Kori is different than your average older brother; Kori would protect Mizu from the abuse from their father. He was a favorite to him, and unfortunately Mizu was the thin under fed weakling compared to his brother. He was only 7 at the time. Their father was an obsessed scientist that would spend long hours in the lab. Since their mother left, Kori had no other choice but to look after the starving child. In the next three years, Mizu grew to be deeply connected to his brother. Kori taught him everything he knows: how to fight, read, and write, how to grow and cook his own food, and how to ward off demons. One day Mizu heard Kori and his father fighting again. Kori came running back up the stairs, “Mizu, brother, get out of the house. Father has gone mad. He wants to blow up the house, and kill us.”

“Kori you’re bleeding on your head.” Mizu reached out to touch his brother’s wound.

“Not now Mizu we need to get away. Please run to the pasture where we train; I will go to stop father.”

“Kori no! You will get hurt; please stay with me.”

“No Mizu please just run! Get awa…”

“No Kori we will all die together as a family,” their father had a brave final look on his face. He swept Mizu into his arms while trying to hold a fizzing flask of chemicals. It didn’t really work, some spilled out on Mizu’s face.

Mizu screemed and clutched his left eye burnt and bleeding. Kori grabbed Mizu and created a shield with his body, protecting him from his father. That was all Kori had time to do before the flask exploded.

- -

Mizu awoke with a start. “It was only a dream,” he thought. He looked at the village down below, and wiped cold sweat off his face. He noticed that he was shaking. “That happened five years ago. Why do I still have nightmares about it?” He took off the cloth that covered his left eye and touched the scar. “Brother,” he said aloud. His thoughts were interrupted.

“Mizu! Where are you?” Aunt Shiba came running up the hill. “Honey, are you done picking the corn yet?” Mizu stood and gave her the basket that that was sitting net to him. “Sheesh. What have you been doing out here boy? The basket is not even heavy. Sometimes I wonder about humans, always finding something to mess up. I don’t even know why our tribe even considered taking you in.” She looked at his uncovered eye. “Just by the looks of the way your father treated you, I don’t know why I bother speaking to you. Now go wash and get ready for supper. You’re a mess. And recover that eye boy. It gives me the jitters.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Humph. Humans are so much work.” She walked off muttering to herself.

Mizu immediately covered his eye. Aunt Shiba could get annoying sometimes. He didn’t mind though. Everyone treated him that way, something about him being human, everyone except for Kiba.

“Hey.”

Mizu jumped. “Oh it’s only you. Why do you have to scare me like that?”

Kiba smiled. “I was only teasing.” Kiba’s redish brown, shoulder length hair shown in the sun, his pointed ears slightly pink from being outside all the time. Kiba’s hazelnut eyes studied Mizu. “Are you okay? You seem slightly pale.”

“I was fine until you startled me. How did you know I was out here?”

“It’s always easy to find a blonde.”

Mizu blushed. “Does my hair stand out that much?”

“Living with a bunch of tan red haired demons it does. Come on lets go wash up for dinner.”

It was a tradition for the Kitsune tribe to have the men do all of the field work. Boy’s 7-10 are assistants to the older men (21 and older), who hunt the wild animals to feed the tribe that day. They clean the animals and skin them for blankets, with the older less capable men. The boy’s 11-18 do all of the farming. Boy’s 19 and 20 train with skilled men in the mountains, on hunting and fighting so they can defend the tribe against an attack. Girls 7-10 help with cleaning with the older women. Girls and women 11-30 take care of all of the younger children in the nursery (infants-6). All of the rest of the women help cooking, and sewing clothes and blankets.

The great hall was quite lively; there was a rumor that there was a big catch today. The seating was by family. Mizu sat next to Kiba on the left side because Kiba was two years older than Mizu. “Ah. It smells so good. We caught a wild boar today. Some of us had to use our claws,” a boastful man said. Mizu thought he might be Suzuki. “But they didn’t need to because I…” Mizu didn’t listen to the rest of the conversation. Kiba told him that Suzuki almost never told the full truth when he talked about hunting. At that moment the big doors to the kitchen burst open. Suzuki was telling the truth at least about the part with the wild boar. Not only was it huge, six women had to carry it in. When all of the food was brought out, the head of the tribe stood up to speak.

“Every Friday we have this great meal to celebrate the coming of the weekend.” It was like time paused to listen to the great old man speak. “So let this be one of the greatest. Relax and enjoy a day off tomorow.” Then he took a slab of the raw meat and bit into it and blood ran down his chin. He gave a signal to the children so thet could serve the elders their plate. Then everyone else could grab something to eat. Kiba’s mother came to Mizu, “Here’s some freshly cooked meat,” she smiled.

“Thank you. Elder Kana.”

“Oh Mizu dear you don’t have to call me Elder Kana I’m practically your mother. Just call me Kana.”

“Mother Kana.”

“Why must you be so formal?” Kana looked at him questioningly.

“I don’t know. I guess I got used to it. My father required formal speech at all times.”

“Well you don’t live with your father anymore honey.”

Mizu looked down at his plate.

“Don’t waste your breath Kana. Humans are too stubborn.” It was Suzuki, “They will never listen to the truth. I mean the kid has lived with us for five years and he can’t get over the fact that his father and brother are dead.”

“No my brother is alive, I…I know it!” Mizu ran out of the great dining hall. In fact he ran all the way down to the big pasture, where the “not yet adults” train. Mizu sat down in the grass. Mizu whispered to himself, “I know you’re out there brother. You said it yourself 'No matter what happens ototo-san, I will always be here to show you the way'. Well nii-san, what do I do now?” Mizu felt tears fog his eye. He sniffed and whipped his face. By the time it got dark he wondered if they were looking for him. Probably not, he was human right? Why bother? Mizu heard rustling in the bushes. He scrambled to his feet.

“Sorry didn’t mean to startle you.” It was the head of the tribe.

“How did you find me here Great Elder?”

“Now no need to be formal.” The great old man looked very tired. It probably took him a lot of effort to make it all the way here.

“How did you know where I was?” Mizu was stunned.

The old man winked, “It’s always easy to find a blonde. I really didn’t mean to alarm you.” He sat down, “Come. Sit.”

Mizu sat.

“The heavens shine brightly tonight.”

“You didn’t have to come find me.”

“I did not come find you, I knew precisely where you where. And yes, I did have to come get you.”

“But, I’m fine.”

“Ah someone that makes a big scene like that is not fine.” He handed Mizu his now cold dinner.

“I ... Suzuki…”

“Yes Suzuki, I gave a stern talk to”

“I know my brother is out there. Everyone can say he died, but I know he’s alive and looking for me.”

“I can see him”

“Wha…” Mizu looked at him.

“I can see you and him standing next to each other… holding hands.”

Mizu looked at the bright stars, “I hope so.”

- -