The family ties by criticat

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The small child bit her bottom lip, concentrating on not making too much noise as she crept towards the slightly open western-style door, clutching her teddy bear tightly to her nighty-clad chest. There were several creaky boards that she had to manoeuvre around to do so, skill and knowledge of the territory making it quite easy. Under different circumstances, she was an obedient child and knew that eavesdropping was naughty and should be refrained from. Even more so now that it was way past her bedtime, but she couldn’t help herself.

She could just about understand what the adults were talking about, hopefully undetected. The child moved a little closer and squinted at the bright light that flooded into the hallway which made her momentarily blind. Letting her amber eyes adjust, she was granted a view of the people inside the room. There were three of them: her parents and a youkai with long silver hair which was somehow familiar to her although she couldn’t quite remember where from. Perhaps he was daddy’s friend from work?

She liked the way his hair shone with every movement, he looked as aristocratic as could be. Was it possible that he was a fairy? Or a king? Or a fairy king!

“No!” The little girl’s train of thoughts was broken unexpectedly as she heard her mother shout angrily at something the male with the pretty hair said. The beautiful woman turned away from him and sobbed into her father’s shoulder as he rubbed soothing circles on her back, whispering something into the weeping woman’s ear. The child winced at the sight of shaking mummy. She wanted to run into the room and comfort her mother. The girl stopped in her tracks when she heard her father’s otherwise powerful and stable voice waver. She didn’t like it in the least. Her daddy never sounded this lost and unsure before.

“Would you rather see her dead?” the stranger said forcefully. The golden-eyed girl saw her mother gasp and turn her face towards the male sitting opposite her.

“Is this a possibility?”

He shifted in his seat but didn’t reply for some time, as if trying to find a way to word what he was about to say, the distaste for the news he was about to deliver not concealed.

“Most likely. She is far too... precious for a peaceful existence; we would be deluded to think that it could be so.  Not only is she a child who by the order of birth is the protector of the renowned Shikon No Tama, but a child born from a miko and a youkai, whose nature has not been determined even by the Elders. They had deem it impossible for a pair such as yours to produce offspring. They were proven wrong. However, she is not demon like her father and didn’t display spiritual powers like her mother, yet there is hidden strength; nor is she a hanyou. Did you really think that no one would be interested in such a... concept?”

He spoke calmly and eloquently. She could see something change in her parents' expressions and that filled the little child with dread. Was he talking about her? It sounded like it for sure. She didn’t like the cold  youkai anymore, even though his hair was beautiful. How did he manage to grow it so long anyway?

The girl was torn from her thoughts as she heard another sob come from her distressed mother. The woman was now holding one of her child’s dolls in her hands, stocking the spaghetti-like blonde hair absentmindedly as she broke away from her husband’s embrace.

“How long have we got with her?” She whispered, not wanting to lose herself to her grief, not letting it sink in until what she dreaded would happen.

“Until tomorrow morning. I understand that this is sudden, but with the recent occurrences and instability, I am afraid that this is the best I can do.” 

His voice suddenly softened as he stood up, his head inclining slightly towards the door.

“I am sorry Midoriko. I do wish that there was another way.”

With that he ended the conversation and made his way out of the room, being careful not to hit the one standing behind the door as he opened it. He heard a slight squeal to his right as he walked out into the narrow hallway. His golden eyes met bronze orbs which were so like his and yet different, as they shone with defiance and curiosity.

‘Her attitude is every bit inu.’ He smirked at that. She was a warrior at heart. One could only hope that it would help her survive the trials that were about to be thrown her way.

Kagome held his gaze, her upset  only shown by her clutching the teddy bear with more force than necessary, making its button eyes pop out as if it was gawking. Feeling Midoriko approach, her scent heavy with salt, he waited for the woman to speak. 

“Arigato, Taisho-sama. She will be ready by tomorrow, as agreed”.

The two adults stood in silence for some time, air grave with their tension before Taisho-sama nodded and crouched in front of the amber-eyed girl, brushing a strand of her wild hair behind her ear, gracing her with a rare sincere smile.

“Good night, Kagome.”

Kagome barely registered that she was spoken too as she was losing her battle with exhaustion. With trembling hands, Midoriko picked up her child and took the sleepy girl to her room, for what was to be the last time.