Chapter 12

Mother saw dust clouds form in the distance. She stood up in a battle stance, to see if it was a threat. But when she saw who it was, she loosened herself. It was her son, Taiyo, sprinting back home, whilst princess carrying her daughter, Miki.

"What's the rush?" She giggled but she when she saw Taiyo's face, she stopped. Evident on his face was fear. And with the strength that she knew her son had, not many things could scare him and when it did, it meant it was something that could challenge even her.

Taiyo stopped in front of his mother and spoke, "please mum, I beg of you, lets leave the clan and go somewhere else."

"Huh?" She was baffled. "Why?"

"Were in danger, but the elder won't relocate the clan, so please, let's escape with dad and leave this place." Taiyo's voice was filled with worry. His eyes were burning red, amplifying the dread he is feeling.

"I…" For once in her life, Amaterasu was hard struck. Whenever a decision was presented towards her, she would immediately go with her gut feeling. Heck, that was the main reason why she thought it was a good idea to smack her own son with full force. But this time, she was unable to choose.

Family or the Clan? To her, it was like picking between her kids, but she whole heartily believed that Taiyo was stating the truth. He would never lie about this. She did believe that she was in danger. Nonetheless, it also meant that if she were not in the clan as the protector, more people would be endangered due to her selfishness.

"I don't know." She could not choose. The importance of the clan's survival had been hammered into her since she was a child, but she loves her family dearly to the point where she would gladly sacrifice her life for them. If only she was stronger and had mastered both nen and the technique passed down by her father. If only she was born a man. In her heart she knew the biological disadvantage of being a woman, and therefore will never be able to master the art of breaking sense. Her eyes looked at her kids. Something steeled inside her.

"I will choose both. You will leave with your father the next day."

"But-"

"No buts. You will leave with father the very next day."

Father, ignorant of the whole situation, was inside knitting new clothes for Miki to wear.

---

"Dear, you can't do this!" Father yelled. It was the first time that both Miki and Taiyo ever heard father be loud. "I have always been lenient, but this is crossing the line!" He shouted.

Mother looked apologetic, but spoke, "I'm sorry honey but-"

"But what? Your legacy, history or what? I don't care about your pitiful pride! You know that I do not care for this clan and yet, you are telling me that there's something coming for this place that could risk your life? You know strongly that I will never let you stay." His tone was chilly, and his eyes had become blazing scarlet.

Mother stared at her husband. Their eyes interlocked.

After a couple of hours of silence and staring, father turned his head, "you are always like this," he muttered under his breath.

"I'm sorry." Mother spoke.

"Were packing up, kids." Father entered his room to take his clothes, "were leaving the next day."

Wait. What. Were just leaving mother here, just like that?

"Mum, please, rethink this." This time my eyes were scarlet, and tears flowed.

Miki was also affected by this situation and started crying. Her eyes then begun turning scarlet as well.

"Seems like the I'm odd one out, huh? Everyone got pretty scarlet eyes but me, hahahah," she laughed, trying to soothe the atmosphere.

"This shit isn't funny." My voice was angry. Angry with myself for not noticing this sooner. If only I had asked for that single person's name and resisted the nervous feeling inside my heart. If only I had connected the dots. The answer was screaming at my face. Fuck.

"I'm sorry." She looked down and grabbed Miki and placed on her lap, stroking her hair. Miki then started to doze off to dreamland.

"I don't want your sorry, I want you to come with us." I'd start demanding, throwing a tantrum, hoping it will work.

"I'm sorry." She spoke once more, continuing to stoke Miki's hair.

Fuck.

"Please mother, I'll do anything you say, I'll listen to your words, I'll look after you when you grow old, I'll never complain about the training so please," my voice was becoming more strained, "please, just leave with us."

"Taiyo, my son, that sounds like an amazing offer, but, I'm sorry." She stroked Miki's hair once more.

"Fucking please." My mouth was horsed, my eyes were wet and my heart heavy.

Mother stayed quiet and then looked at me, "Sorry."

"Fuck." I ran out of the house and started to scream. I wanted to curse the world. I wanted to fucking break it apart.

"I just wanted to stay with my family."

And then something in my heart cracked. My bones, my body, my everything, it all just broke apart and I passed out.