By Amanda Pizzolatto, alias Aurora Mandeville

Word Count: 1077

Rating: G

Summary: A small cast of fantastical characters have their lives turned upside down.

Species:

Kodama = Kingfisher-winged beings who have power over the elements. The color of their wings denotes the element(s) they have power over (i.e. red = fire, black = earth).

Tengu = Bat-nosed and bat-eared beings who prefer a life of quiet and solitude, though they are very family-oriented.

Guhin = Dog-nosed and dog-eared beings who are very loyal and good at sniffing out ill-intent, many of whom, like Kimura, made excellent judges. Others, like Benyakko, take up the role of butler to serve as both guard and guide.

Yosei = Praying mantis-winged beings who are the shortest of the races on Hayen, but they more than make up for it in speed.

Not present in this story:

Ningyo = Seahorse merfolk, friendly, but sometimes a bit clingy.

Kitsune = Fox-shifters, powerful and aloof.

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The kingfisher-winged kodama hit the wall and let out a shriek.

“How could you do this to us, Tamika?” she shrieked. “How could you mess this up and land us in jail?!?”

“Oh, be quiet, Sakiri,” mumbled Tamika in the neighboring cell. “You know quite well why. I’ve been telling you this for the past three years.”

“And all because of a boy,” sneered Sakiri.

Tamika jumped up and banged on the wall. “That boy was my brother! He was only ten years old! Ten years old, Sakiri! But did you care? No! You and this stupid vendetta against all men is driving me up a wall!” screamed Tamika. She paused and took a shaky breath as the tears streamed down her face. “And it wasn’t a boy who betrayed me, it was my own cousin!”

“I rescued you, taught you everything you know . . .”

“There was time to save him, Sakiri! There was still plenty of time! I understand why you couldn’t save my parents, but the least you could have done was save my baby brother! I promised my mother I’d look after him, and you made me break that promise!” Tamika sank to the floor as three years of pent-up emotion came spilling out in sobs. She tried to wrap her wings around herself like a pair of loving arms. “You could have saved him, he had done nothing wrong!”

“But he will become a man . . .”

“Oh, shut up, Sakiri! I’m through with this stupid agenda of yours! You don’t understand!”

“No, you don’t understand! I’ve been telling you over and over, all men are like that!”

“No, they aren’t,” muttered Tamika through clenched teeth. “My father wasn’t like that.”

“Oh, yes he was. Just because you didn’t know about it doesn’t mean he was oh-so perfect.”

The two paused in their argument as the door to the jailhouse creaked open. Sakiri hissed through her bars at the approaching policemen. She burst out laughing sardonically as a tengu entered the jailhouse behind the policemen.

“Oh, this is rich! Yamida Chishaki, what brings you to the poorest end of the town?” sneered Sakiri. A guhin entered at that moment and shot Sakiri a glare. Sakiri became quiet; it was the judge.

“I am here to see Hirai Tamika-san,” replied Yamida coolly.

“And after what I just heard, your request might be granted right now,” replied the judge as she shot another glare at Sakiri.

“A many thanks, Kimura-sama,” stated Yamida with a bow of his head.

“Not a problem, Yamida-san,” replied Kimura with a bow of her head.

Sakiri growled. “And what is this request?”

The judge merely walked towards Tamika. “Hirai-san, if given the chance, would you live with someone who would treat you like a daughter? Someone who would look after your wellbeing…  properly.” Kimura shot a glare at Sakiri when she said the word ‘properly’ before turning back to Tamika.

“I-I guess,” replied Tamika with a sniffle. “If, if I can find the bodies of my family and… and bury them properly.” She glanced at Yamida. “Please?”

He offered her a sad smile. “It has already been done.”

“Wh-what? How? When?”

He glanced at Sakiri. “Since your illustrious cousin refuses to read newspapers, you would have known that I had taken care of it all by request, and out of duty.”

“Duty?” asked Sakiri.

“To whom?” asked Tamika.

That’s when Yamida’s face broke into a full-fledged smile, one that looked to be full of joy and almost boyish excitement. But instead of replying, he merely turned and walked out of the jailhouse.

Kimura nodded at one of the policemen, and he opened Tamika’s cell.

“Wh-what’s going on?” Tamika asked.

Right then, the door to the jailhouse opened and slammed shut.

“Tamika!”

Tamika glanced at the figure that raced towards her as her eyes began to tear up. It was him – his black hair was longer and he was taller, meaning he was in the dawn of his manhood, but it was him.

“Sishachi!” she just about screamed as she ran towards him. They met in the middle and sank to the floor, their arms wrapped around each other tight. “You’re alive! You’re alive!” Tamika stopped trying to speak as she cried tears of joy.

Sishachi just cried into her shoulder. He didn’t want to let go of his sister ever again.

The door to the jailhouse opened and closed again. Tamika glanced up; there was Yamida-san again, this time with the yosei sheriff and someone who looked to be Yamida-san’s butler.

“So, um, what’s the decision?” asked the sheriff.

Tamika glanced at the judge, and noticed she was looking directly at her.

“Y-yes, yes, of course!” blurted Tamika.

Kimura nodded. “Very well then, Yamida-san, you now have legal guardianship of the Hirai siblings.”

“What?’ shouted Sakiri.

“Yes!” whooped Sishachi as he jumped up. He helped his sister up and turned to the door. “Benyakko, to the car!”

Benyakko glanced at Yamida, who nodded. “Very well, Chisa-kun,” replied Benyakko with a full-on grin.

Tamika grinned at her brother’s old nickname as he pulled her towards the door and out of the jail; it apparently was still well in use.

“No! I have legal guardianship!” Sakiri’s voice echoed after them.

Tamika was able to hear Kimura’s reply before the door closed behind Yamida. “You gave that up when you decided on a life of crime.”

Yamida turned and gave Sakiri such a look of longing and sorrow that it quieted her. But though the jailhouse was soon quiet and everyone was gone, that look made something spark in Sakiri. And no matter how she tried, it continued to grow. Maybe there was hope, after all.