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♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦Yuki♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
I rolled over, wrapped in the comforting blue blankets, until a tinkling laugh awoke me. Alia looked down at me. “Yuki, you might want to get ready to leave to go to Ayame. We meet for breakfast in thirty minutes.” I groaned and sat up. Alia started combing through my hair. "I’m sorry if it bugs, you, I just love to mess with hair.” She giggled. "I never had anyone to dress up when I was young. Everyone thought of me as princess Alia, and that was that.” She told me. When she had finished, I stood and she gave me the dress that I had picked out the day before. “You might want to take a quick shower, first.” I nodded, breathlessly, and walked to the bathroom. I had distant memories of baths when I was young. I took off the nightgown that I had worn through the night and turned the faucet. Boiling hot water poured out and I gasped in pain. Too hot, I thought to myself, and moved the faucet to the middle, until nice warm water spilled from it. I let it run through my hair, then looked at the two bottles next to me. I wondered what they were for. I read one. “Sham-poo?” I tried to pronounce it correctly, but it was hard when I didn’t know how it was supposed to sound. I put a small bit on my hand and ran it through my hair. I thought that this was correct, but I hadn’t had a proper shower in fourteen years. That sounded gross when thought aloud, but I had lived in Antarctica. The sweet scent swirled around me as I rinsed it out and picked up the next bottle. “Con-dish-on-air?” this one was a lot harder, but I squeezed a small amount on my head anyway and washed it out, too. Then I found a towel next to the tub, probably set out by Alia, and wrapped it around my body, allowing myself to dry. Then I pulled on the dress, savoring the clean feeling that I felt when I was finished. I stepped out of the bathroom to find Alia combing franticly through her hair. I walked up to her and she turned with a smile.
“As I said earlier, my hair messes up every three minutes.” she giggled and pulled out the hair that was stuck in the comb. Then she passed it to me, go on ahead, your hair is probably messed up again, water does that to you.” I took it thankfully and ran it through my hair. Alia was absolutely radiant. When we were finished, we bolted for the dining hall, where we were greeted by a new face. Sitting next to Milo were two cloaked figures, a young girl and a boy a couple of years older than me. The girl looked up when we walked in and whispered to the boy, shaking her head. She had white hair with tan skin, while he was pale with sandy hair. He glanced at Alia and me when we walked in and flashed a soft smile.
“Yuki, this is Shadowielder Naito and Hinata. Shadowielder, Hinata, these are Yuki and Alia.” Sam and Nick were already sitting, waiting for us. Alia and I both attempted polite curtsies in the presence of the Shadowielder and his sister. Naito and Hinata both dipped their heads in courtesy of us, and we took our places by Nick and Sam. Naito studied my face.
“You sort of look like her,” he said calmly. I looked at him in confusion. “There has been a woman who enters my dreams, and I have been searching for her.” He explained. “She has your features, but blonde hair and black wings. She cries out in pain, and I must find her.”
“Kiru.” I breathed softly. He inhaled sharply and Hinata searched my face.
“That is her name.” he said to himself. "I will find Kiru and save her from her tormenting pain.” He said decisively. “Thank you, Princess Yuki.”
“Please, call me Yuki.” I smiled softly, and he awkwardly tried to return it.
“Then you may call me Naito.” He said.
“Please, know me as Hinata.” His sister said in her flowing voice. It was soft, but had an icy chill to it, like icy water. Toya was right, she did have a gothic aura to her, and so did Naito, though he was more distant and serene. “So you are Yuki, the lost daughter of Tsubasa.” She said. I nodded.
“But Kiru and Kisa are also my sisters,” I tried, but her night black gaze stopped me.
“Kisa? Do you mean Sora? She was the first born in the stories. Then came Kiru, then you. I remember, because your initials spelled Sky.” She smiled faintly. Then, she went back to eating the pear on her plate. I gazed at her for a while longer, until Naito broke the silence.
“Yuki, we are fruit bats, not vampire bats.” He laughed. His laugh sent chills down my spine. “Yes, I was blessed with the ability to read minds.” I looked at him in alarm.
"I can read people’s minds, too!” I gasped, and our eyes locked on each other’s. Alia gasped.
“You could’ve read my mind?” she choked.
“No, it just feels wrong to prod, most of the time, so I don’t.” I said hastily. Naito nodded vaguely.
“Indeed, the gift does love to nag.” He said. “And Hinata can see what I think, when I let her, so that she can draw pictures of the night angel.” He said absently. “She really has driven me crazy, your sister has.” He smiled to himself and Hinata nodded.
“She is the only thing on his mind since he started becoming her at night.” She explained. I stabbed a slice of an apple and brought the fruit to my lips, my eyes never leaving the Shadowielder’s.
“So what is she like?” Naito said translucently.
"That’s a question that you should ask Kisa.” I stopped myself. “Sora, I mean.” I grasped.
“Where can I find her?” he asked. I shrugged.
“She and Kiru are locked up somewhere, at least, if they haven’t been killed by the vampire.” I said and Naito choked on the cherry that he had attempted to swallow.
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Naito and Hinata traveled with us until we reached Rairakku, where they left us, pointing out the direction that we were to go in. I caught a glimpse inside of the cave, and drew my breath sharply. There were beautiful paintings of Kiru everywhere. The Shadowielder was in love with my sister. That thought somewhat creeped me out as we were on our way. We traveled more miles until we reached a large home. I knocked on the door, too weary to continue. A young woman with platinum blonde hair that reached her waist and a night black dress opened the door. When she saw me, she engulfed me in a great hug. “Lee, guess who showed up on our door!” large black wings flew out of the blonde’s back. Another woman who was almost identical to her floated down to us with white wings. Her night black hair also reached her waist, and she wore a pure white dress. Her face lit up when she saw me and embraced me, too.
“Oh, Lavi, could it truly be little Yuki?” their violet eyes shone happily.
“How do you know me?” I blurted. They giggled.
“It’s us, Lira and Laviana, your cousins!” I could only stare at them in amazement. “Our mother is Mitsukai, your mother’s little sister.” The black haired girl explained. I guessed that she must’ve been Lira, and the platinum blonde was Laviana.
“Though Mama has gone just a little bit crazy ever since Aunt Tsubasa died.” Laviana sang. “Please, come in! Lira and I live alone in here because we hate having to be around so many people.” Then she grasped me hand and pulled me into the great hall while Lira gripped Alia’s hand. The two boys were happy to enter on their own. Toya had to stay in Yuri, but he had promised Alia that they would meet again.
“Who would be these travelers that are traveling with you?” Lira chirped.
“These are Alia, Sam, and Nick. Alia and Nick are my father’s other children, while Sam is a family friend.” I explained. The girls giggled to each other.
“Come, let us dine together!” Laviana piped up. A male mockingbird flew up to us in greeting.
“This is Lirvian, our doushi.” Lira told us. We gazed at the sisters in amazement.
“Yes, Lirv is both of ours.” Laviana explained to us. We could only gaze at the almost identical twins with wonder. A young woman came up to us and curtsied. She must be their maid or caretaker. I thought to myself.
“Come, my ladies and gentlemen, you must be starving.” She smiled warmly and we returned her smile. Lira and Lavi turned to us, their gleaming violet eyes shining.
“You may follow Usuagi to the dining hall, we will be there shortly.” They said in unison, then skipped away, humming a song that rippled throughout my ears and swirled in my mind. It was familiar to me. I had heard it a long time ago, I was sure. The maid Usuagi nodded to us.
“Please forgive the girls if they seem rather, well, not in their right minds. They were dealt a hard blow when they learned that they had no family left. They have never been the same.” She said softly. I gazed in the direction that the girls had gone in. Through a door, there was an elegant table set out for all of them. In a small voice, Usuagi told me, “The sweet lady Mitsukai keeps the girls here. It is for everyone’s good, and safety. I thought that you ought to know.” I nodded to her.
“Thank you, Usuagi.” I told her. I wanted to learn all that I could about my family. As we sat at the table, the girls glided in. They sat next to each other, and I was on Lavi’s side, while Alia was on Lira’s. At once assorted dishes were brought out to us. I noticed that there was no meat.
Lavi noticed my curious glance. “It is considered rude to serve any meat that comes from animals because of our bonds with our doushi.” She explained.
“It’s like eating dog meat at an animal kennel.” Lira added. I shivered at the disgusting thought. Lavi gripped a plum and sank her teeth into it, until dark purple juice stained her lips. I looked away.
“So, tell us about Sora and Kiru!” Lira gazed at me with violet eyes that shone.
“Well, Sora has always gone by the name Kisa, and she has been taken by our sister who is under a spell cast by the dark vampire who rules over her. Now, anything could happen to them.” I told them. They were amazed.
“Poor Sora and Kiru.” Lavi said sadly after swallowing her bit of plum. “What would come of Ayame and all of the Takitanians here if you were the only surviving relative other than us?” the girls exchanged sad glances.
“We might even go crazy!” Lira said sullenly. “Now that would be horrid, wouldn’t it?” I wanted to tell them that in a way, they were insane, but instead I nodded in sadness.
“Then I would go crazy as well.” I told them. Nick and Sam were eating politely, trying not to be dragged into the conversation. I couldn’t blame them. Alia was watching us, soaking in every word into her being.
“If Yuki went crazy, I would do so as well, she is my sister after all.” She told us and Alia and I exchanged warm smiles.
“So if Sora and Kiru got hurt, the world would be involved in a huge chain-linked insane attack?” Nick ventured to say and we turned our eyes to him, and smiled.
“To think, all started by one vampire.” Lavi said. I shook my head.
“It just, isn’t possible! I mean, he must have help somewhere! Nobody has enough power to capture both Kiru and Kisa!” I told them. “He must be getting help somehow, and I intend to find out how and who is helping him.” All of our eyes locked on each other’s. Then, Lira giggled.
“To think, our cousin is a natural thinker! After supper we should show her to the library!” my eyes lit up. “Maybe she will be a detective someday!” Lavi joined in with her almost-identical twin’s laughter.
“Indeed, Lee, we should show her the library.” They exchanged bright grins, and Lavi took another bite out of her plum. I took a plum for myself. I wondered how they tasted. Lavi certainly seemed to enjoy them. I took a bite and instantly felt the juice trickle into my tongue, swirling around my being, it was the sweetest thing that I had ever eaten, although I was sad to say that the list of ‘things eaten’ was pretty small. I chewed slowly, savoring the sweet taste. Lavi smiled and swallowed. “That’s the way I felt too, when I had my first plum, although I was a lot younger than you are now.” She declared freely. Lira shrugged.
"I’ve always enjoyed cherries and other small berries, but Lavi enjoys larger fruits that are also soft to the touch, like plums and pears.” She explained.
“Yes, they are sweet to my tongue and soothing to my teeth.” She grinned. “Though I do love cherries also.” I could only nod, and mentally add them to my ‘to try’ list of foods. They continued to talk, mostly about meaningless things like food, but I soaked in every word. Apparently they both had an unusual obsession with anything shiny. Then I remembered what kind of animal their doushi was, and so it made more sense. Then, after what seemed like hours, but also seemed like seconds, Usuagi came to us.
"It is time for sleep. Though if the lady Yuki would like, the library will stay open.” The girls nodded and glanced at us.
“The time for rest is upon us, Usuagi can show you to your rooms.” Laviana told us and stood. Lira nodded and stood with her.
“Goodnight to all of you.” She said simply. And they were gone, flowing out of the room, their dresses dragging behind them on the floor. The rest of us exchanged glances and stood. Usuagi started walking out after their retreating bodies and we had to run to catch up. Blanketing the walls were countless pictures. There was a large portrait of a blonde woman and her husband, along with three girls. Two of them were obviously Lira and Laviana. The other girl was taller and more matured. Probably about fourteen years old. The twins were about eleven. They all had bright violet eyes. The older girl had short black hair that spiked in every direction. She was wearing a long red kimono while the twins were wearing their trademarked black and white dresses. Usuagi noticed my lagging. “That is their family, Lady Mitsukai, her desist husband, and their daughters, Lavi, Lira, and Charliana. Char still lives with her mother, although she distrusts the world.” And she was walking away again. Charliana. There was something about her, as if I knew her. After I caught up, we stopped in front of double oak doors. “That leads into the library. It will be open to you for as long as you need tonight.” She started walking again. The boys were whispering to each other, words that even I couldn’t hear. Alia was staring off into the void, her sapphire eyes glazed over in thought. “Here is your room.” Usuagi told Alia and I and we stepped into the white room. Usuagi and the boys continued walking. The walls and cashmere carpet were pure white, though the room had other pale colored items.
“It feels like an insane asylum here.” Alia said quietly. "The girls are ghost-like; they don’t seem to belong in this world. I don’t know what goes on in their minds.” She told me. Her eyes were slightly scared.
"I don’t really know either.” I whispered back. “Their minds, they are so clouded and strange, it’s as though they think as one, but it’s all cloudy. Cloudy and weird.” She nodded.
“My point exactly. There is something wrong with them.”
“Well think about it, when you were young, your aunt and your mom’s best friend died, making your mother the queen of Ayame. To make things worse, you share an existence with your twin and their doushi. The world seems hopeless, and just when you think it can’t get worse, your father dies. He was your favorite parent, the one that stayed with you when your mother couldn’t, because of her never-ending sadness. Now you feel alone, and your mother keeps you locked away in a tower to save you from yourself.” I explained to her, my words painting a story. Now how much of it was true, I had no idea, but it sounded dramatic to me. Alia’s bright blue eyes were still huge, but this time they were with sadness. She leaned in towards me, her lips inches from my ear.
“Don’t tell anyone, but I’ve always wanted to be Tsubasa’s daughter. I was always interested in her story, but nobody ever wanted me to know about her, she was my secret obsession, along with you guys. I always wondered about my sisters, what they were like, their personal story, everything.” And with that, she smiled secretively. “Secret. Goodnight!” she still had a smile on her face as she pulled the covers over her head. I had always wondered how she could switch emotions so quickly, but instead I turned to go to the library. There must be something in there that could explain to me about this strange world that I was hurled into.