[Miko's POV]
Me and my group are now standing in front of the mob of visitors at the entrance gate of the shrine.
There's the Sanjouno family that I really hate, it seems that they didn't bring Haruhime-san with them. They really do lock her up room, so frustrating.
Then there are also other families that I don't know. There are humans with black hairs and they wear fancy and colorful robes and others that look like midgets.
And finally, we have the man that haunted my childhood because of his failure and drunkness. The man that beaten me and my mother because of the humiliation he got from the royal court. The man has brown hair, large fox ears and one fluffy tail. He has slanted purple eyes that looks always serious. He wears a dark brown robe that is opened on the chest area, revealing a muscular build. He also has long and worn-out sword strapped to his waist.
He approaches me and we look each other in the eye.
"Why are you here... father?"
"I am taking you back home"
"Hoh? What if I don't want to?"
"Then I'll forced you to come"
"Like how you used force to beat me and mother up?!"
My father froze after I said but returned to his stoic and stubborn expression
He then grabbed me arm and dragged away from the group
"HEY! Let me go! I said I don't want to go!"
I tried to break free from his oppressive grasp but he firmly gripped my arm
But then, Takemikazuchi-sama grabbed my father's arm
He was surprised by the strength of a god, he looked at Takemikazuchi-sama in the eye
"Hakuro-san, is that the proper way to convince your own daughter to come with you?" He said with a smile in his face, however, he looks somewhat annoyed by my father's behavior.
My father was frightened by Takemikazuchi-sama and he let go of his grip from my arm. Takemikazuchi-sama also let go of my father and he stand in front of me, facing at my father.
"You, why didn't you return my daughter to me?" Father asked in a stern tone
"We don't trust you"
"What?"
"After Miko told us how you abused her in the past, we didn't take it lightly and we want her to stay us from now on"
"Is that so, Takemikazuchi-san? What do you think the Royal Court will do if we told them that the Takemikazuchi family stole the daughter of a Royal Court executive swordsman, hmm?" says the leader of the Sanjouno Family, Haruhime's father.
He looked the scene with great interest, planned to report Takemikazuchi-sama and the others if they didn't return me to my father. Shet, I hate this man so much.
"Tsk, do you nobles have any idea how this girl had suffered from her father, don't you?" Takemikazuchi-sama is getting pissed by the renard's threats.
"Her circumstance about her father is none of our concern, we are just returning this girl to her home, that's all"
"You bastards" veins popped out of Takemikazuchi-sama's head and he is about to walk towards, but Tsuyukomi-sama grabbed his hand and stopped him
"Sanjouno-san, can you at least respect Miko's decision to stay here?" Tsuyukomi-sama pleads to the Sanjouno leader.
"Oh, do you think Amaterasu-sama will take you kindly if she found out that you kidnapped the Yae's daughter?"
"We didn't kidnap her! We just nursed her back to health after we saved her from drowning"
"Then why didn't you return her to her family after you save her, hmm?" The renard leader shrewdly asked. Tsukuyomi-sama was taken aback and had nothing to say to refute that.
The children on the back were both angry and afraid, Takemikazuchi-sama is visibly angry right now and Tsukuyomi-sama is conflicted to what should she do.
I closed my eyes and think for a bit. Then I opened it and I take a stand.
"Fine, I will go"
Takemikazuchi-sama was shocked, no, everyone from group was shocked from my decision
"See, was it that har-"
"BUT! I have a condition, no, three condition" I cut Sanjouno-san mid-sentence and he was irritated by my sudden remarks
"What are those conditions then"
"First condition, I am allowed to come and go to the shrine whenever I want. Second condition, I can take a visit to Haruhime-san's room whenever I want. Finally, third condition, I can go anywhere in the Royal Court whenever I want"
Everyone was taken aback from the conditions I had just said. Well, everyone except the Sanjouno leader who is red to the face and visible veins popping on his head.
"YOU! KNOW YOUR PLACE, BRAT! YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS TO SAY SUCH OUTRAGEOUS CONDITIONS!!" He yelled at me as he frantically points his finger at me
"Oho? Outrageous you say? I think these three conditions are quite simple and reasonable to me" I smugly said as I waved three fingers at him. Because of that he becomes more furious at me.
"Everyone?! Do you think you will accept this brat's unacceptable crude conditions?!" He then turned around and asked his companions to back him up. The people look conflicted if they want to accept or deny those conditions
"I think it is fairly reasonable if you ask me" A voice can be heard within the crowd that agreed to my conditions. The crowd splits and revealed a small but elegant girl. She is a human with black hair, red robe and a yellow overcoat. She has a calm and gentle expression that can warm anyone's heart when looked at her appearance.
"Kaguya-sama?! How could you accept her conditions?!" the renard leader blurted out to the little girl
"I mean, there is nothing wrong to move around in the Royal Court if you wish to, I mean you are not his father. So, you have no rights to decide on what to do with her" the girl explained herself to him. The other people understood her reasoning and decided to agree with my conditions.
Then renard leader look at my father and ask for his backing.
"Hakuro-sama, please tell your daughter to stop her nonsense!!" He pleaded to my father for him to deny these conditions.
"My daughter's decision is none of your concern, Sanjouno-san. I only want to bring my daughter back to me" My father denied his plead, making the renard to explode in fury.
"So~ What do you think, Sanjouni-san~? Everyone seems to agree with those conditions~ Will you finally accept my conditions?" I mockingly said to the furious renard
His whole face is painted in red due to overwhelming anger. However, he finally gives in.
"Fine! Don't you think you can outsmart me next time, brat" the renard leader turned his back from me and angrily walks back to his crowd
"Oh, I think I will~" I cheekily replied to his threat
He angrily looks back but decided to ignore my provocation and leave.
The crowd followed him but the girl looks at me and takes a bow at me, I bowed as well as thanks for convincing the crowd to accept the conditions.
My father is also about to leave but turns around to look at me not following him
"What are you waiting for, Miko?" He asked me because I'm still standing within my group.
"Father, can I at least say goodbye to my companions?" I asked my father a favor
"Sure, I will wait" He accepted my favor and stands by the entrance gate to wait for me.
I turned around and faced my companions. They looked at me with concern and sad expression
"Don't look at me like that, guys. I can visit you guys anytime to play" I reassured them
"But Miko, are you sure you can handle yourself in there?" Tsukuyomi-sama worriedly asks
"It's okay Tsukuyomi-sama, at least I have my memories back before I leave"
"I see, I respect your decision" She nodded and backs away
Takemikazuchi-sama approaches me and he brings out the upgraded Kagura Suzu and Gohei I had
"Here, take these with you"
"But Takemikazuchi-sama, these are the sacred tools of the shrine. I can't bring this with me" I panic as I tried to refuse the offer. However, he grabbed my hands and made me hold the two sacred tools.
"It's okay Miko, these tools are now bound to the two souls that was once in your body. Plus, you can look to the memories of the soul without the risk of colliding with your soul" He explained the necessity of these tools. I was reluctant but I nodded in understanding and stored the tools inside my tails.
"Here, Miko-san. You almost forget to bring these books with you" Yamto-san said as she hands out the novel gifted to me.
"Thank you Yamato-san. Everyone, I will be off now"
"Yeah, come back to play with us, okay?"
"Umu" I nodded in confirmation
I turned around and walk to where my father is and walk to the direction of the Royal Court
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
[Miko's POV]
After I said my goodbyes to my companions in the Shrine, Me and my father are currently walking on the path towards my home, the Yae residence, is located.
Every now and then my father gives a sidelong glance for no absolute reason and it is getting irritating. So, I decided to start the conversation before I might snap at him if this keep happening any longer.
"Father, you have something to say, please say it now"
"Ah...um... how were you in the shrine in these past few days?"
"I feel fine and well, took care of me and helped me recover slowly. so, thank you for asking. How about you and mom"
"uuum...I... we are doing fine. I just... want to tell you something when we get there, so, I want to remind you to not get angry for what I am going to say"
"Well, if you are going to say something that will make me angry, then don't say it then"
"But... the thing I will tell you there is quite important"
"Then say it now then if it is that important"
"...."
"Tsk, whatever. Let us get a move on, I can't wait to see mother again"
"...."
------------------------------------------------------------------
Father didn't say anything else and he stopped taking any more sidelong glances after that talk.
Few minutes later, we had arrived at the Yae residence. Father was about to say something but I ignored him and took a look around the place.
The residence consists of four buildings arrange in a square formation, giving the center of the residence a courtyard look. Three of the buildings are only one-story while furthest one is two-story. All of the buildings have dark red stone ceramic curved rooves and the walls are white with red highlights on the beams and pillars. The four corners of the residence have large trees with pink leaves, I believe these are called cheery blossoms. Then to wrap it off, the whole residence is surrounded with a high stone wall with the same-colored stone ceramic rooves with a fine-looking entrance gate on the front.
After looking around the residence, I noticed that the whole place looks empty and it looks like no one else is living here.
"Hello, anyone home? Mom? You there?" I tried to call for mother from outside of the building
"Um Miko. I just want to say that-"
"Not now Father, Mom! huh, she might have gone outside maybe" I cut my father mid-sentence and keep calling for mother.
"Miko, I was going to say-"
"Maybe she is sleeping, let's go inside~" I ignored him and walks towards the entrance of the main house.
"Hey! wait..."
I went inside the main building, which is the two-story one and I start searching for mother.
"Miko, listen to me. Your mom-"
"Yeah yeah, I know. She might be asleep. Mom, I'm home~!"
"Miko..."
"She must be somewhere here~"
"Miko..."
"Ah, or maybe she really was outside the house~ I guess we had to wa-"
"MIKO!"
"WHAT?"
"Your mom is not here nor she's outside"
"Huh?" I became very confused and distraught
"Your mom is dead" My whole body froze in place
"What?...." My heart suddenly becomes heavy and my vision is starting to darken.
"She dead a week ago, it's the same day when you went missing" My mind begins to numb and going blank
"...."
...mother?...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Hakuro's POV]
After revealing Miko the horrible harsh truth, she became awfully silent
She didn't get angry nor went berserk inside the house. She just went quiet all a sudden.
I tried guiding her to her room and she didn't say anything and just quietly followed me.
After reaching her room, she went inside the room and closed the door on me, which surprised me.
I tried to take a peek at the gap of the door to check on her condition,
I saw her sitting on seiza and seems to be praying while clasping purple sacred object on her hands.
She stayed at that position for a long while without making a move.
'What is she doing? Is this a practice she learned the shrine. no matter, I guess I'll just cook dinner for now'
I decided to leave her alone for now and went to the kitchen to make some food for us two.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Few Hours Later, Evening]
After making dinner in the kitchen, I placed the food I made on top of the dinner table. I cooked Fried Tofu and Miso Soup, which were her and her mother's favorite food respectively.
<A/N: I tried to searching for Yae Sakura's favorite food and it won't give me answers. So, I just assume it is Miso Soup because it is the most generic food that most Japanese eat, right?>
When I look at the food I made on the dinner table, I am starting to reminiscing the time we used to eat together with my family. For the past six years, they started to forgive me from what I did back then. I apologized over and over again to regain my family's trust on me in the past. The first one to warm up to me was Sakura, she told me that she always loved me ever since, she was just upset that time. It took a while for Miko to forgive me, she hated me severely but with Sakura's help, she slowly convinced Miko to forgive for my sins and we lived happily together. However, now with Sakura gone, I don't think it is possible to regain Miko's love and affection that easily.
Then I heard footsteps behind me and I look back to see Miko quietly walking towards the dining table. She sat down and waited. I also sat down and look at her face. She had an emotionless and empty expression. She had atmosphere of someone who has given up in life. I tried to start the conversation in hoping I can regain her confidence.
"So Miko, are you feeling fine?"
"...."
"I know it was all a sudden, but I know your mother did all she can to protect yo-"
"I looked through my memories..." Miko suddenly talks in a somewhat monotonous tone
"What?"
"The Kagura Suzu... It contained my memories of the past and a portion of soul. I looked through it"
"Okay... then, what did you saw?"
"I saw... Me and my mother playing at a field of glowing flower in the middle of the forest... dead at night"
"....."
"We played together for hours... but then... the memory cut to black"
"Okay... Is there something wrong with the memory?"
"Tell me.... How did mother die?"
"....."
"..."
"She was trying to save you from a flying monster, I think to is Griffin of some sort"
"..."
"She fought desperately to save you from the monster's grasp. However, she failed to save you and the monster flew and took you away."
"..."
"But before dying, she used the last of her strength to use her final secret Sakura technique, Sakura ryūsei-hō [Cherry blossom meteor cannon], and fired it at the flying Griffin. The technique killed the monster and it was vaporized, leaving you falling from the sky. After that she died after firing that shot."
"!!"
"What's wrong?" Miko was shocked when I said the last part
"No, it's just... It all made sense now." The light in her eyes started to come back. Thank goodness.
"I see. Then, are you satisfied now?"
"Sort of..."
"Okay, now let's eat before the food gets cold" She nodded and takes a bite on her Fried Tofu.
"Ah... it's cold"
"Eh?!"
Ah, I forgot, we talked too long that the food went cold.
'*sigh* I guess I have cook another one over again'
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Miko's POV]
I see now.
The reason why I was falling from the sky, was because the flying monster that took me died in one shot and was freed from its grasp.
And the reason for mother's death was because she sacrificed all of her strength to fire a sure-kill technique at the fleeing monster and killed it. The technique also drained all of my mother's strength, killing her in the process.
I was deeply saddened by this truth that I discovered, but I am truly grateful for my mother's ever-loving sacrifice. I want to honor that sacrifice from now on and do whatever it takes to continue her legacy.
'Thank you, Mother, for everything that you've done for me'
After collecting my thoughts, I eat the newly cooked food that father cooked just now
I was joking that I said that the food is cold. Well, I guess that one was a bit lukewarm when I tasted it. So, I asked a newly cooked fried tofu so I can eat a piping hot dish.
To be honest, I am realized that I was quite disrespectful and ignorant towards my father a while back. However, I can clearly see that he is trying change his way to gain my affection. Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt if I will try to be loving and respectful towards him once and a while.
To honor my mother, I guess I have to follow my father's instruction from now on. I will try to live on to his expectations and make him proud. Afterall, both of them were my parents in this world.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Next Morning]
I woke up from the sounds of birds chirping and the rustling the Sakura leaves. I lift my body upright and I tried remembering what happened last night. I remembered cleaning the dishes with father, then I chatted a bit with him and finally, we went to sleep. After recollecting last night's events, I slowly get up the bed and exited the room.
I walk towards the porch of the house and saw my father swinging a long sword at the courtyard. He swings the sword really fast and steady while being.... topless. He had a very thin yet muscular physique, his body is steaming while sweats dripped down to his muscular body.
But then the swinging stops and I snapped out of my observational thoughts. I look up and saw that father is staring at me. I was startled but regain my composure and walk towards him.
"Good morning, Miko"
"Good morning, father"
We greeted each other with a bow.
"Today, I will be going to train you until you live up to your mother's name and honor"
"Understood"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author-san here,
I have few more chapter ideas I have got in mind before finishing the volume.
I want to try to reach for fifteen chapters in total, with the first half of the final chapter as the epilogue of the volume and the second half as the starting point to the second volume.
I hope you guys still enjoys the chapters. I know some of you guys are really really bored, but I am really trying my best here.
Anyways, thank you for reading
Creation is hard, cheer me up!