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Chapter 24
Yuki
“Yuusuzumi, could I please visit Japan? I wish to meet my father.” I asked softly.
“My dear Yuki, you may, but first you must learn to hide your wings. All Takitanians learn how at young ages, it is our main protection.” I nodded. “It is actually very simple to hide our wings. All you have to do is suck them in, like sucking in your stomach, then focus on keeping them in at all times, except around people you trust, or when you are alone.” I concentrated, and then they just…were gone. It felt natural, folding my wings into my body. The only things that showed were the sapphire four pointed star jewels that matched my spirit jewel on my necklace. Yuusuzumi smiled. “Your mother was a natural, too.”
“Please, tell me about my mother!” I asked eagerly.
“Well, Sora has her looks and heart, Kiru has her strength and courage, and you have her leadership and love for your people. Kiru looks just like Tsubasa’s sister, Mitsukai, and you take after your father. Your father was a good man, a good leader, but he was scared of what Tsubasa could become, scared for his people. They were very suspicious folk in those times.” Yuusuzumi smiled to herself.
“Thank you, Yuusuzumi, for everything.” I waved and spread my wings. I wondered, who were my people? I soared, loving the feeling of the wind, of my freedom. I flew silently and gradually fell asleep, flying over the great ocean.
A sudden thunderclap awoke me. I spotted land ahead and made a beeline towards it. I landed on a deserted beach, and remembered to suck in my wings. The rain drenched me as I ran to a building where loud noises wafted from. I opened the door. There were many men drinking a smelly brown liquid. I sat at a table, unsure of myself. A big, burly man walked up to me.
“What’s a lovely lady like you doing in a place like this alone?” his breath smelled absolutely putrid. “You lost?”
“I’m afraid so, where might I find Tokyo?” I asked softly.
“Why might you need to go to Tokyo, missy?”
“I need to see the emperor, he is expecting me.” He was a nice person despite his bad breath. I held my own, as to not have to deal with the stench.
“Is this seat open?” he gestured to the seat across from me. I nodded and he sat. “What do you wish to drink, miss?”
“Oh, it’s alright, I’m not thirsty.” I blushed. He laughed heartily, and I found more men crowding around our table.
“Well, Tokyo is pretty far, you probably won’t get there anytime soon, probably not in a week, will you need a place to stay?” how thoughtful!
“No, it’s ok, I can walk.” I smiled sweetly and some people snickered.
“Guess that’s a no!” one man guffawed. The man punched him. My eyes widened. A cloaked person, tall and thin, walked to us.
“What’s your name, babe?” the burly man grinned.
“Yuki.” I turned and got out of the seat. He grabbed my shoulder.
“You sit down, sweetheart.” He growled. The cloaked man stepped towards us.
“You shall not order me around.” I hissed and took his hand off of my shoulder. Some men hooted. Such horrible thoughts clouded their minds!
“I’ll do as I want!” he roared. The cloaked man stopped him.
“Don’t touch her.” The cloaked one spat icily.
“Who are you?” the rude burly man slurred.
“I am your master, and Lady Yuki is a guest in my household.” The cloaked man growled. He gripped my hand and pulled me out of the building.
“Thank you, what was that place?” I wondered aloud.
“That, Yuki, was a bar. You never want to go into one of those, disgusting drunken men everywhere.”
“What is your name?” I asked innocently.
“My name is Nick.” Nick said. He had black wavy hair. “Why do you need to see the emperor?”
“It’s all very complicated, I need to ask him a few questions, get to know him, I guess. But that must sound totally weird.” I blushed.
“Hm, I’m headed that way too. Join me?” I couldn’t help it, I grinned.
“That would be lovely.”
“Great, because our ship leaves in approximately 10 minutes.” We raced to the docks. I was faster, but he knew the way, so he won. I don’t know, it just seemed wrong to break into his mind. He was very young, probably only about fourteen or fifteen. The boat was large, and a brunette boy waved to us from the hull.
“You’re almost late. Brought a girlfriend, eh?” he grinned mischievously and Nick returned his smile.
“Yuki, this is Sam, Sam, meet Yuki.” Sam bowed and I attempted to curtsy back. We boarded the ship and they showed me to a cabin. The two boys were very good-natured and fun to be with. Sam seemed to be my age.
“We should get to Japan in four or so days, and this is the fastest ship around.” Sam boasted. I smiled at him. Sam turned to Nick. “If anything happens between the two of you, let me know, Yuki is cute!” Nick blushed and Sam laughed.
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I sat in the crow’s nest, feeling the wind in my hair. “Thought I’d find you here, we’ve spotted Japan and will be landing in about an hour.” Sam said happily. I hugged him.
“Thank you!” we exchanged bright smiles, and then I jumped down, clearing the distance easily. The shipmates were still amazed that I could do that, but I couldn’t explain that I had hollow bones and hidden wings. I ran to my cabin and flung out my wings. It felt so good to free them! I brushed my shoulder length black hair and put sapphire beads in the two front long locks of hair. When I felt that I was presentable, I started preening my wings with my fingers.
“Yuki-we have arri-” I whirled around and met Sam’s wide eyes scanning over my white wings. I closed the door behind him. “You have wings.” He stated. I nodded.
“Please don’t take it the wrong way! My mother had wings and my father killed her because of it!!” I was starting to get frantic. He gripped my shoulders.
“Yuki, I’m not going to kill you! I think that they are beautiful. Are they real?” Sam coaxed me into calm. I nodded. “Maybe someday I’ll see you fly.” I flung my arms around him.
“Thank you!” I gasped. Sam grinned. “For everything!”
I stood at the mast, gazing at the world that I knew belonged to my father. Nick’s blue eyes searched my face, while Sam’s hazel eyes searched the sailors. My wings were carefully folded into my back, but I wished that I could fly among the people. So many people! The people bowed to us as we walked to a big black metal thing. A limousine, it was called. There were so many things that I wished that I could learn here. A girl with jet-black hair and bright blue eyes embraced Nick. She turned to me and extended an arm. I took it with a shy smile.
“Hello! My name is Alia. I’m Nick’s sister, of course, you know all about him!”
“My name is Yuki; I’m here to meet the emperor.” I spewed out, embarrassed at my childish words.
“Of course you are! Everyone wants to meet him, he is royalty!” I grinned. It was really hard not to like Alia. We all sat in the back of the limo. I glanced around in awe.
“It’s so…large, and yet so small!” The others grinned.
“This is your first limo ride, isn’t it?” Alia smiled at me. I nodded. The ride was short. We exchanged stories, mostly Antarctica and me though. They also answered all of my questions…about everything. I hungered for more, gulping down anything that they could offer. When we stopped in front of a large building, a fuming boy came storming towards us. I could tell that he was only about a year or so younger than me. His icy blue eyes glared at us scornfully.
“How dare you be gone this long? You have driven Father insane!” he spat, and then noticed me. “What’s this? A trinket?” He seemed to size me up, snorting.
“Yuki-” Alia warned, gripping my wrist, “don’t listen to Matthew.” He met my gaze.
“I would like to see the emperor.” I said clearly, not letting my cold fury escape.
“Then see him, you shall.” Matthew smirked, led us to the entrance, and swung open the doors to the Great Hall. Many people sat at long tables, their eyes riveted to us. A large throne was placed at the end of the hall. A middle-aged man clothed in expensive silks was sitting on the throne and I realized who he was. Tears trickled and I cried out. Murmurs rippled throughout the Great Hall. Alia and Nick exchanged glances. I ran to the man with my arms outstretched before I dropped to my knees, about twenty meters away. Silence dripped in the air. I choked.
“Father!”I sobbed. All eyes were upon me with amazement.
“Who are you?” the emperor spat.
“Don’t you recognize my face? I’m Yuki! I’m your daughter!”
“Take her away.” He hissed. Guards started to walk towards me.
“Father…don’t tell me that you’ve already forgotten us? What of my mother? WHAT OF QUEEN TSUBASA?!” I screamed. “You killed my mother! Can’t you at least remember your children? What about my sisters? Sora? Kiru? Have you forgotten everything?” I sobbed.
“Tsubasa was a demon.” He choked.
“My mother was less of a demon than you! Do you even know what you did to us? Kiru, she is being commanded by an evil vampire who wants to kill us all! Sora, she has lived in the Sahara desert for 14 years with only a Kit-fox for company, only to be taken captive by Kiru’s vampire, for all we know, she could be dead right now! Me, I lived in the South Pole babysitting polar bears for 14 years of my life, only to be sucked into a hurricane and shot away to Sora. Don’t you feel any emotion towards us? And now, we may all just die. And for what cause? I love you, father, but what you did to us was horrible! Don’t you feel ANYTHING?!” I screamed in agony and torture of my feelings. A wave of whispers ran through the crowd. My father was as pale as snow.
“I don’t know you.” He whispered. My wings lurched from my back and spread, easily taking up twenty feet.
“You are a cruel and heartless man,” I hissed and lifted off the ground. Gasps echoed throughout the hall. “I AM ASHAMED TO CALL YOU FATHER!!” I spun around and sped off.