Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Daughter of the Forest RK Style ❯ The Evil Awakens ( Chapter 7 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Ever since Lady Yumi took residence in the house, life has changed drastically. No longer did my father make his own decisions, for Lady Yumi was more than happy to make them for him. Surprisingly, my father praises his wife for her actions, saying that she knows what is best for the household and that I should take lessons from her.

Lady Yumi did just that, and soon I am in her chamber every morning learning how to be a lady. No longer am I allowed to take care of my patients or return to Akira. Instead, I am forced to suffer the sickening sweet Yumi. She tells me everyday how horrible it is that my father suffers me to talk with the lowly folk of the village and castle. I learned to hold my tongue, knowing that she might use my father against me if I don’t. I feel a prisoner in my own home.

As for my brothers, they aren’t doing much better. Our father now is fully intent on training them and heading the campaign. As of lately, he has been adamant about attacking the British within the year. Every last one of my brothers have been forced to train, even Soujiro. Despite Soujiro’s stubbornness, he eventually was forced to fold. One can only take so many beatings.

All of Lord Koshijiro’s children and household staff seems to be upset with the situation except for one, Souzou. Everyday after Lady Yumi’s lessons, we would go outside to watch the men train. Lady Yumi said that watching the boys fight would help me understand men better. She also told me that watching the boys would prepare me to handle my future husband better, but I know better than to believe her. I’m not naïve enough to believe that it was all for my good, and not hers. She has something planned and I wouldn’t be surprised if it dealt with the campaign.

While we watch the men fight, I every so often would notice a glance from Souzou towards the Lady Yumi. I don’t like the feeling of his glances. They are not soft like the glances Okubo gives Tae, nor are they like the ones my brothers give me, but ones similar to my father’s, which are dark and possessive.

I can’t help but feel chills down my spine as I think about it now. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to get stares like that. I don’t think I would take it as well as Lady Yumi, who seems to enjoy it.

Even though it is late, I am too caught up with my thoughts to sleep. Too many things are changing and I can’t keep up. In desperate need to calm my nerves, I decide to go down to the kitchen and get a drink of water. It wouldn’t hurt to see if Eriko is downstairs and willing to talk. Since Tae’s departure a week ago, I have yet to speak with her.

Slowly I rise from my bed and walk into the long corridor. As I turn down the bend, I see a figure of a woman leaving the master bedroom. She is walking down the corridor away from me. Hiding myself behind the wall, I can make out the figure walking towards Souzou’s room. As she reaches his door, my brother meets her with a passionate kiss to the lips. In the middle of this kiss the lady tilts her head to the side to reveal herself as Lady Yumi.

Forgetting what I was previously doing, I run to my room crying. How could he? How could my brother do such a horrible thing to our father? Not only that, how could Lady Yumi do something like that with her new son? She is definitely evil, why else would she do such a thing?

That night I woke up several times with the vision of Lady Yumi and Souzou’s kiss. It wasn’t sweet and innocent like Okubo and Tae, but feral and dominating. The image was enough to strike fear in my heart.


The next day I decide that I have to tell my brothers. I mentally contact Soujiro and tell him that I need to talk to all the brothers right away and that he will have to gather them. He does so and tells me that we will all meet that night in front of the tree where our mother was put to rest.

As I walk up to the tree to meet my brothers, I see all of them gathered together in silence. Since Lady Yumi’s arrival, no one much talks to one another. Everyone is too scared to talk out loud about our suspicions. You can never be sure if Lady Yumi or one of her followers might overhear. Tonight, I am willing to take that chance and deal with her once and for all.

“Lady Yumi has pulled us far apart and I’m not about to watch her do so,” I state passionately.

“She is putting a wall between us and using us to betray one another,” I now say while staring at Souzou. “We need to put a stop to this and stop her from hurting us any further.”

“I don’t believe this,” Souzou replies angrily. “What has she done that’s so awful?”

“I saw her last night do something I dare not speak of. You wouldn’t have me explain it, would you?” I reply in a hurt voice.

Souzou’s face turns a ghostly pale as the words sink in. He looks down at his feet in defeat.

“Kaoru, what happened?” Soujiro asks with concern.

“I really don’t want to think about it right now. Just believe me when I say that Lady Yumi must be stopped,” I reply while shuffling my feet.

“We will not ask you then,” Shougo remarks softly to me, “but I do hope that you will come around and tell us eventually. As for Lady Yumi, I too feel that she must be stopped. Are we not all agreed?”

No one raises their voice to protest, not even Souzou. He just continues to stand there looking down at his hands in despair. I can’t help but feel sorry for him. Though no one else knows what he did, I’m sure that guilt is hitting him at full force by now.

“What should we do,” Soujiro says filling the deathly silence.

“Nothing,” a silky voice says in the distance.

“Kaoru, run!” Soujiro screams at me mentally.

I had no time to think. I do as my brother commands and run as fast as my feet can carry me into the forest. I see a patch of bushes a short distance away and decide to hide there. If I were to continue running, Lady Yumi would be able to spot me and capture me. I have to hide before she makes it into the clearing my brothers are in.

As I look back I see Yumi walk up to my brothers who are now frozen in place. Her brown eyes light up with amusement as she says, “My, what a pretty little scene we have here. I knew that taking on seven children might be hard, but I never would have thought that they would be so difficult. It’s a shame though that your sister got away. I was going to have a particularly fun time punishing her. What a pity.”

“If you even dare touch a hair on her head,” Okubo threatens.

“You’ll what, hurt me? I seriously doubt you could do so in your current situation, now could you?” Yumi declares triumphantly. “Don’t worry; I have other plans for her. I doubt she’ll be able to survive without her lovely brothers to take care of her. It’s so much crueler to let nature take its course, don’t you think?”

My brothers just growl as she approaches Souzou. Yumi clasps Souzou’s chin in her hands and says smoothly, “Now, now, don’t look so hurt. Did you actually think I would choose you over my husband? Foolish boy, you could never compare to your father.”

All of my brothers look at the pair in shock as Souzou’s face contorts in fear.

“Look at you, boy. How could I choose a wimpy, little brat like you over a strong warrior like your father?” Yumi laughs evilly.

“How dare you hurt him like that,” Soujiro screams at Yumi.

“How dare I? I can say whatever I want. I hold the power, not you,” Yumi yells back.

Sighing Yumi starts back up, “I guess I’ll just have to get to the point and deal with you boys. I was hoping to play with you a little longer, but I shouldn’t keep your father long. I’m sure he already misses me. Now, what punishment should I administer? Hmm, the possibilities are endless.”

Pausing she looks at Soujiro with a glint in her eyes. “I know just the thing to get to you little one. You have been a thorn in my side since the beginning and I will take pleasure in your demise. How will you, so full of justice, be able to handle losing your conscience? How strong will you be then?”

“You can’t hurt me. I’ll beat you no matter what,” Soujiro angrily retorts.

Yumi laughs out, “We’ll just see how well you all will handle the transformation from man to swan. Just so you remember what you lost, on the night of a full moon you will become men again until the sun rises. I’m sure you will lose your will quickly.”

Before my brothers can make a sound, a massive beam of light enshrouds them. I run as quickly and silently as I can up the hill towards the Christian’s house before I could see their transformation. I start to cry knowing that no longer will I have a family or a home. Lady Yumi stole them from me in a matter of minutes.

As I hit the main path I hear a voice in my head say, “You must not continue that way if you wish to live.”

I turn around towards the voice to find a tall woman dressed in a blue gown. Her hair is a dark blue that resembles the color of the ocean during a storm and waves softly upon her shoulders. She is most obviously not of this world.

“Come here child, I will not hurt you. I need to speak to you,” She states softly. “Listen to me child, for there is a way to save your brothers. It will not be easy and will take a long time, but it is the only way.”

“I’ll do anything to save my brothers. Please, tell me what to do,” I reply while softly sobbing.

“We have been watching you for a while child,” the Lady says sympathetically. “We are sorry that you must go through this, but you are our only hope in defeating the Lady Yumi. She is set to destroy our kind and will hurt anyone who stands in her way. If you manage to follow our instructions, you will have defeated her and you’ll have your brothers back.”

“What must I do?” I ask while brushing away my tears.

“You must make six shirts; one for each of your brothers. Once this is done, you must gather all your brothers together and put these shirts on them while in their swan form. This might sound easy enough, but there is a catch. You must not make a sound and you must weave the shirts out of figwort. This means that no matter how deep the needles of the figwort dig into your skin you cannot cry out in pain. Another issue is your ability to speak mentally. This is allowed, though you must not speak of your story or mission. This also goes for images as well. To do so would mean the downfall of our kind and of your family. Do you understand?”

I just nod in shock.

“Will you save our kind and your family knowing what you must face?” the Lady asks calmly despite the urgency of the matter.

I silently nod yes to the Lady while looking back up at her.

“You are definitely strong. I wish you well. You must head down the path to a lake on the outskirts of the forest. You will know it when you reach it. Do not go to the Christian for he and your friend are gone. The Lady Yumi killed the Christian a few days ago and your friend’s body was never found. More than likely he is dead as well.”

I start sobbing while the lady looks at me sympathetically. I lost everyone that I care about all within a matter of days. Now I am expected to be strong and save my brothers and the Fair Folk?

“I understand your concern, but we trust that you can do it. You are strong and will continue to be so. We will be watching you and guiding your steps. You have many friends on your side. Hurry now, and leave child before Lady Yumi finds you.”

With that the Lady leaves and I continue down the path in the direction the Lady had told me to go.

*******

What the Lady said about the task being hard was true. Never in my life have I experienced more pain than I do weaving the shirts. My hands swelled and began to pus from the mistreatment. After several months of gathering the figwort, turning it into thread and weaving it, I had destroyed my hands completely. I never had the fairest of hands, but in comparison to my new ones, they were the most beautiful hands in the world.

For all my efforts, I am rewarded with two shirts. This might not seem much, but it means a lot to me. These shirts are the product of my love and even though it has taken me a long time to create them, I will gladly make four more. Even if it takes me the rest of my life, I will finish my brothers’ shirts and restore them to their natural form.

Like the Lady Yumi and the Lady promised, every full moon my brothers come to see me. Every full moon Shougo leads the flock of swans to the lake in which I reside and make sure that everyone lands on the water before the first of the moon’s rays hit the surface. To not land on the water before the moon’s rays hit means that they would remain swans that night.

The way that the rays hit their feathers and enshroud them with a beam of light was both a sight of great beauty and fear. The fact that such power exists in this world and is used so carelessly is something that bothers me everyday.

During these visits I can see the toll the spell is taking on my brothers. Having to deal with being both man and swan is hard for them, but what is harder is for them to see what I have to go through to save them.

The first day that they came to the lake, Tsunan had cried when he got a look at my fingers. My ever-sensitive brother seemed only to get more sensitive after the conjuring of Lady Yumi’s spell. All my brothers feel the same way as he does, but only Tsunan is brave enough to show his emotions so strongly. All I can do to comfort them is to embrace Tsunan softly in my arms and give my other brothers the best face of strength I can muster. I have to be strong for them, no matter what.

As for my other brothers, they all feel like they are to blame for the situation, especially Souzou. Even though he doesn’t say so overtly, his actions betray him. Every night of transformation, he sits outside the door and stands guard. He will not let anyone else help him and he stays up all night. He wants it to be his burden and no one else’s.

Tonight is no different. While he is outside keeping watch, Okita and Okubo converse with one another while I sit beside Soujiro and Shougo. Every visit, Okita and Okubo would talk about what various ways they can get back at the Lady Yumi while Soujiro and Shougo silently watch me. Okubo made a comment about how he wished that he could find a way to keep human consciousness and land a major crap on her head. It takes all of my might not to laugh out loud and they all notice.

“I’m happy to see you smile once again, Kaoru. It’s been a long time for all of us,” Okubo says beaming.

I keep my smile plastered on my face and nod. If my smile makes them happy, I must continue to do so.

“I wish I knew what was going on in the household. It’s almost been a year and it’s killing me,” Okubo says in a sad tone.

“What if I told you that I was able to observe father and Lady Yumi?” Shougo says calmly.

“You can watch them? How are you able to do so?” Okita replies in shock.

“Before we were transformed, a man from the Nemetons would come and train me. He hoped that I would be a Druid one day, but I guess that won’t be happening anytime soon,” Shougo says sadly.

I couldn’t believe he made that comment and stare at him in anger. I will free them of this spell and turn them back to humans.

“I’m sorry Kaoru. My comment was thoughtless. You will free us, I’m sure of it. I just don’t know if I will be able to go through my training when I revert back. I might be too old to go through the years of training required,” Shougo concedes as if he had overheard my thoughts.

“What did you see?” Soujiro remarks bluntly towards Shougo.

Shougo, not at all startled by my brother’s remark, calmly replies, “The Lady Yumi is with child. She is expected to give birth within the next couple of months.”

I turn back towards Shougo in shock. Did I hear right? She’s with child?

“Yes, Kaoru, she’s with child. I wouldn’t have believed it either if I hadn’t seen it myself,” Shougo states coolly.

“Poor child will never have a chance,” Okita says seriously. “He’ll probably be just another tool for Lady Yumi. I couldn’t imagine a motherly bone in her body.”

“I agree,” Shougo replies forlornly. “I just hope that we can find a way to save the child from Lady Yumi’s grasp before it’s too late.”

“We will, won’t we Kaoru,” Soujiro says with the slightest hint of hope.

I just nod my head at Soujiro smiling in agreement. I will free them and when it was all over, the child would be free of Lady Yumi for good.

“I’m sure that is true, I just hope as little damage occurs to the child as possible,” Shougo states with a hint of a smile upon his face.

“Okita and I should tell Souzou the news. I’m sure that he would be upset with us if we didn’t,” Okubo states purposefully.

With that, Okita and Okubo left Soujiro, Shougo and I alone in the hut.

“Kaoru don’t be frightened, it’s me Shougo,” Shougo says mentally.

“Have you always been able to enter my mind?” I reply mentally in a hurt voice.

“I have, though I would never invade your privacy, Kaoru,” Shougo states sympathetically. “I know that you reserve this form of communication for Soujiro, but with desperate times come desperate measures. I notice that even now you can speak to Soujiro mentally and I hoped to do the same with you.”

“Why have you never talked to me before and can our other brothers do the same?” I reply in shock.

“No our other brothers can not, at least not that I know of. Can they Soujiro?” Shougo says with a smile.

“Not that I’ve been able to tell,” Soujiro answers in amusement.

“You’ve known about Shougo?” I ask in a hurt tone.

“I figured that you already knew. It’s not like he hides it all too well,” Soujiro comments slyly.

“I guess I’m just a fool then, huh?” I respond painfully.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s not like I advertise it as well. I prefer to speak aloud and therefore have never spoken to you thus. It is quite understandable that you’d never know,” Shougo counters with a tinge of anger directed towards Soujiro.

“I’m speaking to you thus to try to persuade you to give up your task. We all can see what pain it’s causing you and we would much rather live the rest of our lives as swans than put you in danger. You should make a new life for yourself. We will follow you no matter where you go,” Shougo remarks with concern.

“You should listen to Shougo, Kaoru. I don’t want to see you hurt. We could take you to the village and you could make a new life for yourself,” Soujiro adds with pain in his eyes.

“I could never do so. You are my family and I could never walk away from you. I told you once Soujiro that I would always be there for you all, I am NOT going to change my plans because it’s too difficult. Besides, do you believe that living in that village would be better? I seriously wouldn’t doubt if Lady Yumi and our father had men in every village of our tuath.” I reply in anger.

“I see that you can not be persuaded otherwise. We appreciate what you are doing for us, but we don’t want you to feel trapped by it. No matter the case, we would rather you live with people. You are too skinny and unkempt. It’s not safe or healthy to live here on your own. Tsunan at this moment is building a boat for your use. Once it is done, we want you to leave this place and head for a village ignorant of our father’s dealings and settle down,” Shougo says in concern.

“I see that you all made plans for me already. I can not promise to follow through with it, but I guess I cannot stop you,” I state in defeat.

My brothers leave before the first rays of light fall. We make our silent goodbyes and not another word about my journey is made. At that moment I feel like my fate is unclear.

*******

I have been working hard since my brothers left and nearly complete a quarter of a new shirt. Now that I am starting to get used to the task, my fingers hurt less and the job goes faster. Tonight my brothers will come to visit me and I want to prepare a dinner for them.

I go out to the forest to gather some turnips and head toward the lake to catch some fish. I had gotten used to hunting and gathering and it takes me only an afternoon to catch seven fish and to find a handful of turnips.

I go back home after gathering my supplies and start the fire. It feels nice to break my routine for a little bit and decide to sit by the fire and make myself some tea. It is very plain, being that I have very few herbs to add in it, but it does the trick.

As I sit by the fire I hear the foot steps of a man approaching the door. I wait for a knock on the door, but instead I hear the door fall onto the floor behind me with a bang. I try to turn around and address the situation, but the man knocks me to the floor and starts to hit me. All the while the man glares at me hungrily.

“What do I have here? You might be a little too skinny for my likes, but otherwise not so bad,” he says while ripping at my clothes. “Hmm, you have nothing to say to me? I guess that’s an invitation to continue, isn’t it?”

I can’t move at all. The man sits on my chest in such a way that it makes it impossible for me to move while gaining full access to my body. I can feel his breath upon my neck while I search around the room for any available object to throw at him. I look to my right and notice the cup of tea that I had just made beside me. The cup had fallen and the contents with it, but if I can reach the cup just a little further I can knock the man out.

I reach for the cup as far as I can but it is no use. The man sees what I am reaching for and decides to use it on me. The cup lands across my face and I shed tears of pain without a sound uttered. It takes all my might not to yell out in the pain.

His hands clasp my thighs and throw my legs apart. Before I know it, the man thrusts his fingers into me painfully. As quickly has he enters me, he pulls out and looks me up and down.

“Nice and tight. First time, huh? I’m gonna enjoy this,” the man says cruelly while ripping his pants off. “I’m sure that you’re a little slut and will enjoy it as well.”

As soon as his pants are off, he thrust himself into me with vigor. All I can do to stop myself from making a sound is to bite my lip. It hurts too much to do anything else.

Minutes pass by and eventually he gets up and leaves. I am left all alone without a scrap of clothing. I mentally cry out in my own misery, while mentally cursing the world for my treatment. I hurt all over and bleed from both my lips and my head wound. All I do is sit in the corner of the room huddled up in an old blanket while I wait for my brothers to come and find me.

I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. I know that I promised some KK action, but I promise that will happen next chapter. There is too much action in this chapter as it is.

I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed my story. I would like to give a shout out to Maruading Storyteller, Kaoru-chaness,Juunichi, Royal blueKitsune, sexylucifer, Sapphire Lupe, LegolasEstelstar, Arwey, and Angel of loneliness. I appreciate all the feedback.

I would also like to thank those who have not reviewed but have added me to their favorites/ alert lists. Shout outs go to darkwolfslayer, EmpressKona, poutingbuddha, and Koneko-dono. You guys have made it all worth it.