27 chapter 24,5 - Miku's Past
Author's Note: There is a tiny lemon scene on this chapter, it was necessary
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The Japanese pantheon, a world in and of itself, with many lakes, people and all sorts of wondrous sights. In a park, there was the sound of laughter and kids playing all the time. They were the children of the Yokai and Shinto Gods, they always enjoyed their time together as one big family. Except for one.
"Go away, ugly."
"Yeah, go away."
"We don't want you here."
"It will only infect us with uselessness."
"Go away."
These and more were spoken by some of the boys toward a little girl. She was the smallest one of the bunch, had indigo eyes and hair that was disheveled.
Seeing that she wasn't leaving yet the kids thought for a while until they used a word their parents used to describe why they shouldn't be involved with that girl.
"Epithet-less."
"Epithet-less."
"Epithet-less."
"Epithet-less."
"Epithet-less."
"Epithet-less."
And such was what the kids used to make the girl go away. They themselves did not know what being epithet-less meant but it 'seems like an insult by the way papa and mama used so it should work' was at the kids were thinking.
Even the little girl did not fully comprehend what that meant, but it was an insult, that she knows.
Not being capable of standing there anymore she ran away as the boys kept mocking her. She ran back to the compound where her mother lives.
When she saw the house, that was just like an example of what a Japanese mansion would look like, she entered and went straight to her mother side. When she was about to open the door she heard the sound of people talking.
"… know that it is the only way. If not like this she will not be married, no one would ever want to marry an epithet-less." Was the sound of her father, Sarutahiko Okami, that had come to visit. He was a man that looked thirty with a towering build, long bear and a big nose (all the girl's prettiness came from her mother). He has a sculpted body worth of his title as one of the Gods of Martial Arts.
"But, but what about her feelings?" Her mother asked.
"*sigh* I know it is not ideal, but there is only one path for her. The moment she was born like that the only way the best we can do is this. There is no other path for her." Her father said with a heavy and desolate tone.
"… I understand. Do it your way then, but make sure that you get the best result possible." Her mother said with a serious face.
"I will." And with that Miku heard steps approaching the door. She ran to hide in another corridor and after hearing her father leaving she decided to go see her mother.
When she entered the room she saw her mother with a defeated face, as if the worst thing happened to her.
"Mama, is there something wrong?" The girl could not help but ask.
The mother looked at her child and gave a forced smile.
"Nothing at all dear. Everything is fine." She then looked at her confused and asked. "Wasn't you going out to play in the park?"
The girl had a pained face when she said.
"I went there, but those stupid boys kept calling me names and telling me to go away." She then turned to her mother and asked with a curious expression. "Mom, what is 'epithet-less'?"
Hearing those words, the mother got a furious face.
"Where did you hear that word?" The mother asked.
"The boys were saying that to me." She did not know why but she chose to not say that she heard her father say that word too. It seemed like a word that would make her mom mad and if she got mad with father because of that Miku would be sad.
"*sigh* Come here Miku."
The little girl, Miku, approached her mother. Her mother then put her on her lap and started talking.
"Do you know what an epithet is Miku?"
"It is what defines a God or Goddess. It determines our powers and what we can become, if you are a God of water you can manipulate water, if you are a God of a mountain you become super-strong when on that mountain." Miku said with a puffed chest. She was proud of the fact that she knew that from what the teachers taught… even if the teachers always looked at her strangely.
"Yes, practically all Gods got an epithet. Mine is a goddess of the arts, dance, dawn, and mirth. Your father is the boss god of the earthly Shinto Gods, he also is the God of Martial Arts, strength and guidance." Her mother explained.
"And me, mommy? I am a goddess of what?"
"… nothing. You are what is known as epithet-less." Her mother explained. "An epithet is received at birth but you did not get any."
Miku looks down but did not understand what did that entails.
"What does it means them, mommy?"
"It means that you have no defining characteristic. And because of that, no God will want to marry you."
SHOCK
Miku was shocked by hearing those words. She did not know what it means to be married or not, but she heard the maids saying that being married is the best thing for anyone. And at school, she learned that any goddess is biologically made to love more than any mortal do out of sheer biological instinct, so hearing that no one will marry her was a shock.
'Will no one love me then?' was what the girl was thinking.
"What does it mean no one will want to marry me?"
"It is because on the wedding night between gods when the girl and the boy… are planting a special seed… their energies combine and they share their epithet for an instant. Generally, it means nothing much, but if one of the two is epithet-less the one that has an epithet will lose his." Her mother's face managed to become even sadder when she continued. "Not only that but an Epithet-less God age just like a human. Losing a life that could last for dozens of thousands of years is not something any God is willing to accept."
The girl got very depressed hearing those words. It is like she was a 'defective product' so to say.
"So, do I have to marry a mortal?"
The mother shocks her head again.
"That would hardly work. In the case of a god or goddess marrying a mortal part of their divinity is entrusted to their partner and there is close to no mortal can endure such a power." The mother explained. "If the mortal can't handle the power he will die by your arms."
The girl was terrified. Why was she born like this? Why couldn't she be born normal?
After a moment of silence, the mother opened her mouth again.
"Miku, you will be going to your father's place." That shocked Miku. She was rarely ever allowed anywhere near her father's place; she did not know why but she was never allowed. "There is the best place for you to be now."
"I understand mama. It will be lonely but I trust you and dad." Miku said vigorously.
After that, they ate, danced, played games and enjoyed the day to the max.
What her mother never said was that epithet-less people are shunned not just because of the fact they can't marry, but because there is a belief that they are bringers of bad luck. If it is true or not is not important, is the fact that people strongly believe that matters, sometimes a believe is many times more important than actual facts.
Two months later
The place of Miku's father was one of the strongest martial arts sect from the whole Japanese pantheon. It was a place that welcomes the strong and preys on the weak, it was known as earthly god sect.
There, her father was the sect master but the young Miku did not receive any sort of special treatment. Quite the contrary in fact, as she was put under much greater pressure than the others. She had to train her body to the limit, practice martial arts and fight. There was one rule of the sect that you must enter a fight every day, the opponents are at random so you could face someone stronger or weaker than you. Miku was the weakest of them all.
Every day she got a beating in the name of training. She tried to talk to her father but he refused to move and help her as long as it was not life-threatening. 'It builds character' was his opinion. It may seem harsh, but that was how he was raised while growing up to be a God of martial arts.
To make matters worse the treatment of people was dependent on points won in fights but as Miku never won even once she was treated the worst. Nearly spoiled food, no teachers to help her, she needed to sleep with the animals.
What went through her mind at that time was what her mother said to her before she came here, 'your dad said he would look after you'. Why didn't he come to help her? He said he would, so why did he not come to help her when she needs him. The bruised girl from another beating was thinking that while laying down on the ground. Her confidence in her father diminishing at every day that passes.
On the next day, her opponent was decided. It was a boy of around 10 with brown hair, brown eyes and a cute face. They then introduce each other.
"Miku Okami, happy to spar with you."
"Kururugi Suzaku, happy to spar with you."
Miku decided to take the initiative, she went straight to him and delivered a straight punch to the face. He evaded it clearly and went for a low kick that she managed to jump out off, but as a result of her lack in battle experience and strength (she is a 6 years old girl after all) the jump was not far enough so he stretched his hand and caught her foot and with a throw he managed to launch her on the wall. He went to finish the fight but Miku manages to get out of the wall and tackled him.
When he fell on the floor Miku did not wait for him to recompose himself. She straddled him and started to punch him over and over again. She saw in the corner of her eye that his arm was in a position that he could retaliate, but he never did. He just laid there while she punched him.
After a while, the judge came and declared her the winner. She was so happy. She won.
Later that day
After having her first fulfilling meal in quite a while Miku decided to go for a walk. There was something bugging her since the fight ended. She would need to go see Kururugi-san to ask him about it.
After looking for a while she saw him at the library. She went straight to him.
"Why did you do it?" Miku asked.
"What do you mean?" He asked back pretending to not know what she was talking about.
"Why did you lost on purpose? I saw that you were ready to counter and could have won so, why did you lose on purpose?"
He stayed quiet for a while till he decided to tell her.
"I did what I thought was right. You clearly needed the points more than me."
Miku looked at the ground bashfully seeing his sincere eyes looking straight at her. She trusted him.
"H-h-hey would you be my friend?" She knew the question was too early. She did not know him and neither did he know her but she just wanted someone she could trust here, and he seemed like the best chance she got.
He put a finger under his chin and after a while said.
"Ok."
And like that the first friendship Miku has ever had was born.
6 years later
Miku was now 12 and had grown beautifully, like a flower blooming. She was not known for her martial prowess but she discovered her talent, she was great at music magic. She learned that from her mother, even sang once for Amaterasu-sama and she said it was quite good.
The only other good aspect of her life was her friendship with Kururugi-kun. He was the only one that cared about her in the sect, her relationship with her absent father was cold, to say the least. But Kururugi was different. He was always by her side during those few years.
She still remembered that time a few months ago
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Miku was going up a small hill with Suzaku. He had invited her there as he said there was a present he made for her. He was 16 now, broad shoulders very physically fit and tall but he still had the same gentleness he had all those years ago.
As they were going up that hill they started talking about whatever came to mind. It did not really matter what but the most important for Miku was to be beside someone she could trust.
"This is what I wanted to show you, Miku-chan." He then made a gesture with his hand as if welcoming royalty, showing Miku a beautiful sight. It was a small forest clearing with many flowers in it, there were some birds there singing happily and a wondrous fragrance permeated the whole space. It was a place straight from a fairy tale. He then took out a small ring made of flowers, kneeled on the ground and faced her direction.
"Miku, would you marry me when you are older?" It was a simple declaration, but the feelings could be felt.
Miku teared up when she heard those words. She still vividly remembered her mother saying that she could never be married unless the male in question had an extremely powerful body to be capable of handling divinity.
"But you know I am an epithet-less. Your body would not be capable of handling divinity."
"Don't you worry. I had it all planned out so it all just comes down to if you want to marry me or not. So… do you accept my proposal?"
She could not hold back her tears anymore. With her face covered in tears of happiness, she said only two words for him.
"I do."
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And now she was the future miss Suzaku. She gets all tingly whenever she thinks of this.
Today was an important day for her. It was the first time she could go out on a mission for the sect. Nothing complicated, just patrol a forest outmost perimeter and check for any irregularities. Her team was her, Kururugi and two other girls she did not really know.
As they started walking through the forest she decided to stay beside Kururugi as she did not like the look those girls were giving to HER man.
After they got on the forest it was all quite boring. They just walked around to see if there was anything dangerous and find some herbs on the side to sell for more points.
CRACK
A sound of a stick breaking was heard. It normally doesn't mean anything but in this forest, it may mean a lot as it is the home of many beasts.
They tensed up and were ready to run as fast as possible… but among all three of them, Miku was the least worried. She still remembers when Kururugi said that he would protect her forever. He never lied to her after all.
From the shadows of the forest a beast appeared. It looked like a lion, but had white hair and was twice the size of a regular one. Seeing the beast everyone knew they could not win as it was easily comparable to someone low high-level. No one there was that level or could fight a beast of that level, especially since true beasts tend to be stronger than their humanoid counterparts, when on the same level.
Suzaku then did the only thing he could think of at that moment, turned around and ran without a second thought. He was accompanied by the girls shortly after, except Miku that was in shock. The shock, however, was not because of the beast, but because her loved one just turned around and ran without even looking at her or caring about her life.
He just abandoned her there so that he could live on.
She suddenly was brought back to reality when she saw that lion jumping at her. Her life flashed through her life, she tried to run but it was too late, she could feel the fangs of the creature entering her skin.
But on that instant when her life was closest to end, a small pendant she received from her mother on the day she was sent to the sect, 'a lucky charm to protect you' as her mother said, teleported her away.
This 'lucky charm' was actually a mystical code made by an ally of the pantheon that, in case the wearer was in risk of dying, would teleport him to anywhere in a 10 kilometers radius.
When Miku could see that she was not going to die she looked around herself. She was deeper in the forest than she should be. Deeper than she could be under any normal circumstances. A dangerous fact, as the deeper you are the stronger the beasts you will find.
But, she was a strong girl. She was going to be the future miss Suzaku so she should not show weakness right now. She must be brave to go back to him, he must be worried for her safety, or so she kept telling herself while forcing the image of him abandoning her out of her mind.
CRASH
BANG
BOOM
Such noises suddenly started going surging on the forest. She knew that she should not go look, but she was a child in the end and her curiosity was strong.
When she approached the source of said sound she could see more and more of what was happening. It was, for as strange as it may be, a child no older than her using a sword fighting a beast three times his size.
But what she was paying attention to the scene was not the fight itself but the sword and the way the boy moved. The sword was sparkling silver, but the closer it was to the base the redder it turned, it was full of decorations and ornate but not to a gaudy level but a tasteful amount. Another thing worthy of notice for Miku was that the boy was moving with great grace, evading all attacks from his enemy as if he could see them coming before they even arrived.
The battle was very intense as the beast was clearly the stronger of the two, but the boy never despaired. He kept his cool while pushing forward. After some time, and many cuts on its body, the beast lost its patience and decided to go and try to bite the boy's head off.
That was the wrong move.
The boy sidestepped and narrowly managed to evade the bite. Taking advantage of the beast exposed neck he used all his strength to hack at the beast's head. He succeeded as the head of the beast drooped and lots of blood started flowing out.
The girl watching this was truly impressed. Being raised in an environment that praises the strong since she was six she liked strong people, and the boy was clearly strong. The beast was just as strong as the one that almost killed her before so, that he managed to beat it, was proof of his power.
She decided to ask for his help. She knew that it was dangerous but if she wanted to get out it was the best option. Taking courage by thinking on the one she loved she stepped ahead to talk to this boy.
"H-h-h-h-hello." She ended up messing up with her presentation. The nervousness did not let her talk properly, and she did not know how to start such talks.
"Hello to you too." The boy answered back.
"W-what is your name?" Miku asked.
At that moment the boy was about to answer but stopped. He thought for a while as he knew he should not be here, (stupid training) was what he was thinking, so giving his true name was a bad idea.
"My name is Cas. And what is yours?"
"Mine is Miku, it is nice meeting you Cas." Miku said trying to be as polite as she could.
"Nice to meet you as well." He said, the turned around and started going deeper in the forest. "Then bye."
Desperation welled up in her. If she was alone here she would most likely die.
"W-wait! Could you help me get out of this forest?" She said. If she wasn't a goddess herself she would be praying to God this instant.
"No way, I still have t-" when the boy was about to deny the girls request the sword liberated a lightning on his arm. "Son of a bitch. Damn sword, why can't you be more like the others?" He then took a deep breath and said, with a REALLY forced smile. "Sure I would love to help you get out of this forest and be thrown at a even crazier training as I will fail this exam. It is just what I wanted." He said with a smile on his mouth, but a glare at his sword in his eyes.
Miku did not understand what was happening exactly, but all that mattered to her was that with this she would go back to the sect and to the one she loves. He must be preoccupied with her and already making a search party.
Then the boy took her by hand till the outside of this forest. He was not happy the whole time but he never let her be even scratched. Even when he faced with many beasts at once, he always did whatever he needed to make sure she was fine.
After they got on the outside the boy was all full of scratches and bleeding but the girl was perfectly fine. It was truly lucky that the boy knew the safest path as he had been in the forest for quite some time, but even so, they took the entire day to get out of the forest.
Thanking Cas profusely the girl turned around and went as fast as possible to the sect.
She wanted to see her beloved more than anything so as soon as she arrived she went to his room, but weird noises were there
*pant**pant**pant
"That is right you bitch in heat. Keep moving those hips. That is the only thing you and all women are good for anyway."
She heard a voice. A voice she knew but refused to believe it was true. It just couldn't be true.
"Cumming, take it all, you WHORE!"
Miku pries the door open just enough to see what was going on.
The man she loved was on the bed with one of the girls that were in the group earlier, both naked.
She was mounting him and they were obviously having sex (she may be young but she was not innocent enough to not understand that much).
He then briskly took her out of him and with a snap of his fingers the other girl came ahead and took his cook in her mouth.
"O~O~O~Oh yes. That is just what I needed after having to deal with that brat during the entire day." He said. "Needing to pretend to care about that failure just to get what I wanted was a royal pain in the ass." He then snickered. "I mean, she is annoying and the way she acts is pathetic in every way, don't you think?"
The woman did not answer as she was too engrossed in his penis. Suzaku did not like that one bit, 'how dare she ignore me', so he took the penis out of her mouth and gave her a slap that thrown her on the wall.
The woman's face got a deep red mark on it and the possibility that she may be truly hurt was there, but she simply went right back to her knees and continued what she was doing. Suzaku then showed a disgusting smile and with a laugh said.
"Ha, those drugs are really good. It took almost no time to make you a sex addict and my slave using it. The only sad part is that I won't be capable of using it on that annoying brat, I even was planning on doing it later today in the forest. Seeing that idiotic failure like you are now, willing to spread her legs to anyone as long as I order would be so funny. Maybe whoring her out would have been good 'pay a dollar for the sect master daughter, cum inside allowed'." He then started laughing imagining that scene. "That would be the perfect catchphrase for that failure."
Miku could not process what was happening. Who was that person? It could not be her Kururugi, he was an honest man. The only one that cared for her in the entire sect. This man, he must be a copy. Someone else. It just couldn't be him. HE WAS NOT HER BELOVED.
"At least I got my reward." Hearing those words Miku turned back to look at the room. "To think that the sect master would be willing to give a golden deity pill to the one that would marry his daughter. To get this pill that can make a mortal capable of handling divinity it was well worth the time spent on conquering her. And it was not even that difficult, I just needed to lose on purpose to that idiot and she went right to me asking me to be 'her friend'… it disgusts me that I needed to act like that all the time I was beside her."He said with a disgusted face. But then he smiled, the same smile that he always had when he talked to Miku, but this time he actually meant it. "At least now she is dead and gone, maybe I will mark it on a calendar as a day to remember, the 'trash cleaning' day."
He continued talking but Miku did not hear what he was saying, she simply shut down and walked automatically back to her place.
No.
It must be lies.
How, how can it be?
Her place was supposed to be beside him. It was the truth.
But now she saw that the 'truth' for what it was.
LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES.
It was all lies.
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The next day, she left the sect and went back to her mother's home.
