17 Wounds

*Flower Maiden's POV*

[You are given the luxury of life little maiden, and yet you come back to the consuming abyss?]

What? Who are you? A smooth, wispy voice whispers in my mind. Her tone mysterious, ominously soothing... like the sweet release of death.

[Tread upon cautioned steps maiden. For if not... I will gladly make you mine, and take you into the umbral planes.]

Wait! What's happening? The voice leaves me alone.

My stomach turns inside out when I'm jerked awake as hot, scathing blood rise up my throat and spew from my mouth… everything… hurts… it hurts so much. I remember hearing something but I don't remember anymore... all that's left is a haunting feeling... as if something was etched in the back of my mind.

"She's distablizing! Stop her bleeding! Put her under damn it!"

I turn my head, my vision blurred from the pain… I can't tell anything… Arrghhhaaa!! A sudden wave of agony constricts my heart, leaving my thoughts a bloody mess… all I see is three figures… one desperately clinging my hand, whispering something over and over again, tears dripping onto me… mom?

Trying raise my right arm… my body trembles with pain… I try to hold her hand when an unfamiliar stump comes into view, blood pouring from the opening… is that my arm? No… NO! I can't see clearly but the sight sends me into a shock… uncontrollable spasms erupt from my chest. The last thing I hear is an adamant, harsh tone yell.

"Hold her down! She's going into shock! I'm not losing you!"

I pass out again. The next thing I can recall, was my consciousness emerging slowly from what felt like a black void. The light sound of moving fabric, wind, and footsteps starting to fill my senses once again.

Something warm caress my hand. My eyelids flutter open as soft rays of light fill my vision. I feel my throat struggle to utter words.

"He...hello?"

It comes out weak, tired, almost raspy. But above all else… it was my voice… not… the echoes that haunts me. Arms wrap tightly around me as I feel warm drops drip onto my shoulder.

"My baby! You're awake… thank the stars… you're alive."

I can feel mom's sobbing chest against me. I try to put my arms around her, this time I see both my arms… was it a hallucination? No… I remember everything… but my right arm…

Mom pulls her head back, dark bags under her eyes and her azure eyes red with stress. I look around, still in a daze… I'm back in Kyuu-san's room.

*Creak*

Kyuu-san walks in with soup in her hands.

"Good to see you awake brat, take your time. I'll leave the soup by the bedside."

Groaning as trying to sit up a little… I attempt a grin.

"He, he, he… I thought I wasn't allowed to eat, I broke the deal."

A flick hits my forehead… ooowww…

"Enough brat, the punishment's off. Come on, I'm not feeding you."

Even through her hardened expression, I could tell Kyuu-san did not sleep well with bags under her eyes like mom… what a loving big sister I have. Mom gently scoops a spoonful of warm, pudgy soup into my mouth...mmm... the light flavor letting my know my taste buds were back. They're so kind, when all I've done… all I've done… memories of what I did flashes in my mind… tears start rolling down my cheeks.

"I'm sorry mom, Kyuu-san… It's all my fau-"

Mom's fingers pursed my lips. A tired smile on her face.

"It's not your fault sweetie… never."

"But-"

"No buts brat."

Kyuu-san cuts me off. I gulp back my words then raise my arm. Inspecting it, nothing seemed off... besides the weakness... it was there.

"My right arm… wasn't it gone?"

Kyuu-san takes a seat by the foot of the bed.

"I don't know how, but your arm started regenerating slowly but surely… all your wounds are gone too."

Mom stops feeding me as I pull off the sheets and see my naked chest, remembering the agony as I felt my own body ripped apart itself… but the wounds as Kyuu-san said, they're gone. I try to get up only to almost feel my leg crumple underneath me. Mom catches me in my fall.

"No sweetie! You still have to rest, you're still weak."

She pulls me into bed again, the soft pillows nestled behind me as she pulls up the sheets.

"What happened?"

Mom's lips purse together as she explains.

"After you… almost died, we rushed to find you barely alive. Myriam did what she could to keep you stabilized while Kyui carried you from the Akasha dimension to a hospital… she was by your side the entire time you know?"

"Mom!"

Kyuu-san glares back with red-tipped ears and hair standing up on her tail. I've missed that reaction so much.

"Hehe… Mokuren was there as well… I couldn't get angry at her seeing the guilt on her face. Her mother however…"

Mom's fist tightened as her ears lowered aggressively. She snarls for the first time I've ever seen her angry.

"I will never forgive Myriam… she used you sweetie. She caused you to almost kill yourself. How could she!? What kind of benevolent Goddess does this to a child!? You've passed out for over a week now… I thought I truly lost you. I couldn't stop her..."

Kyuu-san rubs her own arm, her eyes refusing to meet mine.

"It was my fault too… how could I have listened to her? I should have known! Should've known something was off the moment she requested me to attack you… sorry."

Mom reassures Kyuu-san. But Kyuu-san's apology, makes me... uncomfortable.

"No it isn't your fault Kyui, it never was."

Why is Kyuu-san feeling guilty? Why is mom feeling guilty when I'm the root cause of this? They shouldn't feel guilty! If anything they should feel angry toward me! I've brought nothing but trouble to them the moment I arrived. The strength leaves me as my voice falters to say something back... I feel so lethargic and the pit of guilt sinking deep into my chest.

Over the next few days, mom and Kyuu-san helped me recover. Kyuu-san even helped me wash my body, her scrubbing now a lot gentler…

*Scrub, scrub, scrub*

"You know I can clean myself Kyuu-san? I can walk now, I can handle-"

A bucket of water quickly drenches my face, my wet glops of hair obscuring my face completely.

"Eek!"

"Not a chance brat, I'm helping until you're back to full strength."

Kyuu-san helps dry my hair and I look into the mirror… it's a lot more silver white now. The ink black hair wasn't as full as before. I wrap my petals around myself so it doesn't get in the way of Kyuu-san. Recently, though my body has not fully recovered, I feel my petals are a lot easier to control and use.

Walking out with Kyuu-san, we are beheld with mom's homemade cooking as the aroma kicks up my appetite. Eating her delicious cooking has made me feel stronger and stronger everyday. Food sure does wonders. But everyday I sit enjoying the food, their unending kindness and patience, the pit in my soul only burrows deeper.

My face was buried in my pillow when the distant creak of the front door rustles me from my slumber.

"I'm leaving for the dojo mom! Make sure the brat doesn't get herself in trouble."

I roll around my bed sleepily when I feel the bed sink and a hand shake my back.

"Are you awake, sleepyhead?"

"Mmmm..."

"Come on, rise and shine."

Mom pulls my limp body by my arms and even puts the slippers on me.

"Mom it's ok, I can handle this."

I try to object her but she brushes it aside and helps me dress up. After breakfast, she even starts doing chores… ones I was supposed to do. She was mopping the floor in the living room, wiping a bit of sweat from her forehead as she bent down to pick up some dust.

The guilt spills, overwhelming me! Rushing over to her, I stomp my foot down in front of her. The pit within my heart grows and lights with the fires of resentful anguish.

"Stop! Stop helping me! Get angry at me! Stop being so kind to me! It's all my fault why don't you get angry at me! Why!? Why don't you just ge-..."

I couldn't control my emotions, all the guilt and anger... why... Why!? I didn't even notice that my aura erupted, almost burning the wooden floor.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to yell at you… I just…"

My knees go to the floor… the aura around sputtering out. No words to express myself. Loving arms wrap themselves around me… I try to pull away but it only squeezes me more, pressing my face into mom's chest. A soft voice soothes me…

"It's ok. It's ok... we don't blame you… we're doing this because we care and out of our own choice… it's ok. It's ok."

I cry... it was the only thing I could do. Why can't I just do something right!? When the heaving stops, when the chains shackling my heart stops tugging... I hug mom back. The sweet scent of her citrus orange hair calming me down.

"At least let me help with the chores mom?"

A momentary pause passes before she replies.

"Alright sweetie."

Mom rubs my back a little more and gives me a little nose nudge. I picked up a broom and a rag, proceeding to clean Kyuu-san's room. While I was dusting her desk and folding up the bed sheets I thought maybe I could help clean mom's room too. She always cleans her own room so maybe I can help her this once and surprise her. I'm willing to do anything that lessens the burdening guilt. I poke my head out to see mom kneading dough in the kitchen. She was humming a little tune to herself. Alright, let's go into her room.

I sneak carefully with my broom and rags while one of my petals holds onto a bucket of water, careful not to spill. Her room was not far next to Kyuu-san's room. The door opened softly and I shut it behind me… careful to make no sound and creaks.

It was peaceful and the air felt strangely calm. Mom's room is rather simple and cute. A single bed with neatly folded bed sheets decorated with flowers lay at the corner of the room. A small little bookshelf was next to it. There was a closet as well and a table in the corners of the room. Adorable cartoon kitten's with many tails pranced around on mom's little rug in the middle of the room.

"Well, better start cleaning. Better make mom proud!"

I started using the broom to gather all the dust and fox hair. We do dust the room and clean the floor quite often since Kyuu-san and mom shed a lot of fox hair.

Dipping the rag into the bucket and wiping the tables, I move over to the window sill where beautiful dahlias, irises, petunias sit in vintage clay pots. Though the dahlias and irises looked withered, dying. Only the petunias seemed continue to grow amongst the decay. I gently caressed the petals and felt energy pass from my fingertips to the flower. The dahlias and irises regained its beautiful color and its healthy green stalk… is mom properly taking care of them?

In the window's like reflection I notice something faced down next to mom's bed. Turning around, it was a framed picture on the small bookshelf. But why is it turned down?

My hand raise to turn it up to see... mom with another woman, lovingly smiling as they pressed their cheeks together. The other woman was also a spirit fox with twin tails of rose red hair and messy bangs. Her fiery amber eyes curved and mischievous as she exposed her toothy grin at the camera. Mom and her both wore kimonos as the woman wraps one arm with a stick of candy apple around mom to her surprise, bringing their cheeks together for a picture.

They looked so happy, joyous... it was hard to deny that they were in love. Identical necklaces on both, a crystal, luminous crescent moon with initials O&X. But the dust that gathered on the photo made it look so lonely, so I brushed off the dust and cleaned it, propping it up nicely on the bookshelf again. Who was she? Kyuu-san's other mom? Maybe when the time comes, I'll find out.

I continued cleaning the room a bit faster, hoping to finish before mom can found out. I almost got done with the last chore of cleaning the floor when in my hurry I accidentally bumped into the closet.

"Ow!"

Something big dropped on top of my head. I looked down at my assailant to find a big, black case. It was nearly my size in bulk.

"What is this?"

There were some locks on them but they didn't require any key or password so I unclasped the box to see if I broke anything… please be ok. The case opened without the crisp clack… it sounds like it hasn't been opened in ages. I look inward at the contents to find… a silver handle grip thing and… a guitar? I carefully took out the handle grip, it was light. It had some kind of flower symbol on it. Something was wrapped around it... the necklace. But there was only one, the crescent moon now no longer shining brightly. As I rub it lightly I feel cracks on its surface. It hasn't seen the daylight for a long time.

Exploring the handle my hand hits something and I hear a click and power up sound as energy extends from the grip into a… bow? The frame and string were crafted out of quanta energy… I touched it… it was solid. The ends of the bow were curved in sharp, elegant blades.

"Sweetie?"

I turn around in surprise to find mom staring at me. She knelt down to me and took take the bow from my hands almost hastily.

"I didn't mean to knock it over. I was trying to help clean your room as a surprise… I've messed up again didn't I… I always do."

I feel a reassuring hand on my shoulder. Mom's looks at me with a smile, but I can see the sorrow in her eyes as she's hiding it.

"It's just as Kyui said, you always apologize and say sorry too often…"

"But I caused trouble again! I can see you're sad."

"No, no. Although it frightened me to see you found my… belongings. You're not making me sad. It's just… this case contains many memories."

Mom looked at the bow longingly and takes a seat on her bed, the case next to her. She pressed something on the bow and it shrunk back into just the grip again. The light, jangling sound of the necklace halts her movement. I see a shimmering in her eyes, her hands brushing over the crescent moon longingly.

"Are you… ok mom?"

She wipes the edges of her eyes and looks at me with a sad smile, carefully placing the bow in the case again.

"It's fine…"

I thought I heard her heart almost skip a beat when she looks at her bed side, where the picture is.

"Mom?"

"No-nothing sweetie, nothing..."

She turns her head away... I don't need to see that she was getting emotional again. I could only sit on the floor, not knowing what to do...

"She was someone I loved and still love even now. Ha, ha... I thought that picture would never be... neve-"

Mom chokes on her words... and I'm filled with a terrible feeling. Her head tilts down and her eyes seemed to carry a crushing emptiness. I… I could only hug her in hopes of comforting her. Feeling a tight, small laugh crawl from my throat I say:

"It seems I only make you sadder and sadder don't I?"

I bury my face into her soft, warm body… hiding my shameful tears. It's funny isn't it? I didn't cry when I was in agony, pain, being thrown into a mountain, nothing else... it's always these things that get you... that makes you vulnerable like never before.

"Thank you sweetie… I'll be ok… "

cupping my face in her hands, she attempts a cheeky pout to lighten the mood.

"It isn't your fault ok?"

She puts an arm over me as I lean into her bosom and scruff. Together we sat there for a while… just…together in our little embrace.

Mom looks at the case again, silence and a depressing weight still in the room. She then takes out the guitar into her lap. It was made of ornate, carved dark wood... handcrafted with obvious care and love. It's design was simple, no extra additions or coloring... but there was beauty in its simplicity.

Her fingers seemed hesitant to touch the strings and when she finally did… an off-putting, almost comedic twang broke the awkward, heavy tension in the room.

*TwAngg*

Mom's lips parted slightly as a chuckle left and filled the room… I couldn't help but crack a smile no matter how hard I try.

"It's so out of tune… how long has it been?"

"You used to play the guitar?"

"Used to munchkin… used to."

She finally lifts her head to look though the window into the much brighter day and meadow. The dahlias and irises basked in the rays of light, their petals vibrant.

"You revived my flowers?"

"Yes…"

"Thank you, I forgot to keep them watered and I didn't know how to take care of them… I feel bad for the flowers… they used to be so beautiful and lively… "

She takes a deep breath and lets out a sigh. It seemed a certain revelation came to mom. She looks down at me with a much brighter smile.

"How about we visit the memorial later after dinner? I haven't been there in a while now."

And so the plan was set to visit Asura's memorial after dinner. We decided to eat a little earlier so we can make the most of the remaining daylight. I wrote a little message on paper left on the dinner table for Kyuu-san when she comes back to let her know and that mom prepared dinner for her: a sandwich made with mom's backed bread, cheese, lettuce, slices of mildly sweet fruit, and a savory patty made of mushrooms.

I wrap my petals around my shirt kind of like a heated, warm cloak.

"Alright munchkin, let's go."

Mom seems to be taking the case with her as she hangs it from her back. We began making our way to my birth place and out the village. Under the red, looming guardian gate we pass from when I first arrived… it brings back memories of my abrupt arrival, and meeting mom for the first time.

The surface of the stone path feeling nice and like stepping on sunny warmth itself under my feet. Mom didn't mind that I was barefoot.

The azure sun was beginning its journey to the far side of Aurora. The skyline dimming to a violet hue as the pearl stars, planets, and empyrean curved moon begin their cosmic reign. The floating mountains and monumental spires of the land becoming dark sculptures in the distance. Birds of many species rushed to their homes for the night, some fluttering their quadruple wings and bioluminescent tails in unison as they sang the song of the night.

The first thing that caught my attention was the nostalgic scent of magnolias, lilies, cherry blossoms, and my birth flower. Though we had many of the flora back in the village, something about the memorial garden's lush and luscious field of flowers and view… it was entrancing.

"Here we are... the garden never fails to take my breath away."

I'm back, the crystal pond, soft green grass, the tall elegant flowers that once welcomed me into this world. Sitting atop the hill at the center, in its ethereal magnificence, was the grand silver lily, dipping in the silver moonlight with its petals. Mom and I walk to the top of the hill as the cricket and chirping of insects bring forth the lively night.

The natural, lustrous light of the night sky made the memorial garden appear mystical... well more mystical than it was already. I see mom reach out her hand to touch the lily flower I was once in.

"You were born in this? How pretty and super soft... I was kind of confused when you said your parents were a giant flower you know?"

I hop onto the lily flower, my butt landing on its cushion-like center. A puff of glimmering pollen swelling up.

"Well I wasn't lying was I?"

We share a laugh just ourselves, no one around. Trading turns for who gets to sit on the lily, we enjoy the view.

I pick up a rustling as I turn to see pairs of pinpoints of light moving through the garden. It was some kind of rabbit, they hopped around in the nocturnal night, their antlers bobbing up through flowers as they played.

I move towards them near the crystal pond and they noticed my presence. But they didn't run away and instead approached me while making little cooing noises. As they came closer, their cute little fluffy bodies came into view. Their fur varied in color with one having stripes of brown and gold and the other white and black. Two pairs of ruby eyes on each rabbit inspected me as their little chest huffed in and out. Reaching out my hand, they hopped closer and sniffed my hand. A long, thin tongue snaked out as their mouth unhinges into two mandibles horizontally, starting to lick my hand...

"Hahaha! It tickles!"

My laugh startled them a bit as they turned to run, their long flat tails the last thing I see before they disappear. I feel mom's presence behind me.

"Cute aren't they? They're jackalopes."

I lay back by the crystal waters, letting the soft grass embrace my fall.

"Sweetie look."

I turn to where mom is pointing to see a type of deer drinking from the crystal water. It had no eyes and the top of its head is a strange large disk structure with rings of gentle, bio green light. It's fur were like feathers and its tendril like tails swayed behind it. It looked so graceful. As we watched in awe, it dipped its glowing tip tendrils into the water like a lure and not too long, something bites one of its tendrils. The deer pulls it up with the unfortunate fish who chomped on to it. Just as I was about to wonder what it wants with a fish the deer opens its mouth and starts devouring it... oh... it's beautiful in a way I guess.

We spent our time admiring the garden and exploring. Playing hide and seek amongst the towering flowers... even though it was kind of hard to see but hey, we like to have fun here. The peaceful ambience envelope us in our own little adventure. We finally make our way back by the pond. Mom lays down next to me, hands cushioning her head.

"I think it's time to finally give you a name… we can't let Kyui call you brat forever am I right?"

"A name? Really? I kind of got used to being called brat."

Together we let out a giggle. Mom turns her head to the velvet dark sky, the stars sparkling in her eyes.

"Sura… do you like that name?"

"Sura?"

Su-ra… it beckons a pull in my memories… but I can't put a finger on it.

"I love it… but why Sura?"

Her voice comes out soft, treading on the delicate line of long forgotten memories and emotion.

"I think it's a precious name… from a long, long time ago. In the darkest times, the cruelest days, the name carried hope in the face of it all."

Sura… it sounds just like Asura… maybe I'm grasping at straws.

"Mom, Sura kind of sounds like warrior Asura doesn't it?"

She rests her hands on her stomach, and stares far away into the milky, radiant universe. Her eyes close and for a moment, the only thing we hear is the light breeze of the wind.

"It does sweetie, because the Sura came from the name Asura…"

She slowly sits up, delicately brushing her hand on the flowers around us, the flowers almost seem to acknowledge her and lean in to her touch.

"I owe my life to Asura, and I am forever grateful."

She turns to me with a somber smile and kindly brushes my hair.

"I wouldn't be here if it weren't for that warrior… Kyuu-san wouldn't be here either."

The light in her deep blue eyes start to waver as tears emerge again. Out of instinct, my petals seem to wrap around us like a blanket. She smiles again as I see a tear trail down her cheek.

"A lot of people hear the name Asura as a horrible omen, a terrible evil, a force of reckoning. Fearing the warrior. But there are also a lot of people who saw hope in it. The name Sura came from my first meeting with Asura… and the last. To this day, I'll never forget those distant memories, the day Asura saved us from… "

Mom seemed to shudder as she wraps her arms around herself as I hear a soft, barely audible gasp. I tighten my petals around her and lean into her… hearing her breathing slowly ease.

"Sweetie… I want you to have that name… don't ever let your doubt consume you, be strong, be proud, and never make the mistakes I once did."

She pulls me gently into her lap and stares at me, the starlight illuminating and outlining her graceful figure.

"You are special… so special… Sura."

Special… the way she uttered seemed to go far beyond its simple meaning… it seemed so far beyond me. Hearing my new name called, it felt surreal, foreign, but it made me feel unique... because mom gave the name to me.

"What you will accomplish and do will change people and help them… the worlds will feel it. I just know. But be careful… there will be people hunting for you, looking for you once you are known… they already are. So stay safe, my little sunshine."

My heart trembles in her last words as we hug… mom seemed so sad. What once happened to her? What did she go through? But perhaps I understood her grief because the picture comes into mind… the woman… it needs not to be spoken for what might have happened. I wonder what it would be like… to meet my other mother if she was still here.

I hear a light click and see Mom take out the guitar from the case. Now dusted off, it's polished wood surface glistened under the crescent moon. Mom hovers her hand over the strings and gives a light touch and the strings vibrate with a soft, blue light. Tiny trails of quanta leaving mom's fingertips.

*Strum*

The sound reverberated through the night, it's clear, lyrical sound now in perfect tune. She grinned a little to herself.

"I still got it huh… but I'm not as good as before."

She plucks a few more strings, the soft melody accompanying the cool breeze of the night. I lay my head on her lap, listening quietly for a while.

"Twinkle twinkle little star,"

A mellow, comforting voice fills the air. Mom was singing, playing the guitar in a harmonious tune. The music and song echoes through the garden, a final ode to our little adventure.

"How I wonder what you are.

Up above the world so high,

Like a diamond in the sky.