Editing Kaze no Stigma:Volume3 Chapter 4 (section)

===Part 2===

She saw a dream.

Of a distant past, of a time her chest still harbored hope, a resemblance of the once foolish self. She wanted to be appreciated. She wanted to be smiled at. It did not matter if she was number one. It did not matter if she was the second.

That's why she desperately struggled. Putting her life on the line, piling up experience, refining her power. Without considering that it was the cause of still more alienation.

"That technique is a heresy. It's not appropriate for a practitioner of the traditional Tsuwabuki."

"That thing is not Chijutsushi. Why does my child have to use such black arts?"

''Disgrace''

''Demon Child''

''Evil magician''

The cruel words thrown at the very young girl by her own father carved in her heart wounds that cannot heal.

"Someday, for sure....."

Realizing that was a wish that will never come true, when did that happen? 




That was a crab.

Not something particularly scary. Its size was somewhat big - enough to bisect a bear with its kitchen-like pincers. Its legs were somewhat numerous - the fore pincers - but, if she were to use her power the opponent would have no choice but to be lightly pinched out. 

Despite this - the girl she was supposed to protect, was being overpowered by such a thing and paralyzed with horror. The huge pincers swung from overhead, was being looked up at, in a daze, by that inexperienced face.

"...Mayumi!"

She promptly released her power. The pincer trying to smash Mayumi's head was broken as if crushed by a giant hand.

"Come here!"

The crab was spouting froth from anguish. She sharply ordered Mayumi, who was still looking up at it in blank amazement.

".....Y-yes!"

Finally calming down, Mayumi rushed over while her legs got twisted. She payed absolutely no attention behind her. To that defenseless back, the crab tried to give a retribution blow. While driving out the crab with a feint attack, she caught the small body leaping in her chest.  

"Older sister!"

For the girl trembling in fear, she showed a perfectly forced smile.

"It's alright. Against that kind of apparition, it's impossible for you to loose."

"B-but....."

"I will stop its movement and I will give it the finishing blow. That's fine, right?"

".........."

"Make your preparation."

Turning around Mayumi's still insecure body, she was made to confront the imminent crab.

"It's alright." 

Embracing from behind the younger sister stiff with fear, she tenderly whispered. Contrary to her tone, that facial expression was cold but invisible to the girl gazing at the crab.

"Look....observe it."

Kicking the ground with eight long legs the crab approached the two straightforward. And, when he was approximately ten meters away, suddenly the crab was smashed. 

It was like from right overhead, an unbelievably huge palm held him down with all his strength. Smashing the collection of legs, the shell conspicuously fissured. Plucking from the root the pincers that were rose overhead, admitting defeat, it was buried into the ground with a roar.

Without moving at all she pointed at the crab in anguish and told Mayumi:

"Come now, finish it off. Make a hole through the center, pierce it from bellow. You can do it, right?"

"Y-yes" Mayumi obediently nodded. 

Obeyed by the spirits of the earth, she governed their power. The spirits promptly responded to the most powerful Chijutsushi blood.

" -ya!!"

Together with the girl's cute yell, from beneath the crab a spear stone grew. That long and narrow cone shape penetrated the crab's shell and rose facing the heavens. Making a huge hole in the middle of its body, the crab wriggled, foam at it's mouth. But by construction the crab was unable to escape from the stone spear. It's resistance gradually weakened and gradually stopped.

Before their eyes, the skull of the reddish crab lost its gloss, growing dull in color. The crack spread from that gap and the muscle became visible. It faded the same way loosing its elasticity and the muscle became stiff.

It turned to stone.

That was Mayumi's real aim. The stone spear that went through was no more than the preliminary arrangement for that purpose. The ground spirits pumped into the wounds changed with great vigor the organic matter in inorganic one. Making sure the petrification reached the interior of the body, including fighting spirit, Mayumi shouted.

"Smash!!"

It was impossible to disobey it. Agreeing to the command, the ground spirits speedily dissolved the bindings. Making a thick sound the stone crab was smashed. 

Because the body changed to countless stones it was no longer possible to guess its original shape.





"Very well done Mayumi-sama!"

"Merely eight years old and to be able to take down such a Youma!"

Waiting for Mayumi when she returned home was a storm of praise from the entire family. The people assembled in the saloon unanimously praised Mayumi and her alone.

There was nobody who talked to her. Without showing any reaction for the uproar of the surroundings, she was sitting diagonally behind Mayumi, mute like a puppet. In front of her ignored as if her existence was the same as air, Mayumi who was given the family seat of honor was being spoken to by the Tsuwabuki Iwao.

"You did very well, Mayumi."   

"Father!"

Mayumi's smiling face lit up and jumped into her father's chest, whom she respected and loved. Iwao also embraced his daughter closely, including an overflowing love.

"You did very well, Mayumi."

While pressing her cheeks against against Iwao's chest, who repeated those words again, Mayumi said innocently:

"Yeah, I did my best. But older sister practically did it by herself. Older sister is awfully strong!"

The unreserved large voice reverberated in the saloon, and the faces of the people sitting in a row became pale. Feeling the change of atmosphere, Mayumi raised her eyes to her father in wonder.

"What's wrong?"

Iwao replied laughingly. 

"It's of no concern. Mayumi is admirable, dividing her achievement with other people."

"That's wrong, really, elder sister is- "

"It's fine, I don't give a damn about that thing."

Blocking Mayumi's field of vision by hugging her close, Iwao shifted his attention to her. Cold like a different person, a glance exceeding hatred, filled with curses.

But even so, she didn't move one finger, one eyebrow or one muscle. Ignoring the glance sticking between her eyebrows, her gaze looked at nothing but in front, one meter horizontal from Iwao, fixating on the wood details of the alcove post.

The sister embraced with love and the sister glared at with hatred.

All present looked at the excessively contrastive sisters, catching their breath. 





"Kureha-sama.....Kureha-sama?"

".....!"

At the voice repeating her name, taken aback, Kureha woke up. It seems she took a nap in the middle of her duties. Lightly shaking off her head, to remove the remaining sleepiness, she responded.

"Enter"

From the door opened by the maid, a group of three people got in. By priority of age, Yuuji, Mayumi and - Ayumi.

''That was unexpectedly fast.''

Kureha thought so, looking at the puppet with eyes sunk in bitterness. As far as she saw of that facial expression, her first trip had not been particularly enjoyable.

''Well, it's a thing of no consequence.''

"Following your instruction Ayumi has been returned home."

Being considerably pathetic, Yuuji reported stiffly. Expressly speaking of such obvious things, Yuuji may have been foolish but that doesn't mean Kureha was the same.

That was some kind of indication of his decision. 

''"With this I won't allow Mayumi to become a sacrifice", or something''

It's not like her real intentions stood out. Instead, feeling that naivete pleasant, Kureha responded with a sweet smile.

"I appreciate your efforts."

"Y-yes!"

No matter how he perceived those words of appreciation Yuuji made a respectful bow, his face lit up. But before he raised his head, Kureha informed the three. 

"Yuuji, you can already retire. Mayumi and Ayumi, please follow me."

"....Eh?" unintentionally Mayumi asked back.

Yuuji stiffed in a comical stance, his back bent.

".......Me too, you said?"

Seeing surprise and a small quantity of fear clung to Mayumi's question, Kureha laughed.

"That's right. Did you think you will be sightseeing the ceremony drinking tea? You too have an important part. Follow me."

"................"

Iwao being on the sickbed at the present time, Kureha was the one commanding the family. She could not advocate her objection.

Complying with Kureha, who naturally opened the door and stated walking, Mayumi and Ayumi followed behind.

Yuuji followed the three people until they left the office but clinging to them further was not permitted.

For him, unable to do anything but see them off, Mayumi looked over her shoulder just once.

That profile full of anxiety was scorched in the center of his consciousnesses together with a feeling of loss that cannot be undone.