• User Image


    “Little girl are you still alive?” someone asked the small girl. The voice was soft but was in a cold monotone. Lying on the ground was a young girl between the ages of six or seven with her face towards the ground. She was in a yellow yukata with blue flower prints and short sleeves. Her golden hair was shoulder length and soft to the touch. The little girl barely looked up feeling weak all over to see a woman. She was tall with long white hair wearing a rich-silk green kimono with a golden embroider dragon on the bottom. She was stunningly beautiful to the girl.
    When the woman bent down she could see that her eyes was a pale white. She frightens the girl at least. Something about her appearance and a chilling aura froze the little girl in her place. The girl’s eyes fell heavy then she fell asleep.

    The girl reopened her eyes and stared up at the ceiling which was surprisingly. The cobwebs were brushed away and spiders were no where to be seen. The girl suggests that this must be some rich person’s house. Only their houses were this clean.
    On the ceiling a strange light danced. She stared up at it in blank wander. The shogi door slid open letting in the strange woman followed by a young boy around her age with silver hair.
    The boy had pale skin that looked like if it would break if you touched it. He wore a dark blue sleeveless yukata with a light blue wave going down his waist and a red sash around it. Cradling in his arms was a bowl of water.
    The boy glanced at the girl in the bed then looked up at the woman no bigger than him.
    “So you are awake?” the woman said to the girl bending down in an elegant manner. The boy set the bowl of water down and the woman dipped a white rag into it. She looked up at the ceiling where the girl’s gaze was.
    “Oh, so you can see Yokai. That is a rare gift indeed young one” the woman said. The boy looked up at the glowing light snakes then down at the young girl with sympathy in his blue eyes. The woman placed a wet rag on the girl’s forehead and brushed the girl’s bangs from her small face. “You’ve broken your right leg and you have a high fever. The fever will cool down but as soon as your leg heals I want you out of my manor with no questions asked”
    The woman got up and left. The boy stayed in the room only for a little while then followed the woman. He stopped though and looked back at the girl with gentle eyes.
    “There is no need to worry” he said in a promising voice. “Nui is always like that. Stay as long as you like”
    With that said the boy took his leave shutting the shogi door behind him. The girl said nothing when she was left in solitude. She looked back up in hopes to catch a glimpse of the glowing light but it was gone.
    A hundred questions went through her mind. Where was she? Who were these people? But most of all what are Yokai?


    Two days have passed through like an uncatchable breeze. The young girl was finally able to move about using a cane that Kukaku lent her.
    The first thing she did was explore the perimeter like a curious animal. The woman named Nui lived in a two story manor with over a dozen servants living with her. The manor looked more like a palace that a daimyo would live in.
    The house was made out of white stone and red painted wood. Out in the back was a Zen garden along with a huge koi pond surrounded by Sakura trees and red spider lilies.
    The girl walked up to the pond and gazed blankly at the pool beneath her feet. The koi, both big and small, swam slowly and gracefully back and forth. Besides the size they all shared one thing in common. Their scaly skins had a beautiful pearly tone.
    It was strange to the girl. She remembered the path that her mother took her down. There was a pond along it filled with koi of all colors. Some were pitch black or had calico patterns but the girl never saw any koi with pure white skin.
    The little girl bent down painfully at first but she got over it. The girl ran her fingers through the water’s surface and stared at the koi that swam up to her curiously. The koi rubbed up against the tips of her fingers and nibbled her fingers from time to time. The girl showed no expression to the gesture.

    Ever since she and her mother took that path through the mountain her heart was filled with anguish. The weather was so heavy and the earth just couldn’t take in all that water. The cliff above them gave away like a candle in a typhoon, and crashed upon them. Her mother ran with her in her arms then threw her across the ground to get her out of the way. By the time the girl turned around the pile of rocks and mud devoured her mother like an angry beast.
    The girl lost track of time after staring at her mother’s hand poking out of the rubble. That moment half of the girl’s heart numbed out. When the rain passed two bright flames floated in the air. Her attention went to them and she followed them aimlessly like a drunk until she passed out.

    She wandered why the woman, Nui saved her life. But most of all she yearned to know what Yokai is.
    The girl looked down at the pond and caught the reflection of the young silver haired boy carrying a basket. She spun around surprised at his sudden appearance.
    “Oh I’m sorry” he apologized holding up one hand. The girl held the wooden cane close to her chest and watched the boy as he fed the koi. He looked up at the girl whose gaze was glued to the koi.
    “So you’ve noticed the koi huh?” he asked. “It’s all a part of Nui’s experiment. I don’t know what it’s about but I’m eager to see what will come of it”
    The girl stayed quiet as always. Ever since Nui’s servants brought her here, not a word escaped her lips. It made Kukaku quiet worry of her to be honest. He barely knew her at least but he couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. He suggested that something traumatic must have happened to her. He stood up setting the bowl down and took the girl’s hands gently.
    “Hey don’t sweat it” he said in a kind voice. “If there’s anything you need ask me?”
    “Kukaku what are you doing?” said a blank female voice. Both children turned around and saw Nui standing on the porch wearing a crimson kimono with golden dragon prints. She had her long silver hair up in a bun. The girl stared at Nui in wander, thinking of her more as a goddess in human form.
    Kukaku released the girl’s hands and scratched the back of his head. “Sorry Nui-sama”
    Nui walked down the wooden steps and approached the two. She looked at Kukaku then at the girl. “How is your leg?”
    The girl looked down and squeezed the oak cane. Nui saw that the girl’s leg did not seem well. She was still lame in her leg like a helpless nightingale with a broken wing.
    “Do you have any family near by?” Nui asked in a near cold tone.
    The girl shook her head slowly then opened her mouth. “N-no ma’am. My father died when I was young. My mother…she…she”
    The girl hugged her cane trembling. Nui saw how tears streamed down the girl’s eyes. For the first time Nui sympathized with someone. Nui wrapped her arms around the girl and held her in an embrace.
    “Cease your tears” she said in a kind soft voice. Nui pulled herself away from the girl and bent down to her level. “Can you tell me your name?”
    The girl was quiet then bowed her head in shame. Ever since the day she was born she had never knew her name nor did no one call her by. Everyone referred to her as ‘you’, ‘girl’, or ‘it’.
    Nui patted the girl’s head. “From now on your name is Kiku. Do you understand?”
    Kiku looked up at Nui full of life now. “Yes, yes mistress Nui”

    Kiku had gotten used to her new life now. She worked like she did when she was at home on the rice fields. She could walk around without her cane now. It hurt just a little but not as much now.
    Nui was like a second mother to Kiku and Kukaku was like a brother she never had. She as well shared a room with him. Nui’s room was just down the hall but neither of them was allowed near it. The guards made sure of that.

    Kiku wandered through the Zen gardens without her cane to experiment on her healed leg. Lush bamboo surrounded the manor like a bird cage. If she could have any wish she would ask for a dozen eyes so she could gaze at the wonderful surroundings of the world she lives in.
    “I see you’ve gotten better now” someone chirped. Kiku spun around and saw Kukaku sitting on a boulder with his toes touching a pond’s surface. That was a bad habit of his; popping up without warning.
    Kiku smiled and nodded her head. “My foot still hurts but at least I can walk normally”
    Kukaku hopped down from the boulder and walked up to Kiku.
    “That’s good to hear” he said in a happy tone. Kiku looked up at the tips of the bamboo and saw balls of flames dancing about. Kukaku looked up at the flames and laughed a bit. “Oh those things are always bothering us but they don’t cause any real damage”
    Kiku said nothing at first then opened her mouth. “Are those Yokai?”
    Kukaku nodded his head optimistically. “That’s right”
    “Kukaku-kun, what are Yokai?” Kiku asked. Kukaku looked at her questionably.
    “Well Kiku, Yokai are like spirits and demons but they’re neither good nor evil” he explained. “Well that’s what Kiku told me”
    Kiku nodded trying to understand but the truth of the matter is that she barely comprehends. Kukaku looked at the pond and began to feel dizzy.
    “Kukaku-kun I…” Kiku said then trailed off tipping over one side. Before Kukaku could reply Kiku collapsed to the ground. The last sound she heard was Kukaku crying her name.

    Nui’s servants carried Kiku back into her room where she was treated. Nui informed Kiku that she had a very high fever and that she should stay in bed for the next couple of days.
    Kiku did her best to keep the warm rag on her forehead. It was night out and the stars decorated the midnight sky with their firefly light. Kiku could barely lift her arms up and breathing was a bit painful for her.
    Kukaku got up from his bed and walked over to her side. Kiku looked up at him seeing a worried look upon his face. He bent down and placed his hand on her forehead. Seeing her suffer like this must pain him to set his gaze upon.
    “You seemed anguished” he said in a sorrowful tone then leaned forward. To Kiku’s surprise his cheek touched hers. “Please Kiku don’t die”
    Kiku was shocked at this reaction. She slid her hands under his chest trying to push him off.
    “Get off me Kukaku, you’re heavy!” she said blushing. “I’m not going to die! And I don’t want you to get what I have!”
    “If it’s from Kiku then I won’t mind” Kukaku said in a comforting voice then Kiku kicked his chest forcing him off of her.
    “Please Kukaku” Kiku said getting back under the covers. “You should sleep far away from me tonight. Chances are you might catch it too”
    Kiku turned to her side waiting for Kukaku to go back to bed. After a whole minute he returned to his bed roll. Kiku gulped not knowing what this feeling she had. A tummy turning feeling but the feeling made her heart sings. What should she call it?