Legacy

 

An RK Fanfic: i.e. the author doesn't claim rights to the anime used.

 

 

 

Chapter 10- Bitch

 

 

 

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Everything's fine.

 

Tracy Bonham.

 

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Hideki tried her best to cheer up as she approached the market. Maybe she'd meet some people who remembered her father and herself from all those long years ago. They would be glad to her alive and well wouldn't they? Of course they would! This was her hometown wasn't it? This was…home.

 

First she picked up the bottle of soy sauce, then, as she went to get the tofu she noticed a stall selling sweet biscuits and rice-cakes and remembered her promise to Kero.

 

"Would you like a sample, young lady?" the woman at the stall asked kindly as she observed Hideki looking at the treats.

 

Hideki's eyes lit up like an excited child's. "Really?" she asked, delighted as the woman nodded and handed her a rice-cake.

 

Hideki smiled with pleasure as the cake seemed to melt on her tongue, "Oh these are so good!" she exclaimed, "They remind me of…wait a minute," she took a good look at the woman in the stall, "Omigod! Suzahara-san? Is that really you?"

 

The old woman leaned forward and squinted at the young woman for a moment, "Well bless my soul," she gasped, "Is that you little Hideki-chan?"

 

"Hai!" Hideki practically squealed, throwing her arms around the old woman.

 

The old grandmother squeezed the girl tightly, "Oh Buddha be blessed," she said happily, "he let me live long enough to see my young friend again."

 

 

Mayuka Suzahara was overjoyed to know the girl had thrived. As a little girl, Hideki had practically grown up in her backyard. She had been fond of sitting under her cherry-trees playing tunes she composed herself on a little bamboo flute her father had made for her. Even as she grew older she had never outgrown the habit and often entertained the old widow as the sat together on her porch in the evenings. When she had taken ill and had no one to care for her, Hideki had appointed herself Mayuka's caretaker and had treated the old woman like an empress until she was whole again.

 

"Oh my dear young friend," Mayuka repeated holding the girl at arms length, "How were your travels?" she asked.

 

Hideki's smile faltered a little but she recovered quickly, "Oh the world is so lovely Suzahara-san!" she beamed, "I learnt so many things, so many languages and customs, I only wish you could have seen them with me!"

 

"Yare, yare," the old woman sighed, "If only I had your youth and opportunity, young one! And your father? How is he?"

 

Hideki's smile widened almost reflexively, "Still traveling I'm afraid Suzahara-san," she answered, "Men like him do not long for the feel of soil beneath their feet like you and I."

 

Mayuka's head bobbed up and down at a brisk pace, "Too true, too true," she agreed, "I assume you're staying with your cousin and that nice young man she married."

 

"Yes, I am." Hideki answered with a smile.

 

As the conversation continued, Mayuka began filling a little basket with her best treats, "Don't think I have forgotten how much you both like these!" she chuckled, "Here you are." She said holding them out to Hideki.

 

"Oh Suzahara-san, I couldn't!" Hideki declined.

 

Mayuka's eyes twinkled, "Mm hm, still the same after all these years I see," she clucked, "Take them, think of it as my "welcome home" gift to you."

 

Hideki was so touched that she felt her eyes begin to sting. "Oh Suzahara-san you're still the sweetest grandmother I know." she said bowing in thanks.

 

"Oh go on with you." the old lady chuckled waving her hands.

 

After several goodbyes, Hideki continued on her way, Mayuka watched as the yellow scarf around the young woman's shoulders disappeared in the crowd.

 

"What a sweet child." she thought.

 

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Hideki purchased the tofu and began to walk on her way home. Her spirits were so lifted by finding her old friend alive and well she forgot all about the previous incident and hummed more loudly that ever as she made her way back to the dojo with a wonderful lightness to her step.

 

"See how happy she is at some old woman's misplaced compliments!"

 

Hideki froze in mid-step. An icy wind whipped around her body, almost pulling the scarf off of her and carrying it away over the rooftops above. Involuntarily, her teeth started to chatter and her body trembled although it was not from the cold.

 

"It can't be…" she whispered.

 

Laughter bubbled up all around her. Shrill, echoing, feminine laughter came from everywhere at once. The sky the, the earth, the shadows under the trees. The entire atmosphere seemed saturated with it.

 

"Can't Hideki? Nothing is impossible with me!"

 

Hideki gripped the bucket's handle so tightly her knuckles turned a ghastly shade of white. Tears slid down her cheek as she stood there, paralyzed. "Not happening…" she muttered, "not happening, not happening…"

 

"PATHETIC!" the voice spat, "I can't believe a little shit like you thinks she can control the cards! You sicken me! You useless, spineless, repulsive… "

 

"Don't…" Hideki whispered even as her voice cracked.

 

More laughter. More hideous, horrible, soul-killing laughter.

 

"But it's true! You cannot deny it you worm! That's why Daddy left you behind isn't it? He knew what you were even before you did! You worthless counterfeit mage! You're nothing but a dirty little…"

 

"No…" Hideki moaned weakly.

 

"Slut." the voice finished with a hint of satisfaction.

 

Hideki's legs folded beneath her until she was sitting in the dirt of the lonely path. Tears flowed freely down her face as she held her bottom lip tightly between her teeth in an effort not to sob. A trickle of blood sparkled like a jewel in the corner of her mouth before slipping down her cheek to mix with her tears.

 

The relentless voice continued to taunt her mercilessly.

 

"Look at you!" it sneered, "Pretending to be pure and innocent for your new friends! You're a good actress whore, I'll give you that! Surprised? You shouldn't be Hideki, I know everything that you do. Don't forget to thank your cousin for holding my card for me! Muwahahahahahahaha!!!"

 

Hideki let out a sound like a growl. She began to clench her fists so tightly, her nails dug into her palms making neat cuts in her flesh. Raising her face to the sky she screamed with all her might.

 

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD! I WON'T LET YOU HAVE THE CARDS OR KAORU, I'D RATHER DIE FIRST!!!"

 

The voice chuckled again, "Oh Hideki, you and I both know the legend says the cards shall have only one master and you'll never be it! Such honor befits not a harlot."

 

Hideki inhaled sharply before screaming even louder than before.

 

"DEMON!"

 

"DEMON!"

 

"DEMON!!!"

 

 

Silence.

 

The laughter was gone. The wind dissipated into nothing, the birds had fled at the sound of Hideki's scream. The earth itself was completely silent.

 

Hideki sobbed and bent as low to the ground as she could. Everything hurt, her head, her limbs, her throat, and her heart. Everything burned and ached so much she could not bear it. The feelings of rejection and uselessness were so strong they threatened to tear her apart. She remained there where she had fallen and for the first time in years, Hideki Kusokube allowed herself to cry.

 

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