The Cursed Iris

Sprout 15: Natsume's Determination

A few years ago before the start of the current story. Natsume and Tsubaki were in the forest in their little humble hut when a little boy with black wings on his back ran up to it.

"Little Natsume!" Tsubaki yelled. "Kira is here."

Natsume ran to the door, and she saw a boy who was the younger Kira. She had a smile from ear to ear, because he was her only friend; although Aokigahara wasn't home to many people, only Tengu.

She hugged him tightly that he screamed in pain, "Looks like your strength training is paying off," Tsubaki laughed.

Natsume looked at him, and she saw the pain she was causing, "Oh no, Kira I'm so sorry," she cried. Then she put him down, and after she did, he crumpled over like a leaf. "No, I killed him!"

"I'm sure he's fine, but you are pretty much a monster at the tender age of eleven," Tsubaki replied.

"I'm a monster?"

Tsubaki nodded, "Oh for sure, but you're my little monster," she stated as she pinched her cheek.

Kira groaned in pain as he stood up, "Ow, that smarts,"

"Did you really say, 'that smarts,' Kira you'll never get Natsume to fall in love with you if you talk like that," Tsubaki joked.

He got flustered, "Natsume do you want to go and play?" he asked timidly.

She smiled, and grabbed his hand, "Let's go!" she said as she ran away; her running left a massive cloud of dust and a strong wind behind.

Tsubaki smiled at her, "That girl is definitely taking to this training a lot better than I expected. The Raikou I gave her have already been absorbed into her soul, and she's only eleven. She has some talent, but I expect nothing less from that woman's offspring," she said as she watched those two go into the distance.

"So, Kira what are we going to play today? Want to go to the nekomata's den or do you want to go to the fairies' village?"

"The fairies' village sounds really fun," he replied.

*****

Natsume's dream ended at that sentence as she began to awake. Her eyes fluttered open, her body felt weak, and she felt like she was tied down to something. "Where am I?" she groaned.

"I restrained you Natsume," a voice stated from afar.

"Kira!" she remembered.

He walked from the shadows in the room, "Natsume I'm sorry but I couldn't risk losing you, especially not to them," he stated as if he regretted doing this.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying you're not strong enough to face either of them alone, plus even if you make it out of this place you aren't ready for the one I lost everything to. She is too powerful for just you," he cried.

"I..." Natsume choked as she stared at him.

"I can't lose everything that connects me to happiness. I've already lost the rest of my family to the man that took over this place."

That statement surprised Natsume, but it also angered her; it was evident when her expression shifted through both emotions. "Kira, I want to know who are these people you're talking about?"

"I will not tell you, because I know you will go after them both," he replied.

"Damn right I will!"

"And this is exactly why I did not want to say anything. Ever since we were younger you were always rash, a front leader, the one who stood up to everyone and everything, and I was always scared, cowering behind you, fearful of tomorrow without you. That's how it's been all my life, and now that I have you back I can't let you go into death just like that."