A hint of recognition

(Misaki)

My peripheral sight pulsated, expanding the walls at the mention of the informal term for princess. His eyes were dark, almost as black as the disheveled long strands of hair mixed atop his head. Whatever he was, because he was not mortal, was dark and negative. The smell of stale blood wafted from him and into my acute senses.

"Who are you?" I snapped. "And answer quickly, my blade holds a nasty temper."

To my self embarrassment, he chuckled. It bordered the line of insanity.

'Should I kill him? I should kill him.'

My pinky squeezed the line, bringing the tip of the weapon an inch closer. I watched as his pupils dilated and then thinned to slits before returning to consume his entire Iris. Was he some sort of demon? But how had a demon known who I had been? And why when he uttered the word Hime, my heart felt a prick of pain?

And just like that, the sky cracked and rumbled with thunder before the steady sounds of rain came. It began as light patter and quickly grew to a steady roar. My grip loosed a fraction on the shurukien as the same pain in my right eye that I had felt those many nights in Takamagahara assaulted me. I hissed inwardly as I fought against dropping my weapon and grabbing at my face. I could not let my guard down with this thing but the pain was tremendous and growing.

"Daughter..."

My fathers concern reached my ears and I wanted to reassure him that I would be fine, but words escaped me as it took all I had to contain the scream building inside me. I kept a sharp eye on the dark being still holding tight to the chain of my weapon. His knuckles whitened as he tightened his grip and suddenly yanked me forward with a ferociousness. In the next instant I was face to face with him and his horrid breath. There was no light in his eyes as I stared into them. But confusion plagued me as some distant part of myself recognized the almond shape of his eyes and the curve of his lips. Where had I known this being from? and How?

A low growl emitted from him and his hand come up faster than I could counter and grabbed my face in one of his hands. His hold on my cheeks was menacing.

"Guards!" The emperor shouted.

My hand went up quickly before any of his men could move; They halted.

This things grin was wide and held much evil, but as my hand lowered, and slowly moved behind my back he shoved me away from him and stumbled back. His face contorted in pain as he began to sweat and the black lines beneath his skin pulsated.

"No..." he ground out between his teeth.

That voice....

My father stepped forward. "Chi-san."

The mans body stilled and he slowly lifted his face. Chi-san, was that his name? How did father come to know this corrupt spirit?

"My goodness child, did you think I would not recognize you? Even as you are now?"

My eyes darted between my father and the man before us. But just as quickly my eyes only fell on the man as my heart constricted. His face had gone from deceitful and otherworldly to complete innocence and torment. A part of me wanted to embrace him. To hold him close to me and reassure the child in him that I would protect him. I could not understand this sudden need to do so.

"Your-your highness....I am sincere-"

The breath was knocked from my lungs as the color of lanterns filled my vision, and the caress of a mans hand ran down my cheek.

(Chi)

It had been so long since someone had called my name. I had forgotten it myself until the Emperor spoke it back into the world again.

Chi-san. My name was Chi. I knew the Emperor, better than my hazy mind could understand. I still felt the ping of recognition and once again my mind cleared of the dark fog and screeching voices. I sighed so deeply at the peace I was awarded in this moment that when I took the beautiful woman in again I was taken aback at the concern and empathy in her eyes. They screamed at me and I wanted nothing more than to go to her. But no, it was not safe. The small piece of my soul that still took root in my chest longed for her with a desperation I had not know in over a decade. And a voice entered my mind, whispering for me to speak it from my lips. And so I did.

"Misaki...."

It was strained and almost broken but once it was said the screaming slammed back into me with a vengeance, taking on a high pitch; almost a ringing in my ears.

'I must leave. I must leave now.'

And before the last drip of sanity left me I pulled everything I had inward and disappeared, pushing myself as far away from the palace as I could before collapsing in the grass of the dark forest and letting loose a tortured roar of pain.

(Misaki)

So he had not only known my father, but me as well. As I turned to my father for an explanation of the man and the attack, a red fox came bounding through an open window and into my arms. It settled in the crook of my arms and I instantly knew that it was from Inari. I pressed my forehead to the foxes and Inari's message was delivered. The fox licked my cheek before leaping from my arms and back out of the window.

My eyes followed and I took note of the light blue hue at the edge of the sky signaling the beginning of early morning. My time was short.

'thank you Inari.'

I still needed to complete what I had come here to do. I walked quickly over to my father. "Otosan, I do not have much time. Please escort me to the royal libraries and discuss with me the reason behind these attackers." I bowed quickly and he seemed to sense my urgency, leading me from the room and down the hall.

In all of my time as Hime to this palace I had never ventured into the royal library. It was impressive with it's mini potted Bonsai trees and tall shelves. Scrolls and soft covered novels decorated each shelf. Soft sling chairs were stationed all around the room and the paintings on the few bare walls were beautiful and bright. Incense burned heavy in this elaborate room and as my father stepped aside to allow me fully into the room before closing the doors I regretted never sneaking my way in here as I had done with all other things that were above my station.

"Might I ask, what exactly are you searching for? Perhaps I could be of some assistance."

As I wandered from shelf to shelf my fingers brushed the spines of all the books I passed. If I walked past the one I was looking for it would emit a deity aura. "No Papa it is alright. Instead, I would like to know why those demons were hunting you."

"Demons?" shock carried over in his voice and I could tell that he was just as perplexed as I was about the situation. I turned to face him, halting my search.

"Is there any reason that could cause them to make an attempt on your life Otosan? If there is I must know."

He pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "iie."

I nodded and turned back to my task. "I am looking for a book on the imperial Regalia."

"The regalia were given to me when I first took the throne, as a sign of my birthright to rule the country. There are three. Yata no Kagami, the mirror. Yasakani no Magatama, the jewel, and the sword of Kusanagi no Tsurugi, the grass gathering sword."

I swung around at the mention of Kusanagi, that cursed weapon..

Ama's words overwhelmed my mind and the confusion set in once again as I ran over her words before I departed Takamagahara, and again something did not sit right inside me. If the Imperial regalia were supposed to solidify my fathers right to rule as Emperor was it not imperative for him to have all three of them in his possession? My next question was one I held my breath for as I waited for the answer.

"otosan, do you posses all three regalia?"

His answer was instant. "Of course."

My heart plummeted.

He'd hesitated.

His tone told me all I needed to know.

My father had just lied to me.

The seriousness in my tone was evident as I took a step closer to him. "Papa, you're lying."

His expression was one of worry as he took me in. I was no longer the daughter he knew, and he could no longer lie to me. "Where are they Otosan?"

Without another word he turned and walked over to the a shelf harboring a Jade statue of Buddha and other relics. He pressed down on the bald head of the figure and the shelf slid an inch forward. He reached into the crack and pulled the shelf completely out. The darkness was all consuming as we stepped inside. As we did my father lit a candle resting on an outcropping in the cool stone. The small square room took on an orange hue from the flame and sitting in a small circle were three glass cases on pedestals. My eyes fell closed as I stood in the center, fear and understanding consuming my spirit.

There was not even a a hint of deity aura here.

"What is it?" He asked quietly.

"They aren't real." I replied solemnly.

"How many of them aren't real Misaki?"

I turned to him. "None of them. They are all fake."