they'd get along. Hindari didn't resent her or anything - but she seemed put off by him. His personality wasn't something he figured she enjoyed. But if she knew him - she'd know he'd never change. She would just have to deal with it. Though they'd probably never see each other again so he didn't even bother to ask her for a name. Nor would he give her a name. People named him whatever they wanted - not the other way around.
The scent of the ocean touched his sense of smell and Hindari stopped quickly. He stopped right at the border that lead into the Mizuno lands. His dark eyes gazed out at the ocean that was not too far off. The Mizuno had a little bit of forest to go along with their beach. Hindari refused to go into the lands of the Mizuno. Once she got in there - she was on her own. He wouldn't dare enter the lands at such a time like this. It would cause a fight to break out if they met an unfriendly Mizuno. But the chances of that were low - as almost all Mizuno were kind and accepting.
"Go that way." He said and pointed, "after you touch the sand." Then his hand dropped and he became quiet. He was waiting for her to pass him and go on her way. But instead he felt cloth against his head, causing him to move away slightly and his eyes to shift toward her. She was placing it to his wound to help out with the bleeding. Really, it hadn't been bothering Hindari. "Thank you," he said, "and you're welcome." His hand lifted and grabbed the fabric gently, holding it on his wound. Yin was really going to kill him now...
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Post by wulfbayne on Jan 6, 2009 20:33:23 GMT -5
She listened to his directions, and smiled slightly at his thanks afterwards. Azusa took a step across the clans border and looked about her. So... this was home now? It was nice to once again have a place to call that. Home, she though, letting the word sit in her head. But it had a hollow ring to it. It didn't give her a warm and fuzzy feeling inside, only a hollow ring that seemed to make the cruelties of the world that much more vibrant.
As she made her way towards the beach something at the back of her mind tugged at her eyes, making her want to look back at the Izumi - the apparition of her dreams. That only depressed her. If that was him... she had nothing to look forward to. So she shook her head and bit her lower lip. He had showed her kindness (in an odd way) and she had showed him kindness. It was a nice trade-off, she guessed.
A while later she was on the beach and had gone in the direction the Izumi had pointed. Azusa had walked as far as she could stand before finding a rock. Now she sat on the cold stone surface with her feet in the cool ocean water. She had her arms wrapped about her legs, under her thighs, and she gazed out at the moon's ivory reflection upon the water. The stars were there, too, making the waves glitter as if they held diamonds within them.
As she sat in silence Azusa wondered if anyone else dreamed about... other people. Real people - like she had. She wondered if anyone else had fallen in love through the way of dreams and ended up having a happy ending with that person (if they ever found them). How was it that she dreamt of a man, one whom she had never seen before, and he ended up being real... oh, it was such a disappointment though. He didn't fall in love with her, in fact, she was sure to him she was just a helpless female who needed someone else to constantly save her. Azu sighed and brushed a strand of her white hair behind her ear. "I never wanted to be the damsel in distress," she whispered.
Did he ever dream? The thought was so out of place at this point that it forced a slight laugh from the female. Maybe. Everyone dreams... most of them just don't remember them, though. I wonder if anyone dreams about me, she thought as she leaned a bit off the rock to puck up a pretty white shell that rested in the rippled of the waves. Holding it delicately between her fingers, Azusa held it up to the light of the moon and observed it. The shell was completely white with tiny ridges all around it. It was beautiful, she thought with a smile and decided to keep it as a small personal treasure. Leaning her back against a rock which rose above the one she was sitting on, Azusa closed her eyes and listened to the soft murmur of the ocean.
The sea really is beautiful, Aimi...
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Post by Izumi, Yin on Jan 6, 2009 21:15:05 GMT -5
There was a soft hum coming from the girl's mouth as she walked along the beach. She wasn't really a girl at all - but she could be mistaken for being about eight if not seven. Her body was childish and her breasts still a mere size A. Her eyes were large and innocent with maroon pupils and a lovely scarlet iris. On her body was what looked like a mere white nightgown that went about two inches past her knees. Her hair was a long, flowing white and the sunlight glistened on her pale, childish skin.
Yang walked slowly down the beach with bare feet - she never wore shoes often. Her innocent eyes were skimming the sand for a sign of what she was looking for. When she would find one her eyes would sparkle and a soft smile would cross her lips. Then she would bend down and pick up the sea shell - holding it up to inspect its many features. Then she would put in a small pouch she had if she liked it to take home and add to a small collection she had.
While she was out looking for sea shells she spotted an unfamiliar Mizuno upon a rock. Yang blinked softly and moved toward her. She made sure to make her approach friendly and wondered if everything was ok. Had a loner found their way back to home? Unfortunately - if she was a loner- there was only one way into the clan for her. Marriage. But Yang had a kind heart and if the woman needed help she'd be glad to offer it.
"Hello," she spoke softly and sweetly as she looked up where the Mizuno sat. "Who are you?" She noticed her eyes were closed and wondered momentarily if she were asleep. She wished not to wake her up if she was.
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Post by wulfbayne on Jan 6, 2009 21:31:40 GMT -5
As soft and light as a feather, a new voice drifted into Azusa's mind and pulled her from the muddled beginnings of a dream. She opened her eyes - which had not quite lost that touch of red from the tears - and looked about. At first she saw no one and began to consider the fact that she was crazy, but there - just below her field of vision - was a small girl. A girl who looked a lot like herself. That faint hope, that tiny light of hope that flickered in the depths of her heart that she was only being confused for a demon was quickly extinguished. Azusa was not a human, she was a demon. What a terrible thing to be, she thought with a small brush of depression.
"Hello," Azusa replied quietly as she watched the curious girl. "I'm Azusa..." she drifted into silence for a moment. "I'm looking for the... Mizuno leader, I guess." Azusa shifted uncomfortably. It was like she were a snake who was shedding it's itchy skin to emerge with a new identity. "An male... an Izumi... brought me here because several men attacked me..." She let out a shaky sigh and brushed her remaining bangs behind her other ear. "I guess my parents were Mizuno, but I was raised by a couple of humans... and just tonight realized that I was a demon..." Now that she said it out loud, Azusa felt a bit stupid. How hadn't she noticed what she was earlier on?
"I came here to see if I'd be able to get into the clan, but I guess I shouldn't be talking to you about this... I should be speaking with the clan leader?" Azusa moved carefully off the rock and observed the small girl while she waited for an answer.
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Post by Izumi, Yin on Jan 6, 2009 21:41:00 GMT -5
Yang listened patiently to Azusa and her knowing eyes gazed into her's. This girl was confused. She didn't know what she was or where she was supposed to go. Though Yang found it quite surprising that an Izumi male had actually escorted her here. Yin wasn't going to be pleased with that male - whoever he was. But she could assume on who it could possibly be. She was aware of Yin's pupil watching Tsukiyomi for some time now and was likely out in the forest. So when she finished, Yang gave a small nod and a soft smile.
"You've come a long way, young one. But your patience on the stepping stones has paid off." Now, before going any further, Yang had a habit of speaking in strange ways. She liked riddles or just plain mixing up words and making them to where you have to take them in a different context. "Who you seek stands not far away, dear." She was looking for the Mizuno leader, wasn't she? Azusa was not aware that she was staring at the Mizuno leader right now. It made a small glint of amusement glow in her scarlet eyes. "Actually, the one you seek stands before you now."
Yang gave a bow, "dubb me Yang Mizuno, leader of the ones marked Mizuno. Pleased to meet your aquaintance." She knew Azusa would probably watch her funny for both the fact she spoke strange and because she was so small and young looking. It was hard to believe for most that she was the Mizuno leader. Also, her speech threw a lot of people off very often. Yin often got frustrated over it (which Yang found a bit funny.) "This is not my clan's land. It merely is a trick to shield us all."
Yang looked in the direction of their real home, but then quickly looked back at Azusa. "In order to join, you can only marry in. But if you seek help, then help I will give you." She gave a soft smile, "as I will turn no one down."
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Post by wulfbayne on Jan 6, 2009 21:59:32 GMT -5
Hearing that the Mizuno leader wasn't far off, Azusa perked up and looked around. She didn't see anyone else but herself and the girl... then it hit her, and moments after this realization the young-looking Mizuno, Yang confirmed her assumption. "You're so young, though..." Azu said just above a whisper, realizing mid-sentence that pointing out something so obvious might be offensive to the Mizuno clan leader. She instantly pressed her lips together and offered an apologetic look as she clasped her hands before her. "I bet you get that a lot, don't you?" A small smile touched Azusa's soft lips. "It's nice to have met you, Yang."
Yang seemed friendly enough, and instantly Azusa took a liking to her - which was not a very common thing for Azusa. Her passed had been filled with unfriendly remarks and an always wary attitude towards every stranger that appeared before her. Now, it made Azusa terribly happy to feel instantly at ease with someone.
Then came the news. If Azusa wanted to become a member of their clan, she would have to marry someone... now, she wasn't all too sure about that, and a worried frown settled upon her features. "I'm not interested in marrying anyone," Azusa admitted, thinking back to her dreams. Unfortunately she had made a promise to herself after the man had reappeared in her dreams several times. It was that she promised herself - in such a childish way - that she would marry him or no one. Because she hated breaking promises - and especially since something had to be trying to tell her something through her dreams - she would never marry. Unfortunately, now she'd be a spinster for the rest of her life. Azusa slumped slightly at the thought and imagined a life in a decaying house with hundreds of cats to keep her company. "I could use help, though," Azusa said. "I really don't have a home, I haven't had one for the longest while... and... I'm interested in learning about my abilities. If I'm to live away from the clan, I'll need a better way - other than running - to protect myself." She gave a small, slightly pitiful smile as she watched and waited for the Mizuno Leader's response.
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Post by Izumi, Yin on Jan 6, 2009 22:13:11 GMT -5
Her comment drew out a soft laughter from Yang. "I am a lot older then I appear." She replied softly, taking no offense to her comment. "I do hear often that phrase. It bothers me not." She nodded gently at Azusa as she said it was nice to meet her. "The pleasure is mine." The woman smiled sweetly at the girl, wondering how her past had been like. Living with humans - the humans had to have noticed Azusa was not normal. She was not sure exactly how old Azusa was, but she seemed young. She was probably much older then she appeared.
"The demon who brought you here was probably the unnamed one," she said as her eyes shifted toward the treeline. "Yin likes to call him 'Hindari.' He is a quiet soul." She looked up at Azusa, "but not with a bad heart." That was rather obvious for the fact he saved her life. Yang wondered about Hindari and how his mind ticked. He was not without emotions - he just didn't show them often. He had cut himself off from the world. That is all she had come up with so far in her observation of him. Yang did not get to see him often.
Yang nodded as she said she was not interested in marriage. "Very well." She had no protest against it. She merely passed on the requirement for a loner to enter any clan - marriage. If they declined then she had not a problem with it. "You may come to the lands of Mizuno with me. There, I will teach you, Azusa-san. When you're ready, I will set you off on your own." Yang turned and looked back at her, smiling. "Follow, please." With that the small leader started a steady walk toward him, the Mizuno lands.
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Post by wulfbayne on Jan 6, 2009 22:36:25 GMT -5
It had been a month now since Azusa had met the Mizuno Leader and come to the Mizuno lands. Her time here had been soothing, and had offered Azusa an easy transition into the truth of things. The truth was that she was a demon, a full blooded Mizuno demon, not a human. Realizing this meant that Azusa had to realize that the people who had raised her were not her actual parents, that Aimi was not her real mother... and that they had lied to her. But now, now things were starting to look up.
Lately though, when she dreamed, he was there. Hindari - that's what Yang had told her his name was. "Hindari," Azusa's lips formed the name, but offered none of her voice to give it life. During her time here Azusa had learned how to use her abilities. Light - it was such relief to see light in such dark times. Her senses, too, had become keener. She could smell the complexity of everything, taste the hidden flavors in fruits, and see much better in the moonlit days. Because Azusa now had more access to food her shape was filling out and she no longer looked like a mangy mutt. Her skin glowed with health, and her hair - which had been wiry from malnutrition - was now soft, silky, and bright. Her eyes held a deeper sense of happiness as well, and her soul (as well as her heart) felt more at ease.
About a week ago Azusa had told Yang about her dreams. She hadn't exactly told her who it was that kept reappearing, and she began to think maybe she should. Today she was at the beach, though, because Yang had allowed her the morning off. Recently she had been meeting with Yang on the beach for some lessons, so today Azusa decided that she would spend her morning there and simply wait for the youngling-leader.
As Azusa waited she began to ponder on the thought of telling Yang who it was in the dream. The Mizuno leader seemed to be wise, maybe she could offer some advice on this odd event. Stretching her arms over her head, Azusa yawned. It was a nice day... despite the fact that the moon was still high in the sky, and the sun was no where near rising anytime soon. "I miss the sun," Azu murmured to herself as she brought her arms down and crossed them over her chest. "I hope it comes back soon..."
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Post by Izumi, Yin on Jan 6, 2009 22:49:07 GMT -5
It was nice to see Azusa forming into a kind Mizuno demon. Yang was happy to have her and wished she could stay. But loyally Yang would follow the Demon Code requirements - no matter how unhappy it made her to do so. Azusa would be a great Mizuno, sweet and caring. Her appearance had upped a lot since their meeting as well. The Mizuno leader was happy to put her back on track. She was just sad that soon it would be time for Azusa to go. Where would she go? Often the leader would worry like this and hoped maybe a Mizuno male would catch her eye. She wanted her to stay but could not force marriage upon her. If she did not want to marry, Yang would not press. If only there was some other way to alllow her back.
Then there was the dreams that Yang had lately that gave her some relief. She had interpreted it as a good sign. The leader smiled softly to herself and knew she needed not to worry about Azusa. Azusa was going to be just fine. It was stange, but it seemed she had a similar dream recently. When Yang had heard it - she had gone still and quiet for a few moments. Then she had smiled and gone on with her works, saying it was a nice dream. Yang looked up at the sky at the dark clouds in the sky. When would Yin calm down and bring the sun back?
The sand touched her bare feet as she made her way onto the beach. Azusa was around here somewhere - Yang sensed. She was being waited for. So the leader picked up her face and quickly made her way to where the woman was waiting. When she reached the area, her ears picked up Azusa's words. "A lot of us wish the sun would rise again, it was nice." She slowed her face and stopped a few feet away from her. "Hopefully Yin will see through her anger and will accept the sun yet again."
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