Dark Wrath: Chapter Three

Chapter 3: Returning Home

Crack. Crunch.

The sound of my foot stepping on a branch causes the Clan guards to tense. I gently place a hand on Hisoka’s arm to halt him from moving forward. Quietly I walk out from the woods declaring, sharply, “Do not attack. I am the Lady’s guardian. I am here only to pass a few days by. My companion, Hisoka, shall be my responsibility.”

Hisoka walks out of the woods warily upon hearing me call his name. I had given him a change of my clothes and now he looks even thinner and more vulnerable than he had when wearing those rag clothes. He takes my hand; looking up at me with wide, frightened eyes.

The guard glares at me in anger, “What are you doing back here, wrench?”

My face turns hard as I whisper icily, “Is it wrong for me to visit my family, sir?’

He sneers at me while the tip of his sword slices a cut on my neck. A shallow laceration yet the threat still rang. “What possible family member would want to talk to you!” He growls indignantly at me.

I open to speak when Hisoka snaps, “Who are you to judge? From where I stand you are denying a member of your family the right she has to enter this compound.”

I pause, slightly overtaken by his mature declaration. With a soft sigh I watch as my brother walks up from behind the guards. I wince slightly at his frosty expression as he finally spoke, “Is there a problem here, guards?”

As they stammer out excuses I take the time to finally see the changes in my older brother in the past seven years. Now at the age of twenty-two he looks rather tall and muscular. With a katana strapped to his back I knew that he was most likely willing to kill a few clans members if it means the hatred they held would leave.

“Enough. Leave my sister and her companion alone. Or else.” He threatens softly as he grips my arm tightly to drag me into the compound.

The strength he displays gives me a small inkling of his growth. With a frown I mutter, “I could’ve taken care of it, Mamo.”

He ruffles my hair and comments teasingly, “But what is the fun in that, ‘lyn? Anyways, its my job to make sure that they don’t let their fear of what’s different to affect what could become very important clan alliances.”

I smirk in amusement, “Sure, brother. Sure.”

Hisoka glances up at my brother with admiration as we travel the streets packed with family members shopping or doing business. Several kids run around trying to catch a small cat and I smile lightly. Even if they didn’t like me this place still cheers me up a little bit. Even though I ignore the subtle way people edged away from me my heart still stung from the clear fear burning in their eyes.

Hisoka seems to be bothered by their stares and whispered fears. I sigh softly as I hear one remark that causes my brother to tense.

“So that freak really is back. Watch out for her, son. She will destroy us all.” A man hisses loudly to his five year old son who turns to look at me in sheer terror.

Heart broken I whisper softly to Milady, “Please, Milady...give me strength to face this again.”

As my head bows to move on I hear the cry of a young woman. Spinning around I find my brother behind the man with his sword to his neck. Heart nearly jumping into my throat I croak out, “Brother! Please leave him alone.”

My brother reluctantly lets the man go and shouts for all the surrounding people to hear, “If so much as one of you harms my sister or her companion then you will be shown no mercy.”

Not wanting to stay any longer I grip Hisoka and leap into the rooftops. As I run on top of them towards Mamoru’s house I hear the Lady answer, "You have the strength inside you. You just need to find it, Evelyn."

I grumble at her cryptic answer as Hisoka finally asks the dreaded question, "Why are they so mean to you?"

I sigh as my fingers twirl a strand of my long hair as I consider on how to answer. Finally I respond shortly, "It's a long story. Let's just say girls born here are not very well loved."

He frowns at my answer. Still he nods in acceptance as the three of us land softly before the house. Despite the fact it's been seven years since I last laid eyes on it the house really hasn't changed. Its creamy painted walls still make me cringe as we enter.

"So how long do you plan on staying, Evelyn?" Mamoru wonders as I absently finger the frame of my mother's photograph.

"Two days. I want to head out to the far west to learn medicine." I calmly sit on the couch as if I had never left in the first place.

Hisoka stands in the center of the living room looking out of place amongst us. I smile warmly at him as Mamoru continues, "So what's with the kid?"

I glare at him. "He's not a kid! He's smarter than you think."

Hisoka fidgets with the shirt and shakily speaks up, "I tried stealing her food. Your sister taught me a lesson with that."

Raising an eyebrow at the young boy Mamoru pauses to think. "So do you plan on making him a member of the Nagori?"

I considered the thought and finally realized it would be a good thing for him. "If he wishes." I simply state while turning to face Hisoka.

"Are you sure?" He stammers while shuffling his feet while staring down at the floor. I knew that he was praying that it was the truth and not some cruel joke. Absently I wondered how many people have given him that hope and crushed it just as I had been.

"Yes. You will be under my authority but you do not have to agree if you do not wish. Your free will is always something I'll heed so long as no harm comes to you or others."

He hesitates and I patiently wait for his answer. As he thinks I pull out my scroll to unseal a piece of jerky. Handing it to Rava I laugh softly as she devours it in hunger. Scratching her ears I almost miss his soft whisper, "Yes."

Mamoru smiles warmly as I walk up to him and without warning pull him within a tight hug. I could feel him tense against me as I notice for the first time a large odd looking seal on his shoulder. Frowning slightly I peer intently at it.

It looked almost like a frayed knot. The red threads seem to be moving across his skin. I knew a seal similar to this and the mere thought of this being a seal off of it almost makes me lose control of my rage.

I close my eyes as my heart beats rapidly. If this was a branch off of the Itami seal then the child was in more danger than from mere robbers. Frowning I ask, "Hisoka, where did this mark come from?"

He glances up at me in confusion. "What mark, ma'am?" He asks fearfully at my dark look.

I sigh softly and smile reassuringly, "It's nothing, child. If it starts being a problem I'll make sure to fix it."

He glances at me as Mamoru whispers, "So I believe it is time for you to be sleeping."

Hisoka nods and trudges up the stairs where the beds where. I simply turn to glare at Mamoru hissing, "I am not going to sleep now!"

Amused my brother simply grins mischievously, "Well either you sleep now before I make you."

Laughing at the challenge I unsheathe my sword with a grin. "Let's see who wins this time, dearest brother."

"If I'm not mistaken I won the last one." He counters back.

"I was injured so it was an unfair advantage." I flare back as I take a swing for his head.