The Snake's Spawn: Running From the Past

Izanami could hear hushed voices from the other room. The voices rose becoming angered shouts and she heard her mother scream. She started to move but Kanaye held her fast.

“Shh…!” he whispered. There were horrible crashing sounds as the house was ransacked. Izanami prayed they didn’t look in the closet…

All went quiet and the front door slammed shut. A feeling of dread passed over her.

“Don’t…”she whispered as her brother reached for the door.

“Don’t!!”

 

“Nami-chan! Wake up!”

Izanami jerked as she was shaken awake. Twin golden-green eyes, so much like hers, gazed at her through the darkness.

“…Kana-kun…” she whimpered.

“…You wet the bed again, sis…” he sighed, getting up to flick on the light. The bulb blinked, illuminating the shabby inn room

“I’m sorry!”

“…Its fine…Just go wash up and I’ll change the bedding” Kanaye sighed, scratching his unruly dark red hair. “…It’s about time we leave this village anyway…”

“…But…I like it here brother…And no one seems to know us…” Izanami began.

“…you know we can’t, Nami-chan. We don’t know if the guys who killed mother are after us or not, we’ve got to keep moving…” Kanaye replied. She sighed, nodding in agree.

 

Flashback…

“Mama?

“Eh?”

“…Where’s papa?”

Akebara looked down at her, surprised. Izanami pulled the blanket up over her nose.

“…The other kids say…he abandoned us…”

“You know your papa loves you and your brother very much…he may be busy at times or it maybe too dangerous and he can’t come to see us, but always know that he loves you, no matter what” Akebara smiled. Izanami smiled back, snuggling underneath the covers.

…End Flashback

“You okay, sis? You’ve been really quiet…”

Izanami blinked up at her brother, her peered back at her from around the heavy pack on his back.

“…It’s nothing…I just miss mother that’s all…” she sighed.

“…So do I…” Kanaye replied. “Listen, the next village we stop in, we can stay as long as you like”

“Okay…”she smiled. The twins stopped at the main gate of the trading town.

“What is your reason for your visit?” The guard asked lazily.

“To make money, we’re street performers” Kanaye said. The man perked up, he gazed down at them in awe.

“But…You’re not but children…!”

“So?” Kanaye raised an eyebrow, daring the man to say more.

“…N…Nothing…enjoy your stay…” he smiled sheepishly.

“…Brother…” Izanami began.

“Ignore him…he’s just another stupid adult who thinks he knows everything about how the world should work…” Kanaye scoffed.

“…You don’t think he recognized us? We do look like father after all…”

“Feh, I don’t remember what the bastard looked like enough to care…”

It was then that two ominous shadows blocked their path, Kanaye glared up at the two men. One, the leader was very big and fat, the other was thin with a rat-like face.

“…can I help you?” Kanaye raised an eyebrow.

“I remember you two, caught one of your shows a while back…” the rat man began. “…you guys earn quite a respectable haul, but the girl can earn a lot more money…”

Kanaye unconsciously pushed his sister behind him.

“…and seein’ as she’s so flexible, she’ll be sure to have alotta customers” the fat one grinned unpleasantly. Izanami squeeze his hand.

“…She’s six-years-old” Kanaye replied calmly.

“Some guys are into that sorta thing” the rat winked at him.

“I’m not selling my sister to a brothel” Kanaye glared.

“…Hmmm…that’s too bad, guess we’ll just have to take her by force!” The fat one lunged at them, Kanaye easily dodged, Izanami matching him step for step.

“Why you…!”

“Ready sis?” Kanaye smirked. Izanami nodded half-heartedly, the two left into the air, bringing their left feet down upon the giant’s head. The force of the blow shoved the man’s head about a foot into the earth.

“Boss! You damn brats! This isn’t over!!” the rat man shouted, trying to exhume his unconscious employer’s head.

“Come on, sis.” Kanaye called already departing from the scene.